why i’m not at the democratic national convention

Being the 8th most influential political blogger in a state with 10 political bloggers means having to watch the Democratic National Convention at home, on television. So, while my associates at Michigan Liberal are in Denver tonight, living it up, I’m here in Ypsi, glued to basic cable and eating stale taco shells.

Not to sound bitter or anything, but I doubt that I would have gone, even if someone had offered to send me. I have this fear of being put in situations that call for ethical decisions to be made, and I don’t reckon that I could hold out very long if approached by someone from Raytheon, or some other offense contractor, carrying a tray of delicious looking shrimp puffs. Maybe I’m not giving myself enough credit, but I think that I’d hand over editorial control of this blog for a free drink and few kind words in an instant. And, from what I understand, Denver this week is lousy with big companies and lobbying firms looking to ingratiate themselves to elected officials and the like.

According to our friends at the Sunlight Foundation, who have just rolled out a new site to monitor the outrageous influence peddling that takes place within the ecosystem of the national party conventions, Denver is the scene of a massive gravy train orgy the likes of which has never before been seen on earth. According to the site, called Political Party Time, there will be over 400 parties thrown during the Republican and Democratic conventions “by the likes of Citi, Eli Lilly, AT&T and powerhouse lobbying firms such as Patton Boggs.” You’ll be happy to know, however, that some folks can’t be bought. According to Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas, he’ll be passing on tonight’s big party… Or, to be more accurate, he doesn’t think he’d get in… At any rate, he won’t be attending, and I think that’s admirable.

So, all that aside, what do you make of the convention?

[Tonight’s post is brought to you by John McCain’s adopted daughter, who won’t be inheriting as much as her siblings.]

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9 Comments

  1. mark
    Posted August 25, 2008 at 10:38 pm | Permalink

    Michelle Obama is coming across really, really well.

  2. Ol' E Cross
    Posted August 25, 2008 at 10:48 pm | Permalink

    Ooooooh! Live Chat!

  3. Brandon
    Posted August 25, 2008 at 10:48 pm | Permalink

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDGhs_LN7Fk

  4. Robert
    Posted August 26, 2008 at 10:21 am | Permalink

    I didn’t go either, even though I love Denver and I think it is the absolute best location in the country for a convention of that size. New York, LA and Chicago are too big, and anywhere funner is too small (and also most likely not located in an potentially important swing state).

    Michelle Obama’s speech was very good. I cringed at Barack’s slip up in saying “St. Louis” instead of “Kansas City” in the comments he made by satellite video. But it was great that his daughter seemed to make sure he corrected himself. That was cute, and at least the city he accidentally mentioned is in the same state. That may actually help him later when he campaigns in St. Louis and can say he couldn’t help it ’cause good ol’ St. Louie is always on his mind. The folks in Kansas City won’t hold that against him.

    Note: I know ‘funner’ isn’t a word.

  5. KJC
    Posted August 26, 2008 at 10:40 am | Permalink

    The cheesiness overwhelms me. Aslo, was that Michelle Obama or Saul Alinsky?

  6. Dirtgrain
    Posted August 26, 2008 at 11:24 am | Permalink

    I just can’t help but see the two major political parties as cults led by phonies. What little I saw did not seem sincere–just that cheesy creepiness that KJC mentions. I’m sick of political spectacles.

  7. Steve Swan
    Posted August 26, 2008 at 4:00 pm | Permalink

    Most people just go for the sex. I hear there’s even more that at a midget convention.

  8. Robert
    Posted September 2, 2008 at 10:37 am | Permalink

    Now the Republican Convention is underway in St. Paul. Though, from what I understand, most the ‘caucusing’ is taking place across the river in Minneapolis in the MSP airport men’s rooms.

    Apparently even Dick Cheney has ‘softened’ his position on his “Go Fuck Yourself” stance.

  9. mark
    Posted September 3, 2008 at 11:34 pm | Permalink

    More film of lobbyist parties.

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