The KERRY Revolution Won't be Televised

[AVID]

There was a post last night that discouraged me. I can't remember the exact title, but it went something like this, "How many "real" people watched Kerry last night, and were they influenced."

Although there are plenty of times during the day when I feel warped by DU, most of the time I feel enlightened, grateful, and certainly obsessed with DU, this election, and the media.

However, that question stayed in my head yesterday, and I wondered if the DNC was all just one big preaching to the choir. Yes, that is the point of the convention - lay out the platform for the party, nominate the candidates, and get energized to elect a president. But did any "swing-voter" or undecided wacth? It baffles me that such a person even exists, but then again, I'm a DUer.

I run a small business, so I come into contact with many people during the day. I have two kids active in camps this summer, so I meet and chat with other parents - I get around town quite a bit, however I didn't hear one person mention the DNC, Kerry, *b, and or any other ideas, issues, or news from Boston.

My business is non-profit, 501(c)3 so I don't talk politics around there, but I was discouraged by the lack of enthusiasm of the general public and other parents - just out and about down.

I AM encouraged when I see posts asking for help "de-bunking" a neighbor, family member or friend - I have my on going debate with my mother (I almost have her - an important vote in Georgia)

The lack of interest is not surprising when CNN viewers get more coverage of the "revolutionary" sound system they used in their "nest" directly on the floor. Wolf Blitzer commented yesterday in his wrap up of CNN's coverage - "We no longer have to stay outside the ring and watch the convention - now we are on the floor, in the midst and creating convention news ourselves." That about sums up the problem - the news heads have become the news. The only impression I have of CNN coverage is hearing the echo of a speech in the background over wolf's shoulder, becoming frustrated at not being shown the event, and switching to C-SPAN. By Wednesday, I had stopped surfing channels - so I missed the "fuck" on camera, Candy Crowley's breakdown of backstage activity, and Hannity's romp around the floor.

The networks ran less than 10% of the activities, and Fox - well fox has its own RW base, and televises opinion all day.

Kerry's message won't be televised - I must speak up more in public, with other parents, and neighbors.