Breaking Down the Conventions

As we move past Labor Day we are now officially in the homestretch of the Presidential Election. I am in no way an undecided voter. My leanings are well known.

Now that said I am not an unabashed Obama supporter. I think that the President's biggest weakness has been his inability to see that his efforts at compromise with the Republicans will offer no fruit. He should have changed his tactics as soon as this was identifiable.

I do not think there is anyone more insightful in the political world than Joe Scarborough and this morning his bemused observation that, at least in terms of pageantry, optimism, and excitement, the Democratic convention in one day has already surpassed the Republican convention from last week in total. Rich Lowry, one of the brightest political minds on the right, tweeted last night that, at the Republican convention, there were no displays of emotion from the crowd, no connection, such as was seen in Charlotte.

With that in mind the Dems have President Clinton tonight, as well as President Obama tomorrow night and thus, if there is any bump, it should go for the Dems.

A sharp contrast between right and left is that the right does not embrace their past leaders. Bush and Cheney are no where to be seen while tonight at 10:30 Bill Clinton, twelve years removed from office, will be smiling at the American people and talking about his friend Barack.

This election might well mirror 2000 in that there is no surety that the popular vote and the electoral college will line up. Most observers, however, think that in this election Governor Romney has a better chance of winning the popular vote but losing the electoral. Certainly there will be some satisfaction in this result from the left that remembers 2000. What I hope does not happen is a groundswell to remove the electoral college. I am a firm believer in the Electoral College.

Lastly no matter who wins one must hope that we all step back from the brink of the divide that separates us. Hearing talk from Chuck Norris that a reelection of the President will lead to" one thousand years of darkness" and a sitting Texas judge stating that if the ballot box does not work then armed insurrection might be necessary. The fact that these comments are being made and that the right is not rebuking Chuck Norris bodes ill for our healing our divisions post election.

Comments such as these lend an air of illegitimacy to any candidate that you do not support that might win. It is hard to govern when it is not a question of ideas but a question of legitimacy.

These next two months should be interesting.