"My point is simply that the deliberative nature of conventions gave way a long time ago to a tightly controlled and stage-managed media event designed to set the tone of the general election campaign"

And piss poor job they have done of it, too. Most recent conventions of both parties have been about as interesting as a 72 hour Oprah special on paint drying techniques. That is unfortunate, but the real blunder lies in not taking the fight to the opposition. The 2004 Convention seemed to use robotic mind-control to keep speakers from attacking W when they should have been eviscerating him every hour on the hour. If that is what control is to used for, I for one want none of it.

Posted at February 5, 2008 8:11 PM in response to Convention Chaos Theory

Having lived and worked in both France and the US, I think that the average person's life is better in France. Your milage may vary, of course.
Another thing I have noticed is that the French seem much less inclined to put up with BS at work. It always surprises me how willing Americans are to tolerate on-the-job dictatorships.

Posted at July 2, 2005 2:28 PM in response to Working Hard Or Hardly Working?