We Need Each Other

Democrats and Republicans need each other.

I will write a reflection later today about last night. It was a night of great political importance and full of political intrigue. It was also a night that was very important to me personally. I needed to be faced, up close and personal, with the consequences of American foreign policy and the human price that is paid in war. Having never served in the military, there are dimensions to the human experience of which I am not acquainted and I have not sought out.

I was searching for ideas at the DNC. Last night my search was rewarded. I was overwhelmed with ideas. They were not the ideas for which I was looking, but precisely the ideas I needed to confront. Like every good idea, it requires deep reflection, and the process has begun. More on that in a future post.

Leaving aside the personal questions raised by the war. I realized yesterday that Republicans and Democrats need each other. Covering a political convention is like sitting through 4 straight evenings of the most intense 6-hour rock concert imaginable. When I am at home I can channel surf and take in the snippets that interest me. The convention is designed to reach channel surfers. It is not designed to reach the people in the hall. God did not make us to sit and listen to, what is in essence, 24 hours of 60-second sound bites. It is a wonder more spontaneous human combustion doesn’t happen at conventions. Whether you like the message or the messenger or not, there is only so many times you can hear the word ‘change’ without having a panic attack. (I am sure the word ‘experience’ will do that to me next week.)

So this morning, I went to Republican press conference and heard Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty speak for 10 minutes without using the word 'change' once. The press conference had the effect of centering me. Balance was restored to my political self. That he was 'Minnesota nice' was just a bonus.

Now I am ready for tonight. I am looking forward to going to Mile High Stadium to witness a speech of historic importance. I am ready for 6 more hours of sound bites. I am willing to be embraced by change for another 6 hours.

What I have learned in Denver is that when I go to St. Paul I will need to find some Democrats to hang with. I need to stay centered.

We need Democrats and Republicans and they need each other.

Too Much Perspective

One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies, This is Spinal Tap, goes something like this: "That's a little too much perspective."

My respect for journalists has elevated dramatically this week, and exponentially this evening.

I knew people who died in 9/11 and in Iraq. This evening's presentation has pushed me to a place where I cannot process all that is being said. I am filled with such grief and conflict. It is as if every emotion I have had related to 9/11 and all that has transpired since then has been pushed back at me all at once. It was hard enough to process all of these things individually (and clearly I never finished), but to have it all resurrected simultaneously has made me intellectually and emotionally shut down.

I need to sign off for the day, and interact with all of this as a human being, and not as a pseudo-journalist.

Thank God for journalists and others who can help all of us sort out what all of this means for us as individuals and for us as a country.

Until tomorrow.

Shalom.

The Love Train

Wow.

It is Hillary who moves the nomination of Barack Obama.

The song "Love Train" fills the hall.

I got my roll call.  

Obama got his nomination.

What does it all mean?

Wow.

I need to have a think and then listen to Bill and Joe tonight.

Wow.

Where is Seth Meyers?  I need some more of his medicine.  

 

And So It Begins (Pt. 1)

Well the Presidential nominating speeches have begun. I’ve got my popcorn.

The big question I have is whether the Convention will let the votes be counted, or whether they will go to a voice vote that will end up being transformed into a unanimous vote?

For me the story line of this entire convention will be written in the next moments.

Tune in.

Laughter and Democracy

Well, I haven't stumbled upon any ideas of note today, but I had an absolutely terrific gluten-free lunch at Coors Field courtesy of Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. One of the other guests, Seth Meyers of Saturday Night Live, graced us with a stand-up routine that was simply priceless.

I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks. As I walked out of Coors Field, I realized my soul was lighter. It was the first time all week I had laughed.

I needed that. So does democracy.

A New Search

Having come up short in my search for ideas yesterday. I'm going on a different search today. I'm going to search for food.

First stop, a luncheon reception sponsored by Senator Christopher Dodd.

If I run into any ideas I'll let you know.

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