The Witness Chronicles, August 20, 2024
Passing the torch on day one of the DNC convention
DNC Convention: A Good Start, a Look Back, and We Move On
Joe effectively reminded us that he has been a great President
Before I talk briefly about Joe Biden’s powerful speech, and it was the same dynamic Joe Biden we saw at the State of the Union earlier this year, I want to mention the highlight of last night’s first day of the Convention, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, aka AOC.
AOC walked into the stage last night to thunderous applause, not surprising when you realize that the people in the room are serious political junkies. In a night that was really an homage to the recent political past, with a union leader blasting Trump, Hilary laughing at chants of ‘lock him up’, and Biden’s moving recap of his Presidential history, AOC was the sole featured speaker representing the future of the party.
And she stepped up in a remarkable performance, given she has only been in the limelight for a few years and made the transition from bartender to House progressive leader in that short time. Whether you like or dislike her progressive stance, the Ocasio Cortez we saw last night was a polished young politician totally confident in her role and delivering a moderate but powerful testament to Kamala Harris and the remaking of the Democratic Party.
If anything reflected the unity that will be a theme of this convention, it was her appearance in the midst of what became a parade of recent Democrat leadership and milestones. She was a good reminder that this convention and party are newly minted, a bit of a political Phoenix rising out of the ashes in just four weeks.
Biden capped off the night with a display of family, a concise reminder of the amazing accomplishments of his administration, and a damning indictment of a Republican Party that has sacrificed itself on the altar of Trump’s demanding and deranged ego.
It was a bravura performance, especially coming after his disastrous debate with Trump only weeks before. And a reminder that unlike his opponent, Biden’s brain is still sharp and his political instincts are still razor sharp.
Nevertheless this was a farewell speech and a fitting end to a day dedicated to celebrating the recent past accomplishments and tone of the party, a party reborn. That rebirth will be the story the rest of this week, and it is a remarkable one.
David Brooks of the NYTimes and the PBS Newshour, observed that the tone of Biden’s speech reflects the recent past voice of the Party, defiant and damning about the abomination that is the Trump Party. But Brooks made the point that we have a new voice and a new more positive, even ebullient one in Kamala Harris, whose contagious good humor masks an iron will that scares the hell out of the Republican Party.
It was a clear passing of the torch from the old to the new.
Even for political junkies like me, conventions are a long slog and an exercise in sustaining enthusiasm. And in listening to endless punditry and analysis, some enlightening, but mostly nothing new. I’m determined to simply watch the show and try to avoid over analysis.
The big question this week will be how much momentum can this all build and will it be sustained through the next ten weeks of campaigning? To me, it looks like Harris and Walz have momentum and may benefit from the rest of the election being compressed into those few weeks.
We have had eight years of Trump’s incessant lies, exaggeration, insults, fear mongering, and utter lack of any facts backing his positions on everything. And it is a tired and empty message. His convention, and it was entirely about him, not any kind of platform or vision, is remembered for the litany of negative messaging, the WWF wrestling heroes, idiots like Kid Rock, and Trump’s acceptance speech devolving into a replay of his greatest hits, delivered with little enthusiasm.
It’s my hope that this week’s message washes the stink of that experience away and reminds American voters that we live in the future, while learning from the past. I’m optimistic.
If you are reading this on Medium, I am leaving the platform at the end of August. Here’s why. You can continue to read me by subscribing, free or paid, to my newsletter.
This is from a reader supported newsletter. Please consider helping out by upgrading to a paid subscription or donating a small amount through Buy Me A Coffee, a site for small financial contributions. Thanks, ME