Convention Coverage: Plus Ça Change, Plus C'est Pareil

Happy September. Have you been watching U.S. political convention coverage non-stop? I can’t look away. I could not be more morbidly fascinated, even if the conventioneers were naked, but, thank God, they’re not, especially the Republicans.

Praise the lord and pass the ammunition. That pistol-packin’ hockey mama running for V.P. in the U.S.A. can sure hold a crowd’s attention. Call it a seduction of hee-haw style over substance.

Full marks to the journalists on the convention floor in Minnesota. Covering that thing must be like being stuck in the middle of a huge Amway convention, if only the stakes weren’t so frighteningly high.

I watched CNN last night and thought their team, especially Wolf Blitzer, was much too soft on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. And wasn’t it over the top to have Gretchen Wilson, she of the country hit Redneck Woman on hand to sing the Star Spangled Banner? Republican organizers are apparently not fans of subtlety or nuance.

Best reporting I watched was on Radio Canada (en francais) last night, particularly commentary from Joyce Napier. The team offered lots of analysis without bias. For similar reporting (in print) check out John Ibbitson’s reporting in today’s Globe and Mail, (www.globeandmail.com).

As for her remarks, wasn’t it great to learn that Sarah Palin’s hubby belongs to the steelworkers union and is a champion snowmachine racer? What is that anyway?

Gov. Palin’s endless remarks about her family would have been better suited to the Jerry Springer stage than a national political stage, but her fans sporting buttons with slogans like “Hoosiers for the Hot Chick” lapped it up like a milk-starved tiger cubs. But when she touched on oil: Drill, baby, drill!! It could not be clearer that this election is about oil, energy and the control of both.

Palin’s acceptance speech ought to be remembered for what was missing. Remarks on America’s crippled economy and suggestions to repair its ongoing credit and housing crisis? She made no significant comments.

Policy statements about improving America’s public education system (readin’ and ‘rithmetic and all that) and access to health care were also conspicuously absent.

As far as international affairs and geopolitics are concerned, wow. If Gov. Palin really believes that American forces are winning in Iraq, her awakening will soon be beyond rude, should her soldier son deploy to the region and begin writing letters home…If he actually goes as scheduled.

As far her grasp on foreign policy goes, it’s quite telling that she mispronounced the name of the Caucusus region, while making her most important significant remarks about energy and global affairs. It is not pronounced like the plural – caucuses – of caucus, Governor.

Please try this link before you mention the area again: www.yourdictionary.com/caucasus.

Pronouncing the name of the region will imply (even if it’s not true) that Palin is informed about the area and its valuable resources. And that will help counter the (legitimate) perception that her appointment embodies all that’s cynical and objectionable about American politics.

And it might make Russian President Vladimir Putin less inclined to laugh at the Governor (and America). Fortunately, the icicle-eyed Pres understands the importance of propaganda and image making, as evidenced by the recent release of photos of Putin shooting a tiger with a tranquilizer gun in Russia’s Far East. Pass the ammunition.

Can’t wait for McCain to speak tonight. Plus Ça Change, Plus C'est Pareil.