Some notes and reflections on the Democratic Convention held in Denver of 25 to 28 August 2008 to endorse the candidacy of Barack Obama. A well-orchestrated show . for Republicans since 1972 (and 1980 for Democrats), the proceedings of conventions is planned minute by minute. All details are carefully paid in advance (for example, the color of tailor worn by Hillary Clinton during her speech was chosen by the production team after audiovisual trials of light). The key moments of the convention are almost written like a screenplay. The extraordinary flurry of signs which have engaged the delegates in a speech by Joe Biden, candidate for the vice presidency, illustrates this orchestration. If Biden comes on stage, delegates waved signs bearing his name red. When Joe Biden launches into a repetitive attack on "McCain that's no change, that's more of the Same", the delegates waving of new signs stating "McCain The Same." Biden then proceeded to another part of his speech on "Obama, that's the Change We Need". In the room, showing new signs appear that slogan. And when Biden finished his delivery, is a fourth series of signs that appear with the names Obama and Biden.
The roll call: the contest of Eurovision in the U.S.. The roll call is the time the agreement during which the delegations of each state indicates how they split their votes between the candidates for appointment. Each state is called alphabetically. This is an opportunity for the leaders of delegations (often leaders: senators, governors, etc..) Enjoy a moment of publicity and to before, sometimes emphatically, sometimes with humor and even two, a characteristic of their state: its role in the history of the United States, famous people who were born there, its location (Maine and has boasted of being the first state to see the sun each morning ) or its tourism resources, even the quality of its baseball team or basketball. The votes are then announced and accepted by the mistress of ceremonies to be added, which is reminiscent of the famous scoring of the Eurovision Song Contest. Obama 10 points, Clinton and 2 points. Alas, this year the roll call did not go to completion, and the heads of delegations States after the letter N have been denied their moment of TV fame, as Hillary Clinton, speaking in the delegation of the State of New York, requested a vote by acclamation Barack Obama.
The business of politics . It is estimated that a convention costs between 60 and 100 million euros (but, apparently, would yield as much as miscellaneous income to the city that hosts it). To fund the conventions, many companies donate in cash or services (Qwest has offered $ 6 million to the Democratic party). In return, they receive indirect advertising (through television coverage of the convention) and VIP access for their guests. These donations mostly give them the right to host receptions and dinners which provide opportunities of contact with elected Democrats at all levels and from all over the United States. About 400 receptions and parties were held in four days. All this is somewhat similar to the Cannes festival: the action is not necessarily in the room, but in major hotels and banquet halls where businessmen conversing with those who make the laws or regulate their activities. In a recent report, Public Citizen expressed concern about the drift by recalling that the congressional ethics rules prohibit elected in principle to respond to invitations from interest groups. Public Citizen also notes that the major conventions are finally absent voters (although some of them came, as usual, protest outside the convention hall - that looked elsewhere for a small fortress as security checks were numerous and close together).
Dad, Mom, I love you! they are lucky the Democrats: they all have parents, spouses and children who love and extraordinary they cherish. They keep us repeat it in their speeches and pictures of their families together and happy constantly punctuate the Convention. Moreover, all family members who can are there on the stage or in la salle, et apparaissent au moment opportun sur les écrans, la larme à l’œil. Voici comment, le premier jour, Michelle Barak a commencé son intervention en ouverture de la convention : “ As you might imagine, for Barack, running for president is nothing compared to that first game of basketball with my brother, Craig. I can’t tell you how much it means to have Craig and my mom here tonight. Like Craig, I can feel my dad looking down on us, just as I’ve felt his presence in every grace-filled moment of my life ”. Le lendemain, Hillary Clinton, introduite par sa fille, semble plus réservée (et more political). Here are his first words: "I Am Honored To Be Here Tonight. A Proud mother. A Proud Democrat. A Proud American. And a Proud supporter of Barack Obama . (Lack the "A Proud wife" Hillary, or her unconscious, she still wants her ex-president husband?). Day 3: Joe Linden, introduced him by his son Beau (who has not hesitated to do in pathos in telling us the car accident, whose family has been victim) attacked hard: " Beautiful, I love you. I Am So Proud of You. Proud Of The sound you are. Proud of the Father You've Become. And I'm So Proud of my son Hunter, my daughter Ashley, and my wife Jill, the only one who leaves me breathless and speechless at the same time ”. Et ça continue une minute plus tard. « I wish that my dad was here tonight, but I am so grateful that my mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, is here. You know, she taught her children—all the children who flocked to our house—that you are defined by your sense of honor, and you are redeemed by your loyalty. She believes bravery lives in every heart and her expectation is that it will be summoned ”.
The media are watching . Lors de la convention démocrate de 1968, les manifestants criaient aux Delegates' The Whole World is watching you. " This slogan has become reality and the American conventions are subject to extraordinary media coverage: about 15,000 journalists are here, representing 130 countries. to the United States itself, the television coverage is intense and surprising for a European since the major networks broadcast live (and in prime time) the highlights of the convention, while the news channel continues multiply the plates together hierarchs Democrats and political analysts for comments hot. For all these people on hand, CNN has even invested in a restaurant that has been completely refurbished to become the CNN Grill (with a new menu and beer special). But the media are a megaphone. Parked in areas restricted or, like tonight for the intervention of Obama, small tents, they are required to retransmit the images produced by the Democratic organization. This allows it to compose his own visual narrative of the Convention where the most striking are the constant cutaways and scholars (of Michelle Obama on Hillary or Bill Clinton or delegates that provide a mosaic of colors of skin, gender and ages) to communicate a message and subtly emotional consensual: that a Democratic party united and harmonious way to victory.
Photo: Michelle Obama (Washington Post). One can guess (next to Michelle's hand) the teleprompter translucent that speakers use to read their speeches without looking.
I love politics: One of the best blogs on the French election 2008 U.S. 
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