The DNC

The Democratic National Convention 2008. Last week, I heard that the 2008 Olympics was the most watched TV event ever. Earlier this week I heard that the DNC is supposed to be the most watched... DNC...ever? I don't remember proper.

For a few days I couldn't place the familiarity of the DNC stage and atmosphere. I still can't, but I feel I've gotten closer: the WWF. Or the WWC or WWE or whatever it's called now, I remember it being called the WWF as a kid and that's what wrestling will stay as in my head. It's the spectacle of it: the stage is so huge and bright and blue. It's so crowded with what can only be described as fanatics, and it is so theatrical. Really what strikes me is how glowing and blue everything is; that electric sheen gives me the feeling that maybe technology has crept into politics, along with who knows what else. I mean, it's not like politics isn't widely held as corrupt, but Obama legitimately feels above all that. But the spectacle of the DNC is off-putting.

I like to imagine the Republicans trying to compete and putting on an identically spectacular show, with neon, glowing red instead of blue. It'd look like Darth Vader's foyer.

Legitimate is the right word for Obama, and that goes a long way for me. Legitimacy, illegitimacy and the perceptions of both are frequently on my mind. Either his handlers are handling the shit out of him or he really is a ray of fucking hope. George Bush and Dick Cheney do not have to work hard to appear alternately incompetent and evil, but when compared to Obama and Biden they appear hyperbolic. And that's why it's really hard for me to watch the DNC, because I know that exit polls indicate the country is 50-50 split. I KNOW that Obama has charisma in ways that John Kerry and Al Gore don't, but they were still running against GEORGE BUSH and DICK CHENEY. I just did a quick run through in my head, and I have never met in person or seen on TV anyone as sinister appearing as Dick Cheney.

Ironically, my favorite Obama fact is that he has trouble quitting smoking. It's incredibly humanizing. I picture him standing behind the White House, lighting one after another.

This whole DNC business makes me very anxious to verify that I am, in fact, registered a democrat, and that I can vote come election day. I feel very strongly that if I do not get my vote in, we will not win the election. That's a good thing, right?