After two nights of watching the virtual Democratic National Convention, I think I'm ready to say I am much preferring the virtual version over the noisy mass confusion of the convention halls of the past.
Perhaps we have a new trend.
Change is good.
My takeaway that I'm feeling strongly about is the simple fact of the differences I'm seeing between the two parties.
Besides the obvious policy differences which are important to me, I'm struck by the differences in the people.
The people speaking at the DNC, including and most especially, the wonderful roll call folks, have energized me and given me hope. Energy and hope I've been missing since the 2016 election.
I look at my screen and see a number of character traits I simply do not see in the current administration of GOP "leaders."
I see . . .
Intelligence
Kindness
Empathy
Respect
I see people giving speeches who, regardless of personal politics, are respected members of their personal/professional communities.
What I don't see, but can guarantee will be seen at the Republican National Convention, are the speakers receiving applause for simply being mean. Making their supposed point by ridicule and contempt. And by lying.
While I haven't seen a full list of RNC speakers yet, the names I have seen are pretty unimpressve, to say - - - franky, embarrassing.
So far they include Patricia and Mark McCloskey. Remember them? The couple who stood in front of their mansion and waved guns at people walking quietly by on their way to protest outside the St. Louis Mayor's residence. They were separately charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon.
And, oh yeah, Nick Sandmann, the snarky, entitled high school student whose hateful interaction with a Native American elder in Washington, D.C. was captured on video that went viral. Quite a claim to fame.
So, a couple of people who are known only for their tabloid antics spotlighting the fact that they're racists. Oh, yay.
Former President George W. Bush and 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney will not be speaking.
That there are strong and well known Republicans speaking at the Democratic National Convention is telling, I think.
Telling us that today's GOP ain't your daddy's GOP. Not by a long shot.
They include former GOP Governor John Kasich of Ohio, former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman and former Congresswoman Susan Molinari of New York. General Colin Powell, who was secretary of state in George W. Bush's administration, and Cindy McCain, the widow of Senator John McCain, narrated a video portraying the close and decades-long friendship her husband and Biden shared.
I'm looking forward to tonight's convention. We'll hear from Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
And a nod to the diverse group of celebrities speaking and performing. This, to me, highlights the fact that Democrats care about the arts. They believe, like me and so many of us, in their importance.
If you haven't been watching, here's a few highlights from the first two nights.
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