Thinking Citizen Blog — “The 2016 Conventions May Have Been the Last”
Thinking Citizen Blog — Sunday is Political Process, Campaign Strategy, and Candidate Selection Day
Today’s Topic: “The 2016 Conventions May Have Been the Last” (Karl Rove)
Will Covid-19 put an end to the American tradition of presidential nominating conventions? How important are these extravaganzas? How can they be re-imagined? re-configured? Experts — please chime in. Correct, elaborate, elucidate.
THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING CONVENTION WAS INVENTED BY THE ANTI-MASONIC PARTY IN 1831
1. Before the Anti-Masonic Party innovation, presidential candidates were chosen by Congressional caucus.
2. 19th century highlights included: Polk’s choice as the first “dark horse” (1844), the choice of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 on the third ballot at the Republican convention, the “Cross of Gold” speech by 36 year-old William Jennings Bryan at 1896 Democratic Convention.
3. 20th century highlights: the 1924 Democratic Convention (lasted 16 days, took 103 ballots to pick the candidate), the 1932 Democratic Convention (FDR first candidate to make an in-person acceptance speech). The 1968 Democratic Convention (riots in the streets of Chicago).
NB: And don’t forget Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, arguably one of the most consequential speeches of the last 100 years.
SO HOW EXACTLY IS THIS GOING TO WORK IN 2020? (Karl Rove)
1. “The big question is whether the Republican and Democratic parties can still mount these extravaganzas in a time of social distancing. The Democrats postponed theirs until mid-August, a week before Republicans, but that may not be enough.”
2. “Can they prudently pack the halls with the 8,729 Democratic delegates and alternates or the 4,992 Republicans, let alone the tens of thousands of donors, political junkies, journalists and straphangers who show up?”
3. “Is there a safe way to test everyone for coronavirus? How can people practice social distancing in a raucous mob scene that rivals New Year’s Eve in Times Square and Mardi Gras in New Orleans? What’s the threat of mass infection, especially when someone might want to do it as an act of political terrorism?”
“A RITUAL FROM A TIME GONE BY?” (New York Times)
1. “For all the talk of brokered conventions, it has been a long time since delegates had anything more to do than ratify a presidential candidate selected by primary voters and a running mate chosen by the nominee.”
2. “As the drama has slipped away, so have the television networks, systematically cutting back on the hours of prime-time coverage devoted to events that have become little more than scripted advertisements.”
3. “The parties themselves have become far less influential, particularly since Mr. Trump overcame the Republican power structure to win the nomination in 2016. They have been weakened by rising anti-establishment beliefs on the left and the right, notably among younger voters, and by the sentiment that parties are not as essential to ideas or governing anymore. The waning significance of conventions, long the grandest symbol of old-guard party-building, would appear to be of a piece.”
Opinion | 2016 Conventions Might Have Been the Last
United States presidential nominating convention
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G.O.P. Officials Quietly Consider Paring Back Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address
2016 Republican National Convention
2016 Democratic National Convention
Both Parties Wonder: How Much Do Conventions Even Matter Anymore?
YOUR TURN
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