Ok then, what is the point of the GOP pep rally this week and the Democrats' National Convention next week?
For all practical politcal matters, the significance of conventions have been replaced since the 1970s, when state primaries took the nominating process out of the smoke-filled back rooms and brought the power of the vote to the people. You ARE the Government!
The one remaining piece of political policy ideas that get adopted at the conventions is the adoption of the party platform -- a (non-binding) mission statement of what the party and its delegates believe in.
The Republican Party has just
released its 2012 party platform. Read the full document below. For previous
Wonkblog (Washington Post) coverage on a draft version, here’s Suzy pension
reform, immigration and
regulation and and me on
health care.
Use this spot to blog your thoughts on whether or not political conventions are still historically significant.
Newsworks audio: Do we still need political conventions?
The Daily Show: RNC 2012 the Road to Jeb Bush 2016
2 comments:
I think that these conventions are simply for attention. Mitt Romney being the Republican Candidate for President is common knowledge, they didn't need a whole convention to acknowledge that.
Also, these candidates campaign so much, that a convention won't be necessary at all. Why should they keep spending money on unimportant stuff just to gain attention?
I feel like they don't really matter... like Rashi said, everyone already pretty much knows by now who the candidates will be, and there's pretty comprehensive campaigning going on either way. Any official party decisions could just be released via press conference or something...an entire convention seems unnecessary and wasteful.
It seems like conventions are (like mentioned in class) big pep rallies, with motivational speeches and a few unsubtle jabs at the opposing side. Honestly (and I'm speaking for both sides here), it's easy to stand up on a stage and give a speech full of promises and optimism, but words are easy. At this point, people are tired of things and would rather hear focused plans, not the kind of generalized fluff that goes on a lot at these conventions.
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