The Southwest

Randy Horeuichi
Salt Lake City, UT

I miss some of the issue-platform excitement of past conventions, even though I know it is good for the party and the President's chances in November. While many of the speeches have been moving, particularly the Vice-President's and Jesse Jackson's, I think the idea that most of this scripting of the conventions is disconcerting. For once, it would be fun to attend a brokered convention but this is better than what happened in 1968 here in Chicago. It's just the idea to see the excitement of multiple ballots, a surprise vice-presidential nomination and other convention tomfoolery would be the ultimate experience.

I worry a great deal about the impact of the Dick Morris scandal. The timing could not be worse and the allegations are particularly disturbing. While I think it will be eventually be just a blip on the radar screen, the pall that has been cast makes me upset.

The best thing the convention has done for me is to restore some of my faith in the system and the things that Democrats are all about. For a while, as an elected official and longtime party worker, I have been a little cynical and burned out on politics. This convention has energized me some because of the passion and energy I have seen from fellow delegates. Some of my fellow delegates have real life problems of health care and wages, and it is these real life situations that I have been hearing daily that have reminded me of my political roots. I have this convention experience to thank for a political rebirth of sorts.

Renz Jennings
Phoenix, AZ

It would be hard to argue that political conventions haven't become celebrations of silliness, slickness and cynicism, where the delegate with the dumbest hat or most outrageous outfit claims their 15 seconds of fame on national TV. Yet, beneath the superficiality of the scripted show, are people who care deeply about the direction of this country. Indeed at the heart of this election are two different answers to the question of what is the proper role of government.

If you listen carefully to the Republican rhetoric, you'd think that the government is the enemy... that it's only role is to fill the heavens with laser weapons to protect America. Even Republicans must know this narrowness is ludicrous.

Even Republicans, when they are opening a can of tuna, want a government that is big enough to make sure that the tuna is safe to eat.....

A full version of this letter is available.....

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