Imagine if you will if there had been a convention of ultra-liberal Democrats that was set up across town in Denver as a competing event to the DNC. If Obama had made his vice presidential choice at the last minute in order to defer to, say, the environmentalist lobby, picking somebody who was opposed to any kind of oil drilling at all. If the former President of the United States didn't even come in person to the convention. If Obama himself ran against the Democratic brand, and not as a proud member of the party. If there were thousands of empty seats at the convention hall. If the Obama campaign management came out with a statement in the middle of the convention that the campaign was "not about issues".
What would the mainstream media story have been? Why, the tensions in the fractured, disunited Democratic party, of course. But all the above things are true of the Republicans, who are divided, disunited, enmeshed in in-fighting, and unable to muster enthusiasm for their standard bearers.
WHERE'S THE STORY ON THE DISUNITED REPUBLICAN PARTY? The facts are at the media's feet. Itemizations on the flip side.
Let's do a quick review:
- In Minneapolis, Ron Paul's "Campaign for Liberty" is holding a shadow convention that had 12,000 attendees -- at a cost of $17.76 per ticket -- the Target Center. There were more people on the floor than that of the RNC on Tuesday. Paul showed double-digit support in many Republican primaries.
- For every Joe Lieberman, there's a thousand Republicans who are bolting the party to support former Republican "Maverick" Bob Barr, who represents many Republicans who think their party now stands for big, intrusive, police-state government.
- Meanwhile, there were thousands of empty seats at the official convention. Good Luck Finding a Seat. (picture from Wonkette). "It's more like an insurance convention." (Video via TPMTV/YouTube.)
- The last-standing runner-up in the Republican primary, the only energizing force in the Republican primary season, Mike Huckabee, was not even vetted for the Vice Presidency.
- The winner of more contests than anyone except McCain, including multiple potential swing states, Mitt Romney was passed over for the Vice Presidency, even though he was considered to be a "mandatory" addition to the ticket to get conservative support. Why does the conservative right of the Republican party hate John McCain? Talking heads like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh said during primary season that nominating McCain would "destroy the Republican party."
- George Bush and Dick Cheney aren't even making an appearance at the convention. Gustav? It's Wednesday. Bill Clinton spoke on Wednesday at the DNC.
- They dropped Rudy Giuliani, their emblem of 9/11, as keynote speaker. Why? Because he's pro-choice?
- The most popular Republican Governor in the country, Arnold Schnwarzenegger, didn't even attend the convention. No hurricanes in California right now. I'm not sure the budget impasse would preclude a quick flight to Minneapolis from Sacramento for a speech, given that he could be back in time for work the following morning.
- The top of the Republican ticket seems to be running against the Republican Party of the last eight years. There are so many examples of even the ticket being divided: McCain called out then-Mayor Palin's own earmarks on his "pork" report, and no one can match Palin in terms of earmarks per capita either as Mayor or Governor. Meanwhile McCain opposes drilling in ANWAR, while Palin has advocated it so the state of Alaska can continue to provide government handouts to its citizens.
Let' see, who was it who said "A house divided against itself cannot stand?" was is by any chance the first Republican President of the United States?
Republicans: hopelessly divided, fighting, unmotivated, and not even competing well with Ron Paul across the river.
The Twin Cities isn't nearly the perfect metaphor for this party; the Land of 10,000 Lakes is, though, since that's about the number of shards the party has been shattered into.
Last week we were treated to a bizarre alternative universe where the Democrats, who have more party members than any party now in the history of the country thanks to the energized primary campaign, are disunited. This week we have a fantasy universe where Republicans are united behind John McCain, despite all the above.
Yoo hoo! MSM!
minor update 1: added better link for LA Times report on Palin appearing on Mccain's earmarks list.
minor update 2: added link to funny article on Salon about the Ron Paul convention.