The Last Day
August 28th, 2008 – 2:17 AM by James LileksI’m not saying this convention has a pre-scripted feel, but when the TV at the bar flashed NEWS ALERT followed by the words BARACK OBAMA NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT there wasn’t the stunned hush you expected, and reporters did not dig out cell phones and start barking paragraphs to the copy desk. It may be that we’ve become inured to the NEWS FLASH; it may be that people actually saw that one coming.
I was on the floor when it happened, as noted yesterday, and while the management of the event was flawless – the deferred votes, the appearance of Sen. Clinton, the dramatic suspension of the rules all built up nicely to the final vote tally, and if the band was surprised by the quickened pace of the event they covered well, and launched into “Love Train.” As the lyrics suggested, people all over the hall did join hands and got on board the aforementioned train, and the hall was filled with joy and light and music. Except for this guy:
Shep! C’mon, go with the moment. Well, the official media is supposed to be straight-faced no matter what. I will say this: the last time I saw someone with that much makeup on he had green eyes and went by the name “Data.”
Speaking of which, Shep was given a Vulcan neck pinch shortly before going on the air:
He recovered by airtime, though. These guys are pros.
You will not find this sort of hand-holding at the RNC version, I think; as a friend of mine once said, he chose his church on the basis that it was the place he was least likely to be hugged. Don’t know what the RNC will do for music – anything from the latter quarter of the 20th century would be modern by comparison, although they could hire Brian Setzer and have his orchestra knock out big-band tunes. M-C-C-A-I-N-0-8 I got a guyyyy named Johnny McCain / don’t wanna boast but the other guy’s toast / along with his running mate-ate-ate ate and so on. Then again, just because McCain is 72 doesn’t mean he listened to the Andrews Sisters, for heaven’s sake. He’s expressed a preference for ABBA. This would make him more popular with the younger undecided demographic, but only if he enjoyed them semi-ironically, and wore a black T-shirt that had the ABBA logo split in half by the AC/DC lightning bolt. (Note to the McCain camp: are you listening? I’m not charging for any of this.)
Anyway, today is the last day. Stay tuned for more BREAKING NEWS. It’s expected that Barack Obama will accept the nomination tonight and give a speech relating to the campaign. You heard it here first.
13 Responses to "The Last Day"
Given that Brian Setzer was an extremely close friend of Joe Strummer’s, I kinda doubt he’d take the GOP gig.
You promised pictures of Captain Morgan. It is now The Last Day. I am waiting.
“… but when the TV at the bar flashed NEWS ALERT followed by the words BARACK OBAMA NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT there wasn’t the stunned hush you expected …”
Maybe you weren’t paying attention during the primaries and caucusses?
I’m having a hard time seeing McCain listening to Rush or Alice in Chains. As far as Abba, he probably still sees it as ‘that new-fangled crap the kids listen to these days’.
If the RNC has any class at all, they won’t let Brian Setzer in the state of Minnesota, much allow him to make that noise he makes (there is good swing, and there is THAT).
I loved the chyron on MSNBC during Biden’s speech: “Obama to make surprise appearance after Biden’s speech.”
Umm, since Brian Setzer lives in Minneapolis now I think the RNC is going to have a hard time keeping him out of the state of Minnesota.
El Kabong, Captain Morgan won’t be making an appearance at the convention anymore. Lance arrested him for the murder of Doris. Details at buzz.mn
I’m trying to avoid all of the convention coverage except for here. Which really cuts down on what I listen to on the radio. (I don’t watch the network news anymore).
I chose my church on the basis that it was the place I was least likely to be seen. That’s right — attendance at my church is prohibited. No one shows up. In fact, we don’t need a physical building for this reason. Physical manifestations of faith are so unenlightened.
El Kabong - Captain Morgan is featured in the last part of the video on page 1 of the Star-Tribune’s site - Lileks Convention Diary Part 4.
The Captain is so peppy, you’d think he was promoting Red Bull.
ABBA sounds kinda risky– multicultural and all that. Pat Buchanan will not be pleased.
I do.
Love your convention coverage. It certainly has panache and flair. See you on ALMANAC.
McCain could get my vote by using Metallica’s “Don’t Tread On Me” as a theme song.