question about the U.S. political conventions

Sugar420 · 09-02-2004, 09:49 AM

ok, here's what i dont really understand about the democratic and republican national conventions:

i read that the point of these conventions is for eveybody to get together to decide and announce who will be the party's candidate.
but -

by the time these conventions happen, its already been decided and widely known who the candidate will be
both parties try to put off announcing their candidate as long as possible, even if everyone already knows, becuz once they have offficially announced their man they only get a small amount of money to spend on their campaigns, but untill the announcement is made they can collect and spend funds like mad

so, if there is no voting or deciding being done becuz the candidates are already a foregone conclusion, and there is no announcement made (to dodge campaign spending limits), then what really is the point of these conventions?

Jerry Springer · 09-02-2004, 10:03 AM

To formally announce their candanicy (sp?).

Its like in a couple months when YaHooka will nominate me as the kewlest member ever. We all know that I am the kewlest but we need a big ceremony to announce it.

09-02-2004, 10:08 AM

conventions are largely meant as rallying crys for the respective party.

with the advent of television, this has only grown in importance, and in the last few electiosn mass media has become so vital and important and the potential for a bounce in poll ratings following the conventions so high that both parties try to outdo themselves with charismatic speeches and entertainment.

bread and circuses?

09-02-2004, 10:16 AM

yup...but the parties have changed the rules...really the primaries are like the electoral college where you are only designating who you want the delegates to vote for at the convention..used to be all the deals (smoked filled rooms)
were made at the convention itself...its all just a show now...the parties learned from the 50's when the original "black panther party"(not related to the militant group) would send protest delagates because the democratic party in some states banned blacks for participating in the primaries..

there used to be fights on the floor and nothing was decided untill the convention...then the media age came in and its all a dog and pony show now

SmokeSomeDoja · 09-02-2004, 11:26 AM

and guess what pays for them.....?

OUR TAX DOLLARS

what a crock of bullshit

09-02-2004, 09:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Sugar420 Old School Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 6,093 Thanks: 32 Thanked 132 Times in 706 Posts	question about the U.S. political conventions ok, here's what i dont really understand about the democratic and republican national conventions: i read that the point of these conventions is for eveybody to get together to decide and announce who will be the party's candidate. but - by the time these conventions happen, its already been decided and widely known who the candidate will be both parties try to put off announcing their candidate as long as possible, even if everyone already knows, becuz once they have offficially announced their man they only get a small amount of money to spend on their campaigns, but untill the announcement is made they can collect and spend funds like mad so, if there is no voting or deciding being done becuz the candidates are already a foregone conclusion, and there is no announcement made (to dodge campaign spending limits), then what really is the point of these conventions?

09-02-2004, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jerry Springer I'm back!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Charlotte Posts: 956 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	To formally announce their candanicy (sp?). Its like in a couple months when YaHooka will nominate me as the kewlest member ever. We all know that I am the kewlest but we need a big ceremony to announce it. __________________ Cleveland House - Sober Living Resort If you need any help with addiction - Click here Always pass a drug test

09-02-2004, 11:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
SmokeSomeDoja Lushous Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Erogenous Zones Posts: 17,396 Thanks: 238 Thanked 445 Times in 279 Posts	and guess what pays for them.....? OUR TAX DOLLARS what a crock of bullshit __________________ fotoz fo yo azz "I've run over black cats that were luckier than me."

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09-02-2004, 10:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
j-wonder Guest Posts: n/a	conventions are largely meant as rallying crys for the respective party. with the advent of television, this has only grown in importance, and in the last few electiosn mass media has become so vital and important and the potential for a bounce in poll ratings following the conventions so high that both parties try to outdo themselves with charismatic speeches and entertainment. bread and circuses?

09-02-2004, 10:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
kamikazi89 Guest Posts: n/a	yup...but the parties have changed the rules...really the primaries are like the electoral college where you are only designating who you want the delegates to vote for at the convention..used to be all the deals (smoked filled rooms) were made at the convention itself...its all just a show now...the parties learned from the 50's when the original "black panther party"(not related to the militant group) would send protest delagates because the democratic party in some states banned blacks for participating in the primaries.. there used to be fights on the floor and nothing was decided untill the convention...then the media age came in and its all a dog and pony show now

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