THE DNC: A YOWZER . . . AND HARBINGER OF VICTORY

AUGUST 23, 2024 – It was a yowzer; I mean the DNC—attended by the most unified, most jazzed up, most diverse delegates to a Democratic National Convention I’ve ever witnessed. In what is surely a harbinger of victory, at the conclusion of KAMA-la’s  rousing acceptance speech last night, a veritable torrent of 18 gazillion red-white-and-blue balloons inundated the wildly cheering crowd. This was in stark contrast to 2004 (John Kerry), when only a handful of balloons found their way free of the ceiling netting and trickled down in twos and threes. Not exactly a portend of success. Worse than that was the DNC of 1980 (Jimmy Carter’s second), in which the balloon-drop failed altogether. Dan Rather of CBS News made the call: “The biggest story in the hall at the moment, the one getting the most attention, is the fact that they cannot get the balloons down from the ceiling.” Carter went on to lose his bid for re-election. When I saw the uninhibited success of last night’s balloon drop, I knew that the Harris-Walz ticket is destined to win.

I’m sure that realistic Republican campaign strategists who observed the Democrats’ celebratory success last night swallowed hard and choked. Those strategists surely realize that their candidate is the most flawed human being the Republican Party could have possibly nominated and that the race to November 5 has been turned upside down. With only 10 weeks to go, the Trump train has been passed by a bullet train.

Producers of the Harris-Walz DNC should receive the political equivalent of Academy Awards for best picture, best director, best screenplay, best actor, best supporting-actor, and best entertainment. In its entirety the event gave new definition to the term, “extravaganza.” Every aspect of the four-day epic show was richly orchestrated and brilliantly choreographed. If the production left a single delegate tearless, that delegate is simply bereft of tear ducts, not of patriotism.

It could well be, on the other hand, that not a single Republican in the land was moved by the inspiration, the positivity—and in Tim Walz’s favorite political term, the joy—that poured forth from United Center (so aptly named, given the express and implicit theme of the convention) in Chicago. In fact, it might be true as well, that few “independents” were influenced by the remarkable messaging that was so well conveyed by each of the many speakers. But I am positively certain that the show achieved its central objective: firing up the troops. The core thrust of the Locker Room Speech before the Big Game is not to influence members of the opposing team or neutral bystanders who might be listening in. No, the chief goal of the “Rah-rah-rah!” call to action is exactly that: a call to action; a highly concentrated inspirational motivational sustaining push to turn the team into a juggernaut on the field of contention.

How can I be so confident in my confidence?

First, I’m an old white guy. Perhaps I’m not a stereotypical Boomer of the sort who’s turned tired and sour with age; dubious of youthful enthusiasm, cynical about DEI, skeptical of newfangled ways of defining age-old and irresolvable problems. But if truth be told, that is, if my spouse were to speak, she’d say I’m more from the foregoing mold than I’m willing to acknowledge. After all . . . I am 70, I am a white guy; the product of privilege—and covetous of such privilege if “push” ever came to “shove.” Nevertheless my old white and entitled self and soul felt palpably inspired by the sentiments that were showcased with such clarity at the DNC: love of country, of my fellow citizens, and of the principles that ought to define and bind us. Most important for victory in November, I felt motivated to . . . “DO SOMETHING!” Before Biden dropped out, I’d planned without reservation to vote—for Biden. After the convention, however, I’m stirred to do much more: knock on doors to help get others to vote . . . for Harris and Walz. I have to think that I’m not the only Biden Boomer who felt the kick in the butt enough to DO SOMETHING.

Second, my “confidence in my confidence” about the success of the DNC stems from more conversations with young people—those within an age range from “first-time eligibility” to late 30s, early 40s; people who’d been uninspired, even critical of Biden (though disgusted by Trump). They’d not been sufficiently motivated by the five-alarm threat of another Trump Administration even though this time the threat is accompanied by a detailed blueprint (“Project 2025”) devised by an organized cadre ready to manipulate the serial sociopath into ordering an agenda of extremist policies antithetical to pluralistic democracy. This election will not be decided by Trump supporters changing their minds or by “undecideds” deciding. It will be determined by turnout among youth—the same demographic that led to Biden’s victory in 2020 and threatened to abandon him—and democracy!—in 2024. In my “old age,” I’ve never witnessed such impressive enthusiasm among young people, and with just 10 weeks to go—especially given the added boost that will surely ensue when “first-time eligible voters” soon congregate on college campuses—their energy will likely hold.

Third, by any objective standard, Harris and Walz are eminently better qualified, more focused, more positive, more motivated than their opponents. Just as important, H & W are surrounded by positive people, including spouses, children, extended family, friends and supporters. This intangible but critical factor was on full display throughout the convention.

As I watched I was reminded of the advice that an “angel posing as a doctor” told me days before I was officially diagnosed with a serious disease: “I can give you two pieces of advice,” he said. “One: stay off the Internet. Second and most important: surround yourself with positive people.” I seized upon that advice—especially the latter piece. Every bit as critical to my survival as miracle treatments and topflight medical care was the outpouring of positive, motivational support by a wide circle of archangels: family, friends, and medical care providers. Their unceasing care, cheers, smiles, laughter, well-wishes rescued me from defeat and despair, amplified my mantra, “act enthusiastic, you become enthusiastic,” and in the end granted me a new lease on life after a stem cell transplant exactly two years ago this very day.

So it will be with the Harris-Walz sprint to November 5. “Surrounded by positive people,” they are fueled and driven by a factor wholly alien and inaccessible to Trump and Vance. Just as I couldn’t suppress multiple myeloma by enthusiasm alone, a Democratic (and democratic) victory over retrograde forces can’t be achieved only by shouting “Rah-rah-rah!” But positivity is the most active ingredient for optimal efficacy of all other campaign resources. In this regard, the Democrats have an enormous advantage over the Republicans; a key asset that will win the day—and save our democracy. (Continued in tomorrow’s post entitled, “Form as Substance”)

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© 2024 by Eric Nilsson