(CNN) — The first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention is history.
As expected, it was a different looking and sounding production from years past, given that the pandemic of coronavirus kept the vast majority of the speakers away from the arena in Milwaukee.
Nevertheless, the show continued. And I watched every minute! Here are the best – and worst – of the night.
Successes of the Democratic Convention
Michelle Obama: The two most talented speakers in the Democratic Party are named Obama. Former First Lady Michelle Obama proved it, again, Monday night, with a powerful speech that struck at the center of what I believe is the most glaring flaw in the president’s personality. Donald Trump: a complete lack of empathy. “That’s not only disappointing, it’s downright infuriating,” he said at one point. Obama also offered his unique perspective on what it really takes to be president: how the rigor of the job reveals true character. Perhaps most surprising about Obama, who like her husband has generally resisted criticizing Trump In aggressive terms, the tone of his speech was blunt and at times harsh about Trump’s complete lack of qualifications to do the job he currently has. “Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country,” he said at the most powerful moment of his speech. “He has had more than enough time to show that he can do the job, but clearly for him it is very difficult to understand. He cannot face this moment.
* Kristin Urquiza: The daughter of an Arizona man who lost her life to covid-19 delivered the most powerful moment of the first hour of the two-hour convention program. And the most powerful line, about her father: “Her only pre-existing condition was to trust Donald Trump, and for that, she paid with her life.” Wow. That’s a line you’ll hear again, and perhaps one you’ll see in a television ad from former Vice President Joe Biden sometime this fall.
* Andrew Cuomo: The governor of New York became one of the most recognizable figures in the country thanks to his daily press conferences on the coronavirus in the spring, as New York City battled the worst outbreak of covid-19 in the country. His Monday night speech returned to that topic, with PowerPoint charts showing the decline in coronavirus cases in his state. For Cuomo, who is already being talked about as a potential 2024 contender if Biden doesn’t win or does not run for a second term, the speech was an effective affirmation of his image like a talented bureaucrat at a time when the country needs that.
* 2020 Expires: It was a very nice note that many of the people Biden beat in the Democratic primaries appeared in the same video explaining why they admire him and why they think he is the right man for this moment. I think New Jersey Senator Cory Booker was particularly effective in recounting how, after he and Biden clashed in debate, the former vice president, on a business break, praised Booker for his ideas and stage presence.
* Bernie Sanders: The senator from Vermont did what Biden’s team needed him to do. He acknowledged the differences between the two, especially in healthcare, but highlighted what they agreed on and how the threat from Trump is so fundamental that the differences between Democrats were not worth dwelling on. Will there still be some Sanders supporters who will stay home rather than vote for the type of politics Democrat who represents Biden? Of course. But Sanders didn’t make matters worse with that speech. Also, how can you argue with a cut wooden background for a speech?
* National Anthem: Children singing? Dressed in red, white and blue shirts? Oh, you can bet. The National Anthem was the emotional highlight of the first 45 minutes of the convention.
* John Prine: As someone who has loved music of John Prine for decades, hearing his voice singing “I Remember Everything,” to remember all those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus, was a highlight. Unfortunately, it also reminded me that we lost John to covid this spring. Ugh.
* Alice Cooper: When Wisconsin rep Gwen Moore pointed out that Milwaukee means “land of plenty” in Algonquian, I can’t imagine she was the only person who thought of Cooper’s scene in the movie “Wayne’s World.” In fact, did you know that “Milwaukee has certainly had its share of visitors. Did the French missionaries and explorers come here as early as the late seventeenth century to trade with the Native Americans?
Failures of the Democratic Convention
* Gretchen Whitmer: The governor of Michigan made the final list for vice president from Biden. But she didn’t take her best move on Monday night. Speaking from a podium and flanked by flags, Whitmer’s speech seemed too traditional for the moment. And her speech was similar: a kind of manual political speech that ended with the inevitable personal anecdote about some Michigan citizen who faced adversity. It was too formulated. Meh.
* Round tables: Look, I know that it is VERY difficult to produce two hours of television when you cannot have people, whatever they are, gathered in a room. And in theory it makes sense for Joe Biden or Megan Rapinoe to lead virtual roundtables to talk about police reform or frontline healthcare workers. But it felt very, very flat, like a flawed panel segment on cable TV where everyone says one thing and then goes on a commercial break. A little lifeless.
* Direct Symbolism: Former Ohio Governor John Kasich’s speech began by noting that U.S I was at a crossroads while he was standing, wait a bit, at a crossroads. Yeah man, we get it. Two roads diverged in a forest and all that. On the bright side: Kasich standing at a crossroads instantly became an internet meme.
* The Applause: After Maggie Rogers’ performance (it was amazing!) And after Sanders spoke, there was a full screen of people clapping to show their appreciation / agreement. I understand the desire to have some kind of reaction to the good music or political speeches. And how strange it is when a politician gives an enthusiastic speech and a deathly silence follows. But do you know which is worse? Strange post-performance applause via Zoom as we saw on Monday night.
–
