The Democratic National Convention was....Well-done, well-written, captivating, and calculated. The only surprise was Bill Clinton. Slated to speak for 24 minutes, he spoke for 48, and held the audience's attention for all of it despite using facts. Joe Biden was his usual "Uncle Joe" self. Michelle Obama delivered moving oratory about her husband and why she loves him (which, by the way, is an awkward/extended version of wedding vows. Imagine explaining why you love your spouse to millions of people and the tens of thousands in a convention center). Deval Patrick called for democrats to develop a "backbone", while Joe Biden said Barack Obama contains a "ramrod" backbone. Whichever way you spin it, the democrats convincingly endorsed their president.

In Tampa Bay, the Republican National Convention was not as well executed. Maybe it was the negativity, they painted the future with Barack Obama as an endless wasteland. Maybe it was Clint Eastwood. Maybe it was Chris Christie making his bid for president in 2016 instead of endorsing his candidate: "they said it was impossible to cut taxes in a state where taxes were raised 115 times in eight years before I became Governor. That it was impossible to balance a budget at the same time, with an $11 billion deficit. Three years later, we have three balanced budgets in a row with lower taxes. We did it." Christie continued to tout his own record, Ryan's speech was criticized for lack of facts (especially the Janesville plant which closed before Obama took office), and Mitt Romney's acceptance speech was forgettable.

There's something each convention had in common though; platitudes. It turns out, every candidate had parents of some sort. Most of these parents had difficult lives and were immigrants. ALL the politicians made allusions to supporting the troops, and the one who didn't happens to be the most important republican: Mitt Romney. Not to worry, he paid his due when crucified by Joe Biden for not paying homage to the troops in Afghanistan. Each democrat touted the middle class, each republican vouched for freedom and individuality (when it came to the economy). Each democrat reminded people of the democratic party platform which does not take away any women's rights, each republican spoke to how "we built it." 

In fact, most of the speeches were even structured the same, Obama's impassioned acceptance speech being the best example. The speech begins with "I love you so much Michelle." Nice and all, but...that's obvious. I kind of love her too. It tells his own personal story about his family, it turns to the issues, it attacks the republicans, and finally it aims to inspire. Obama's speech was perhaps the most well executed example, but the truth is, there is now a formula to all the speeches, whether republican or democrat. 

Both parties marched out hispanic politicians, Marco Rubio (R) and Julian Castro (D). Democrats were hell bent on appealing to the military with speakers with moving stories from the Army and Navy by the names of Jason Crow and John Nathman. Obama mentioned the military multiple times in his speech. 

It may be true that the democratic speeches were more well written, delivered with greater ability, more excitable than the republicans. This is in part because of the atmosphere. Democrats created an extremely optimistic environment. Republicans dragged Obama's presidency through the mud and Ryan did not just "play fast and loose" in his speech...he lied. 

None of this changes my naive wish that both parties would cease with the themes, the fake connections, and the made up human quality. Don't write a speech. Speak off the cuff. Do something different. This is why Bill Clinton's speech was so great. He improvised. His words were not written and edited and revised twice over, they were real, and as far as politicians go, they were raw. How can a candidate excite anybody about the democratic process by doing the same old song and dance, by appealing to specific groups and clubs and communities? Just appeal to people.

As Ronald Reagan once said, there they go again.