Amy Sullivan

MAN THE FLAG-WAVING STATIONS….I don’t quite yet know what I think of John Edwards’ speech and I need to dash off for a few more hours, so I’ll just leave you with this bit of trivia. If you watched wall-to-wall coverage on C-SPAN last night, you probably saw at least seven different kinds of signs […]

DECIPHERING THE EVANGO-SPEAK….I’m putting all of my religion commentary about Obama’s speech in one post so that readers who don’t like this stuff can just skip over it instead of complaining incessently. I’ve heard from a lot of you who appreciate knowing what those code phrases are, so we’re going to continue this little feature […]

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT…Okay, maybe that’s a little premature, but standing there listening to the roar of the crowd (only Clinton has received a louder ovation at this convention) after Obama brought down the house with his keynote address, with “Obama” signs blanketing the hall, I said to myself, “You’re looking at our first black president.” […]

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING….It’s worth stepping outside all-things-Convention for a moment to note that Tom Coburn just won the Republican nod for the Oklahoma Senate race this fall, a very good development for Democrats who want to take back that seat and have an excellent chance of doing so now. Campaign observers widely believed that […]

NOTES FROM THE FLOOR….In no particular order, here are some random Convention observations: Michael Moore groupies are still everywhere, blocking every escalator, hallway, or entrance the man approaches and moving with him, sort of like the cloud of dust that surrounds Pigpen at all times. He’s “edgy” and that qualifies as cool here. Also qualifying […]

PREACHER IN CHIEF….Faith and values have become buzzwords of the Kerry-Edwards campaign as of late, but until about 10pm on Monday night, you didn’t hear a peep about them. Not from Gore — whose lone foray into religion-speak in 2000 was to comment somewhat stiffly that he often asks himself, “What Would Jesus Do?” Not […]

FORMER MAYORS-TURNED TV HOSTS AND THE EX-PRESIDENTS THEY LOVE….Although I didn’t see television coverage of the speeches last night, I have no doubt that during the inevitable vamping that takes place, the cameras focused in on Jerry Springer working the floor and commentators reminded the home viewers that Springer used to have quite a political […]

AMERICA’S PAST AND FUTURE….It has surely not escaped the attention of every other political commentator that while the signs held by delegates inside the Fleet Center this evening read “America’s Future,” the stars on display are very much associated with America’s Recent Past. Al Gore took the stage to what can only be described as […]

UNINTENTIONAL HUMOR….On the schedule listing the speaker line-up for this evening, the entry for “Terry McAuliffe” was followed by the listing “Gavel to Order” before the entry for “Bill Richardson.” It turns out that the gaveling is part of Richardson’s official duties as the chair of the Convention. But it amused this correspondent to think […]

NOW THAT WAS BRIGHT….With all of the headlines and commotion about strict security at this year’s political conventions you would think that someone would have thought twice about the decision to place boxes of Gillette razors in each of the welcome bags handed out with credentials to delegates and press types in Boston. Boston-based Gillette […]