Keller @ Large: Enduring An Avalanche Of Spin
BOSTON (CBS) - Finally, it's over, two weeks of posturing, pandering, unnecessary shouting, and mush.
OK, there were a few moments that rose above all that.
Donald Trump's two daughters gave sincere endorsements of their father, and Ted Cruz seemed to speak from his heart, such as it is.
President Obama and Vice President Biden managed something approaching eloquence in their descriptions of how they see America.
And for me the best parts of both conventions were the regular people who told stories of how their lives were changed for the better by the nominees.
But for the most part, the last two weeks seemed to reinforce why so many of us feel that our political elites just don't get it.
For one thing, both parties feel compelled to make promises they can't possibly keep about an impossibly broad range of problems.
Trump's answer to everything is: leave it to me, I can fix anything and do it fast.
Hillary Clinton says stuff like "we're going to empower all Americans to live better lives," whatever that means.
Why can't these candidates just say something like "look, here are the top issues that require presidential attention: public safety, defense, spurring economic growth, and caring for those who can't care for themselves. And here's what I want to do to improve on what we're already doing."
Period.
Don't be vague.
Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.
Don't pretend you're Merlin the Magician.
I bet voters would be much more attracted to a speech like that, more than they were to the avalanche of spin we all just sat through.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
