Keller @ Large: Lessons From The Conventions
BOSTON (CBS) - So what did we learn from the two weeks of political convention rhetoric we've just endured, or rather, enjoyed?
First and foremost, we've re-learned a recurring lesson - that these national party conventions have jumped the shark.
There are only a handful of moments with any real news value, some of them on the stage, some not, which could easily be compressed into two nights instead of four. Doing so could reduce the public cost of providing security for these things, which runs into the millions.
But for those with the patience to watch a good chunk of them, these conventions did offer some useful information.
We learned that within each party there are a sizeable number of activists who have zero interest in compromising with the opposition, or even each other. At the Trump convention, booing Hillary Clinton and bemoaning her policies wasn't enough - they want her incarcerated too, or in a handful of cases, even worse.
The Democrats had more success marginalizing their own malcontents, but there was still enough heckling from the floor and protesting in the street to make you wonder - why even be part of a party when all you want to do is tip over the buffet table?
But there was also an at least somewhat positive lesson from the conventions. The testimonials to Clinton and Trump from family members and people they've helped suggest that the dark, harsh picture each candidate's adversaries paint of them is not the full picture, but a nasty stereotype.
Hopefully, that will encourage voters to look past the hype and look harder for truth as this campaign continues. Think of it as our civic duty.
