“New American Consensus on International Cooperation”
Location: Big Tent:DIGG Stage
Time: 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM (MST)
Scheduled to Appear:

- Geoff Garin, President, Peter D. Hart Research Associates
- Steve Clemons, Senior Fellow and Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation
- Rep. Bill Delahunt (invited)
- Solana Larsen, Global Voices Online

Geoff Garin will present findings from the Better World Campaign’s 2008 polling and Steve Clemons will lead the panel in a discussion of the findings and the role of foreign policy in the campaign. The UN Foundation's blog, UN Dispatch is also featuring daily posts and tweets from the convention.

All eyes are fixed on the Democratic National Convention - and some of our international bloggers are actually in Denver, Colorado, blogging it live. Others are wishing they were there and turning to their television screens and the Internet, to cover it as the news comes in.

Danish-Puerto Rican Solana Larsen, who is covering the event for Open Democracy, says the convention is “totally scripted.”

The Convention itself is totally scripted, and the predictability is partly what makes it more of a ceremony than a real political conversation. I met one of the speech writers, who says they have a team of writers who will be sitting behind the stage in “the pit” editing and writing politicians' submitted speeches before they go on stage. There are strict time limits they must adhere to, and they must submit their speeches in writing for editing first. I imagine it will be somewhat like the Oscar's except the people coming up to give the speeches won't be as drunk.

Despite this, Larsen is impressed with the inclusive nature of the event. She explains:

However, the Convention is making strong ‘gestures' towards democracy and inclusion of the American people, which is nice. Unfortunately it seems less a matter of principal, than something that seems good for publicity, given how Obama is currently on the up and up

She further adds:

I hope once I'm there, my faith in the US political process may be restored, but national politics here generally seem to be more about saying the right thing than doing it. With 5000 delegates and 15,000 members of the press, clearly this whole show is about publicity more than anything. There are so many gross imperfections in the political system that voters simply seem to have come to terms with and lost hope of changing. It's doesn't make it easier that those who could change it, stand to gain by allowing the status quo to persist.

In another post, Larsen says the convention is operating like a “big events company.”

At times it feels the Democratic Convention operates a little bit like a big events company. Witness for instance, the press release they sent out on August 14, announcing the fact that Coca-Cola has been “Named Official Recycling Provider of the 2008 Convention” and will even be donating some recycling bins, energy-efficient coolers, and hybrid electric trucks to the city of Denver.

Cynics will wonder whether Coca-Cola's eagerness to be involved in the greening of the Convention has anything to do with the fact that Obama will be accepting the official nomination at the Pepsi Center.

She concludes her post with much food for thought saying:

A platform for change for some, a money-making opportunity for others. American democracy seems boastful of the fact that it does both simultaneously.

Also from Puerto Rico, Vivirlatino is finally at the event, after initial teething problems with getting her credentials. Once there, she posts the following report:

I missed Hillary Clinton speaking at the Hispanic DNC Caucus because I was dealing with the nightmare that was the picking up of credentials. But our student correspondent, Estevan, was there so he'll be blogging his thoughts later.

I did arrive in time to see Howard Dean, who focused on the need to register Latinos and get them to vote. He also spoke of how the Republicans scapegoat Latinos and how McCain flip-flopped on his own immigration reform plan.

Loretta Sanchez, whom I had never heard speak and has a surprisingly squeaky voice, spoke of how Latinos have earned residency in the U.S. because of our losing blood in Iraq.

I was able to ask Sanchez if she knew about the ICE Raids in Mississippi. She said: “Yo no se nada de eso, señorita” without looking at me.

Yup, she called me girl.

Meanwhile, Crian Padayachee, who blogs at The Political Glimpse from Ireland, wishes he was there. Here's his take on the first half an hour of the convention:

Watching the convention so far, it seems like a pretty good time, I really wish I had bought a plane ticket to go down to Colorado. John Legend is singing as I type this, never liked the guy except for one song whose title leaves me at this moment. Hope you guys are following my Twitter updates, Senator Klobuchar from Minnesota was pretty impressive so far in her Obama speech. If you are watching CNN International for you convention coverage, all they are doing is talking and not focusing on the speakers.

Also click here to follow Padayachee's Twitterfeed.

From the UK, Neil Stockley says the convention will be an opportunity for Obama to show his true colours. He explains:

Leading Liberal Democrats heading to Denver, Colorado for the Democratic National Convention will be able to see how Barack Obama uses his personal story to present himself as the man of destiny, part of America’s unfolding history and, importantly, the man with a vision for America’s future.

And finally David Farrar from New Zealand reposts the “top 10 convention moments” from Real Clear Politics. They are:

1. 1932 DNC - FDR
2. 1964 RNC - Barry Goldwater
3. 1968 DNC - Chicago anti war riots
4. 1948 DNC - Hubert Humphrey in favour of racial integration, leading to Dixiecrats walkout
5. 1976 RNC - Ronald Reagan impromptu speech
6. 1980 DNC - Ted Kennedy speech
7. 1960 DNC - JFK acceptance speech
8. 2004 DNC - Barack Obama
9. 1992 RNC - Pat Buchanan with his culture war speech
10. 1896 DNC - William Jennings Bryan giving a rousing speech arguing against the gold standard

He further comments:

Interesting that most of them are not speechs by the winner, but by others. I suspect the Ted Kennedy speech at the 2008 DNC convention could become historic (and I say this not liking Kennedy). With Obama seen by many as an heir to JFK, a speech by the last surviving brother will have significance. And the reality that Ted Kennnedy is dying, this will be his last convention, and with his death will go that generation of the Kennedys. I suspect it will be very raw and powerful.

Stay tuned for more coverage from the convention.

I'm headed to Denver for the convention tomorrow, and am looking forward to experiencing what promises to be a pretty massive and exciting event. I did apply for press/blogging credentials, but only 120 bloggers were selected to join. So I don't know how much of the official show I'll be able to catch (FYI - there's going to be a live webcast). The real reason I am going, is for the activities surrounding the Convention. Activists from across the country (and around the world) are making their way to Denver, to host and participate in dozens of events, parties, dinners, fundraisers, and at least two film festivals.

Personally, I'm also interested in studying how the use of internet and email for this Convention, which they themselves are calling "the most technologically savvy of its kind". For instance, they've set up a website called America's Town Hall where anyone can submit text or video questions for the Convention. They have apparently also scattered YouTube video recording kiosks around the Denver venue so people can record comments on the spot. Is it democracy in action, or just clever marketing? I think it depends how they use it.

The mood promises to be quite different from the Democratic Convention in 2004 where Boston police struggled to get anti-war protestors to remain inside a fenced area during daily protests. I still remember meeting 4 College Republicans who took turns wearing a giant foam flip flop (remember Kerry the "flip-flopper") who couldn't understand why people were being so mean to them. Of course, the left is still mad about the war and Bush, but Obama's dreamy message of hope and change and Bush's guaranteed exit, has got people thinking more positively.

Cynics will wonder whether Coca-Cola's eagerness to be involved in the greening of the Convention has anything to do with the fact that Obama will be accepting the official nomination at the Pepsi Center.

From the release:

"As Official Recycling Provider, Coca-Cola Recycling, a wholly owned subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises, will help develop, support and manage a system to support recycling efforts at all official Convention venues, including the Pepsi Center, INVESCO Field at Mile High and the Colorado Convention Center."

The release goes on to describe what a wonderful product Coca-Cola is and how much in love the company is with the environment. It is then signed and endorsed by the Democratic National Convention Committee. A platform for change for some, a money-making opportunity for others. American democracy seems boastful of the fact that it does both simultaenously.

In the clip, Ari introduces The Most Powerful Man in Denver (You've Never Heard Of), a man named Steve Farber who is a lobbyist and chief fundraiser for the Democratic Convention. Obama says he is opposed to special interest funding, but he obviously hasn't been able to change how the entire political machine works overnight. The total budget of the Convention must be astronomical.

The Convention itself is totally scripted, and the predictability is partly what makes it more of a ceremony than a real political conversation. I met one of the speech writers, who says they have a team of writers who will be sitting behind the stage in "the pit" editing and writing politicians' submitted speeches before they go on stage. There are strict time limits they must adhere to, and they must submit their speeches in writing for editing first. I imagine it will be somewhat like the Oscar's except the people coming up to give the speeches won't be as drunk.

However, the Convention is making strong 'gestures' towards democracy and inclusion of the American people, which is nice. Unfortunately it seems less a matter of principal, than something that seems good for publicity, given how Obama is currently on the up and up. House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, says in one of the introductory webcasts, that this year's convention is "almost without walls" given how much they will be interacting with the public in Denver and on the internet.

I hope once I'm there, my faith in the US political process may be restored, but national politics here generally seem to be more about saying the right thing than doing it. With 5000 delegates and 15,000 members of the press, clearly this whole show is about publicity more than anything. There are so many gross imperfections in the political system that voters simply seem to have come to terms with and lost hope of changing. It's doesn't make it easier that those who could change it, stand to gain by allowing the status quo to persist.

But I suppose that is the case mostly everywhere, in all countries.

From Denmark, Svanes was disappointed with Obama's choice:

crianp in Ireland, reluctantly accepted the news:

Responding to Canadian doshdosh's political tweeting, Daniel the Poet asked:

doshdosh's response?

American ariherzog understands why non-Americans are following along:

grbrit, a Briton living in Michigan, admits the need to bone up on Biden facts:

Finally, Canadian andrewkinnear jokes about what many Obama SMS subscribers have been thinking:

• In Trinidad, calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow sings that America could "regain worldwide respect with Obama’s vision", and in Jamaica reggae star Cocoa Tea adds "This is not about class nor color, race nor creed. It's about the changes, what the Americans need."
• In Egypt, a humanitarian worker has written letters to dozens of superdelegates urging them to back Obama.
• In China a dramatic Obama rally is being planned on the Great Wall.
• In Gaza, a Palestinian student has been making hundreds of campaign phone calls to the US over the internet, whenever he has electricity and is not under Israeli bombardment.
• In Kenya, Obama is so popular that a beer has been named after him!
• On the internet there over 40 international Obama fan groups on Facebook, many with more than 500 members, focused on Denmark, France, Indonesia, Tanzania and many other countries. There are also dozens of blogs and websites (see listings in the sidebar).

And wherever opinion polls have been conducted, comparing him with Clinton and McCain, Senator Obama is consistently the favourite candidate by a wide margin, for example:

• 74% in Japan
• 71% in Brazil
• 68% in Holland
• 64% in South Africa
• 61% in Britain
• 54% in Iraq
• 48% in Switzerland

I had Obama-supporting friends visiting over the weekend, and it became clearer to me how Hillary is stuck with the unfortunate image of a politician who will compromise on any ideal to get ahead.

The week before, I had a friend visiting from out of the country who horrified a group of Democrats over dinner by suggesting that Hillary should have left Bill after the Lewinsky affair. Never mind what ordinary wives do in this situation, she said - how can a female public figure just keep holding up appearances? (That great scene in the Sopranos, when the mafia-wives sympathise with Hillary comes to mind)

I personally don’t care very strongly what Hillary does or doesn’t do. I am just making a frivolous point. From a PR-perspective, I can’t help thinking a little separation or divorce is exactly what it would take to short circuit the current media trajectory. Bill hasn’t exactly been helping her image much in the last weeks of campaigning (with the race baiting and sleeping), so maybe now would be a good time to get that revenge for the Lewinsky affair!

People could no longer claim she wasn’t strong and independent, or into “change”. She would steal all the headlines. Other divorcées and women with faithful husbands would vote for her, and once she was elected, the media could engage in a long Brad and Angelina-type coverage of them getting back together. Sweet.

On a more serious note (also arising from this weekend’s conversations), wouldn’t it have been awesome to have a female candidate who made single mothers her campaign issue? She could have touched on education, health care, reproductive rights, poverty, family, gender, labor, immigration, welfare, and peace, all at once.