NEW CASTLE —
Why do we expect so much when we anticipate so little?
That’s basically how the media look at the national political conventions, questioning why they continue to be held.
I’ve even been critical of them, saying they don’t have the significance or importance they once had since the two presidential candidates win their parties’ nominations months in advance of the conventions.
But once the conventions are under way the media analyze every word that the speakers deliver as if it’s the last speech they’ll ever give.
One columnist, for example, said President Obama failed to close the deal in his speech to the Democratic convention Thursday night and that he wasn’t specific enough.
Depending on which poll you want to consider, Obama holds a slim lead over Mitt Romney with about 6 to 7 percent of voters undecided.
What that says is most voters — if we can believe the polls — have their minds made up. So, the speeches by Romney and Obama at their respective conventions probably didn’t sway most voters one way or the other.
It’s also questionable whether everyone who says they haven’t made up their minds are really undecided.
Nonetheless, while speeches tend to stir the emotions of both supporters and opponents of any candidate, I doubt whether they have any lasting effect. I’ve never encountered anyone who said they voted for a presidential candidate because of what he said at a party convention.
The fact is voters judge candidates on their records. In this case, the election will come down to how voters feel about Obama’s job performance over the last three-plus years. If they are negative, do they believe Romney can do a better job?
That’s the way it is in any election whether local, state or national.
I love great speeches, but they shouldn’t be confused with great policy.
Columns
Related Photos
-
About John Manna: John covers politics for The News. His "Focus" column appears each Saturday.
Discussion
John K. Manna: There’s little reason to expect great results from conventions
- Columns
-
-
Mitchel Olszak: Excuses for data sweep sound hollow
Perhaps 2013 will go down as the year privacy and civil liberties became too inconvenient for government. Listening to assorted officials defend massive programs that scoop up vast amounts of data certainly gives that impression.
-
John K. Manna: New ways needed to cover transportation improvements
Nobody can dispute the fact that bridges throughout the United States and Pennsylvania are on the verge of falling apart. Plus, roads continually need to be repaired or replaced.
-
Mitchel Olszak: Casino satire comes to fruition
Several years ago, I wrote a satirical column about government subsidizing casinos. In it, I envisioned a time in the future when casinos became so prevalent that the gambling market was glutted with them.
-
Culinary Conversation: Share your recipes with friends
The first weekend of summer kicked off with a wonderful visit from a very special friend and her husband who has become a great friend, too. I met Linda, who lives in Canada, more than three years ago on Facebook.
-
Mitchel Olszak: The challenge in life is to make certain that we live it
Many years ago, I worked as a reporter covering the police beat. The job involved a paper in a small town. And while much of this news consisted of burglaries, fights, drunk driving arrests, etc., I would get the occasional call for a fatality.
-
Mitchel Olszak: State records reveal water problems with gas well drilling
The drilling of shale gas in Lawrence County and the rest of Pennsylvania holds great promise. It also holds the potential for harm. Depending on who you ask, health and environmental concerns about shale gas drilling are either very real or very overblown.
-
John K. Manna: A look back a big wins, tiny turnout in primary
Years from now few people, if any, will remember Tuesday’s primary in Lawrence County. The few probably will not remember that only 9,291 registered voters turned out at the polls. It wasn’t the lowest turnout over the last 25 years or so.
-
Culinary Conversation: No sour grapes — just all things lemon
The makers of a lemonade mix have one intention for their consumers — add water and enjoy. Those fine people may be interested to know I found another use for the canister.
-
Lori Brothers: Body awareness can help manage stress
Are you an “inny” or an “outy”? I’m not referring to your belly button, even though the concept also applies there. I am talking about how you manage your stress. Do you internalize or externalize?
-
Mitchel Olszak: Snooping threat to the free press
In “All the President’s Men,” reporter Bob Woodward conducts late-night meetings with a source in a parking garage. That source, Deep Throat (later revealed to be high-ranking FBI official Mark Felt), was worried that he would be exposed as a tipster in the Watergate scandal.
- More Columns Headlines
-
