It is convention time, folks. The Republicans meet in Philadelphia's Comcast-Spectator's First Union Center from July 31 through Aug. 3; the Democrats at the Staples Center in Los Angeles from Aug. 14 through 17. The conventions have a serious purpose. They are the supreme authorities in which the parties chart their future course of conduct and define their principles. The conventions select the nominees for president and vice president; create a platform of issues that defines the party philosophy; make rules for the conduct of party business; select officers and serve as a family reunion of the party faithful.
The substance of the conventions has not changed much since their inception over a century ago. The delegates adopt rules, accept credentials of delegates, agree on a platform of issues, nominate candidates for president and vice president, cheer their acceptance speeches and go home. But the form of the conventions has changed through time, generally to accommodate or exploit the communications systems of the day.
The 2000 conventions will lack the network television exposure that politicians had come to expect. Gavel-to-gavel exposure for the conventions has been de rigueur since 1948, when television began. This year, the networks are relying more on their cable networks and on the Internet to cover the totality of the conventions and will be doing select portions of the events -- focusing more on the candidates' elections and their appearances in the convention hall. Frankly, even the most avid political buff became bored fffs fffh It's convention time again