conventions are tiresome

I have such mixed feelings about these political conventions. They are like theatre of the absurd in their pomp and circumstance, abstract art for the television cameras as they say over and over "John Kerry" "bravery" "purple heart" "wisdom," amid the blah blah blahs of the transitive texts. Who can honestly sit and listen to speech after repetitive speech? No wonder the networks refused to cover them; they're just not good television.

The worst part about these conventions are the millions of mindless, soundbite-seeking pundits clamoring for some screen time to give their opinion of the previous speech, and how America should react. I think pundits should have a special level of hell reserved for them and their blowhard pomposity. They're usually paid quite handsomely to give their opinion, which then somehow becomes everyman's opinion (depending on whether the pundit and everyman in question is "Liberal" or "Conservative."

I'm not just talking about the ones on PBS right after the speeches either. The opinions spring forth from ugly corners desperate for a moment in the spotlight, hoping that theirs will stick to the collective wall of TV-induced ADD like a pink post-it note.

Ewww, that sentence was a bit too florid. Let's edit "pink."

I just don't think it's healthy for people to watch TV news. The facts are just overwhelmed by all the opinion spouting from the personalities. I understand that this is TV, and TV needs celebrities. The cult of personality reigns, rather than actual news. People watch Bill O'Reilly or Dan Rather or Katie Couric because they "like" them for various reasons, and when you like someone, you are more inclined to accept what comes out of their mouths. People get attracted to people for whatever reason, and they get comfortable watching them on TV. Hell, they even feel like the people on TV are their friends, and you have to keep up with friends, right?

Me, I like Jon Stewart. I think he's cute, funny and smart. But don't tell him I said that.