2012 Democratic National Convention: Day 1

Just as with the Republicans, all the real business (except for the nominations) takes place with the acceptance of the temporary officers of the Convention and the reports of the Credentials, Rules, and Platform committees.  Since there was no alternative primary candidate the votes themselves are likely to be uncontentious, but that doesn’t mean the polices are-

• Teacher’s Unions in Tension With Democrats in Charlotte
  
  By: David Dayen Tuesday September 4, 2012 7:06 am

• The Democratic Platform’s Dishonest Nonsense on Housing
  
  By: David Dayen Tuesday September 4, 2012 7:48 am

• Democratic Platform: So Much for Fixing the Affordable Care Act Later
  
  By: Jon Walker Tuesday September 4, 2012 8:50 am

• The Democratic Platform on Social Insurance and the Deficit
  
  By: David Dayen Tuesday September 4, 2012 6:28 am

Unlike the Republicans, the Democrats are delaying the release of daily schedules until 10 pm the previous night.  I hate it because it puts more deadline pressure on me and I hate to tell you how much time I’m already spending on the orchids Archie.

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Call to Order Debbie Wasserman Schultz Chair of the Democratic National Committee Member of the US House of Representatives, Florida
• Invocation His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Detroit
• Presentation of Colors Disabled American Veterans, The Stanly County Chapter 12 Honor Guard
• Pledge of Allegiance 3rd Grade Class, W.R. O’Dell Elementary School Concord, North Carolina
• National Anthem Amber Riley

• Remarks Stephen J. Kerrigan Chief Executive Officer of the Democratic National Convention Committee
• Welcome Video
• Presentation of Credentials Committee Report from Co-Chairs Bishop Vashti McKenzie African Methodist Episcopal Church, Julian Castro Mayor of San Antonio, Texas
• Presentation of Rules Committee Report from Co-Chairs Kamala D. Harris Attorney General of California, Martin O’Malley Governor of Maryland
• Appointment of Convention Officers
• Gaveling-in of Permanent Chair Antonio R. Villaraigosa Chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee Mayor of Los Angeles, California
• Remarks Steny Hoyer Parliamentarian of the 2012 Democratic National Committee Convention Democratic Whip and Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland, Andrew Tobias Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, Alice Germond Secretary of the Democratic National Committee
• Roll Call for Attendance

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

• Platform Committee Remarks Barbara Lee Member of the US House of Representatives, California Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (Retired) First woman to reach rank of three-star general in the US Army
• Platform Video and Remarks Cory A. Booker Mayor of Newark, New Jersey
• Remarks Bev Perdue Governor of North Carolina
• American Hero Video: Education
• American Voices Remarks Ryan Case
• Remarks Mary Kay Henry International President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
• Remarks from Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Charles Gonzalez Member of the US House of Representatives, Texas Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nydia M. Velazquez Member of the US House of Representatives, New York
• Remarks Pat Quinn Governor of Illinois
• Remarks Doug Stern Cincinnati, Ohio Firefighter
• Remarks Tim Kaine Candidate for the US Senate, Virginia Former Governor of Virginia Former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee

7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

• Remarks Anthony R. Foxx Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina
• Harry Reid Democratic Majority Leader and Member of the US Senate, Nevada
• An Economy Built to Last Video: Education
• Women of the US House of Representatives
• Jimmy Carter Video
• Remarks Ken Salazar
• Kennedy Family Tribute Video
• Remarks Joe Kennedy III Candidate for the US House of Representatives, Massachusetts
• Live Performance Ledisi
• Remarks Robert Wexler President of the S. Daniel Abraham Center for Middle East Peace Former Member of the US House of Representatives, Florida

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM

• Remarks R.T. Rybak Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota Jared Polis Member of the US House of Representatives, Colorado
• Stronger Together Video: Reproductive Choice
• American Voices Remarks Maria Ciano
• Remarks Nancy Keenan President of the National Abortion Rights Action League – Pro-Choice America (NARAL)
• Progress for People Video: American Veterans
• American Voices Remarks Nate Davis
• Remarks Tammy Duckworth Candidate for the US House of Representatives, Illinois Former Assistant Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs
• Lincoln Chafee Governor of Rhode Island
• James E. Clyburn Assistant Democratic Leader and Member of the US House of Representatives, South Carolina
• Progress for People Video: Health Care
• American Voices Remarks Stacey Lihn
• Remarks Xavier Becerra Democratic Caucus Vice Chair and Member of the US House of Representatives, California

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM

• Ted Strickland Former Governor of Ohio
• Kathleen Sebelius
• Rahm Emanuel Mayor of Chicago, Illinois Former White House Chief of Staff
• Remarks Kal Penn Actor/Producer Former Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement
• Remarks Craig Robinson and Maya Soetoro-ng Brother of Mrs. Obama and Sister of President Obama
• Stronger Together Video: Equal Pay
• Remarks Lilly Ledbetter Women’s equality leader and namesake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
• Deval Patrick Governor of Massachusetts

10:00 PM – 11:00 PM

• Martin O’Malley Governor of Maryland
• Introduction of Keynote Speaker Julian Castro Joaquin Castro Brother of Mayor Julian Castro Candidate for the US House of Representatives, Texas
• Keynote Address Julian Castro Mayor of San Antonio, Texas
• Michelle Obama Video and Remarks Elaine Brye
• Remarks Michelle Obama First Lady of the United States
• Benediction Jena Lee Nardella Founder and Executive Director of Blood: Water Mission

I’d say the highlights are Robert Wexler, Lincoln Chaffee, and Michelle Obama.  A variation TheMomCat noted is that Michelle Obama will be scheduled after the keynote, minimizing Chris Christie comparisons.

In looking at the agenda it seems the Democrats are putting more emphasis on pre-recorded contentent.

A Jim Blaine story-

I helped produce a folly of the myth of Persephone, a deeply symbolic piece about a young girl’s coming of age with incense and readings and a world beat sound track with live dancing and acting.

Performed by a cast of whomever we could scrape together and subject to 2 or 3 hours of make up and costume and choreography.

How to create this silk purse?  Pre-recording.  Teleprompters are for wimps.  Dual cassettes with live cast and 8 hours in the studio later you end up with something you hope the fireworks will distract from.

“Ok, now at the end of this song you all end up in a circle around Persephone.  Dragon?  Where’s the Dragon?  I need the Dragon on Stage now.”

The point?  There never was a bullier old ram…  oh.  Well, simply that while it may seem like a lot when you read it, the Republican convention was full of it too.

I removed all the “The Honorables” because none of them are.