The Chicks sing the national anthem at the DNC
The Chicks took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to perform their rendition of the national anthem.
Tim Walz may have helped the Democratic Party when he used the word “weird” to describe Donald Trump and JD Vance.
However, he did the journalists no favors by doing so.
Now the word is loaded. It doesn’t just mean weird anymore. It means Trump weird, Vance weird, however you define that. (Choose your own adventure, that’s never sounded less appealing.) It’s politically charged.
So what? After watching more of the Democratic National Convention than anyone should (and taking notes), I searched for the five weirdest things I saw on television, just like I did at the Republican National Convention.
Frankly, it was a little harder to find what was odd about the DNC. Without Trump constantly demanding allegiance and his eager supporters falling over themselves to give it, it just didn’t compare.
Still, they were great moments. Here are the five weirdest things I saw.
The general lack of oddities at the DNC
Look, it’s a convention. If you’re not a delegate, this is all a little weird. These things are for the true believers. And certainly there were plenty of silly outfits and costumes and so on at the United Center in Chicago. Call me stuffy, but the light-up cowboy hat was never a look I liked. But people don’t wear fake patches on their ears to honor their leader. (Can we pause for a moment and think about what a crazy thing this is?) Yes, the whole thing exists to build up Kamala Harris. But there wasn’t the cult vibe that surrounded the Republican National Convention. (It’s also hard to imagine a tribute to Prince at a Republican National Convention.)
Not ready for prime time yet
Are there clocks over there in Chicago? The keynote speakers for the first three nights — President Joe Biden on Monday, former President Barack Obama on Tuesday and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz on Wednesday — began after primetime on the East Coast. It’s debatable whether that matters much at a time when many of the Democrats’ targeted voters are getting their political news from TikTok. Spoiler alert: It does. Then again, punctuality isn’t exactly a traditionally great trait for politicians. And if it is, it’s not great. Finally, what people remember about Mussolini — well, aside from fascism — is that he made sure the trains ran on time. Please take your time, we’ll wait.
Fox News is on the side of the Republicans among the Democrats
OK, not really. The crew of “The Five” are as obnoxious as ever, mocking the proceedings. (Fox News is always more interesting when it’s fighting someone or something rather than trying to support this or that. It’s more authentic.) And yes, Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity are hitting out. Here’s how Hannity kicked off the convention on Monday: “As Democrats prepare to usher in a week of lies, fairy tales, illusions, propaganda, misinformation and vilification of Donald Trump, we’re going to tell you the real story.” Hmm-hmm. But even flamethrower Jesse Watters didn’t seem to have his heart in it. Michelle Obama’s speech on Tuesday night was praised by all; Bret Baier called it “amazing.” Dana Perino and Martha MacCallum also praised second gentleman Doug Emhoff’s speech. “Very special,” Perino called it. And it wasn’t just Fox News. Even Meghan McCain, the famous daughter of former Arizona Senator John McCain, praised certain aspects of the convention. These are strange times.
Appeal to the Rock
One of the things Meghan McCain particularly praised was the roll call on Tuesday night, when delegates from each state cast their vote for a candidate. Usually, politicians brag about their state for a few seconds (but who can forget Rhode Island’s Calamari Guy during the 2020 virtual DNC?). Not this time. DJ Cassidy was on stage spinning theme songs for each state, like Arizona’s Stevie Nicks singing “Edge of Seventeen” or, amusingly, the B-52’s “Private Idaho” for Idaho, duh. But nothing topped a live performance of Lil John’s “Turn Down for What” to kick off voting in Georgia. “This is incredible,” McCain posted on social media. And it kind of was. There are actually different kinds of weirdness, and this was the good kind.
Trolls attack Gus Walz because they are idiots
This is the worst kind of insanity. Gus Walz standing there, crying and mouthing the words “That’s my dad!” while his father, Tim, accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president was the most moving moment of both conventions, bar none. Who in the world could find fault with that? You know who. A certain segment of right-wing trolls, emboldened by Trump’s endless attacks and insults against anyone he tries to attack or insult, that’s who. Gus, 17, has a nonverbal learning disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which makes the attacks even worse. Ann Coulter, desperate for attention as ever, posted a picture and story of Gus Walz on X with the comment, “Speaking of insanity…” She was rightly blasted for it and deleted the post. (Screenshots are forever.) Other trolls mocked Walz for crying. It’s despicable. It’s disgusting. And unfortunately, it’s not surprising at all. Do better.
“Forget politics”: How Gus Walz stunned the news anchors
Reach Goodykoontz at [email protected]. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @guterK. Subscribe the weekly film newsletter.
