Should Democrats hold a physical Convention?

[Open Source Intelligence]

Yes, a lot can change in a few months. But they aready went heavy virtual in 2020 so there's precedent. To heavily control content and message and clamp down on anyone wanting to make political points they don't want made either on the Convention floor or outside the building, do you see it at least being broached by Biden's handlers and party bigwigs? We're long past the point of either the Republicans or Democrats actively wanting delegates to discuss anything of substance at their Conventions anyway.

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

Yes, holding it online would look cowardly.

[Bernie Derangement Syndrome Haver]

I wouldn't really call what happened in 2020 setting a precedent - there was a pandemic. Even the Republican convention was mostly virtual that year (which looking back is strange to think).

[TML]

Coronavirus is mostly a non-issue nowadays, so most attendees will be in-person. However, I would support maintaining a virtual participation option for those who are unable to attend physically.

[Progressive Pessimist]

The virtual roll-call was pretty fun. I wouldn't mind seeing that again.

[SnowLabrador]

Yes. Not holding one would add to the narrative that Biden's running scared from the inevitable massive protests outside the DNC.

[Skill and Chance]

Conventions are a stupid waste of time and money and should all just be Zoom meetings going forward.

[Duke of York]

Yes there is no reason not too.

[ηєω ƒяσηтιєя]

Conventions are a stupid waste of time and money and should all just be Zoom meetings going forward.

No, I disagree. Conventions may be a relic of the 1800s, but they are an important American spectacle and should continue to be held in person.

[The Mikado]

While there's lots of other distinctions with 1968, a really relevant one is that 68 had a lot of floor disruption and screaming matches within the convention hall. As I've said elsewhere, Humphrey went into Chicago with 68% of delegates while Biden will with 99% (and even that is a lowball...did anyone see that though Dean Phillips won three delegates in OH he didn't submit any delegate candidates so the Phillips delegate slots are going to party regulars? Expect to see similar for uncommitted delegates, who also don't submit lists).

The Convention has basically no potential for internal acrimony. 1968 had chaos on the streets mirrored by chaos in the hall, ditto 1972.

Do you remember the absolutely gigantic antiwar protests outside the 2004 NYC GOP Convention? No. Why? The GOP pols and delegates were unified no matter what the people outside were saying.

[DrScholl]

Stop suggesting Democrats make stupid mistakes so that Trump can have a leg up. The convention is going to be held in person, period.

[Electric Circus]

The modern convention is a dog and pony show, but there are still ways for protestors to disrupt something like that.

This is especially true when the media are looking for a story. Everyone expects this convention to be as boring as watching paint dry. If the protestors show up, they will be more fun to watch than a bunch of stage-managed hacks giving mediocre speeches that are halfway between John Meacham and ChatGPT.

Which points toward a defense that Democrats should embrace: Be dynamic, be interesting, do the unexpected, allow a little bit of managed chaos. Otherwise the true chaos agents will dominate our attention.

[GAinDC]

Stop suggesting Democrats make stupid mistakes so that Trump can have a leg up. The convention is going to be held in person, period.

People want it to be 1968 again sooooo bad

[Bernie Derangement Syndrome Haver]

I actually think having the crazy protesters outside the DNC could help Biden.

It's under-discussed here, but conservative America and apolitical America largely thinks the Palestinian protesters are Biden supporters (even though they call him "Genocide Joe", but they don't know that). This will at least reveal to on-the-fence independents that Biden is not in the same camp as the crazy leftists, and although the GOP can point to Biden being "divisive", they won't be able to as effectively attack him for being "pro-Hamas" or whatever they're going to try to do.

[Progressive Pessimist]

I actually think having the crazy protesters outside the DNC could help Biden.

It's under-discussed here, but conservative America and apolitical America largely thinks the Palestinian protesters are Biden supporters (even though they call him "Genocide Joe", but they don't know that). This will at least reveal to on-the-fence independents that Biden is not in the same camp as the crazy leftists, and although the GOP can point to Biden being "divisive", they won't be able to as effectively attack him for being "pro-Hamas" or whatever they're going to try to do.

Nah, it's a lose-lose situation.

[Steve from Lambeth]

Speak of the devil and...