Democratic Convention Diary: Wednesday

Associate editor Robert Kaiser and Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Lucian Perkins are at the Democratic Convention in Boston collecting images and impressions in their Convention Diary. What is the latest news from the convention? How are delegates, journalists and VIPs dealing with the unprecedented security around the Fleet Center?

Kaiser and Perkins were online to discuss the convention.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

________________________________________________

Annandale, Va.: Is there any way we can get Michael Moore to understand how much of a traitor he will seem to be to the returning Iraqi veterans, much like Jane Fonda is to Vietnam Veterans?

Lucian Perkins: I suspect that might not be the case for many veterans. I spent three months covering the war there last year and his portrayal of the war was probably closer to what they went through than many people might suspect.

_______________________

Bloomington, Ill.: What do you think of Obama?

Robert G. Kaiser: Hello again from Beantown. We have several questions like this one about Barack Obama, the keynote speaker last night--a fact known to C-SPAN and CNN viewers, but not a lot of others, evidently.

I wrote a diary entry about my failed effort to watch the speech with a group of black Bostonians in a great jazz bar on Tremont Street in Roxbury called Slade's. The speech wasn't on any of the stations that Slade's gets, so my idea came to naught. But I had a good time!. Hope you can read the document.

Anyhow, I did read Obama's speech, and was very impressed by it as a piece of oratory. I'll let Lucian add his impressions from the floor. I saw enough of this young man on the news late last night and this morning to realize that the Dems have a new start here.

Lucian Perkins: He "electrified" the crowd and wrote a great speech. Too bad it was not on National TV.

_______________________

London, UK: Will the grassroots Democrats represented by Howard Dean and Michael Moore ultimately have an influence on John Kerry's policymaking if he reaches the White House, or will they quickly be forgotten once the real business of leading the world's only superpower begins?

Robert G. Kaiser: Greetings to all. This was the question on the minds of a lot of the self-styled progressives at the meeting in Cambridge yesterday where Moore and Dean spoke. I hope you get a chance to read our diary entry on that event, and see the photos.

I don't know the answer; no one does. Obviously Kerry is casting himself as a New Democrat centrist, a la Clinton. But a lot of the people in that hotel ballroom have decided they loved Bill Clinton, welfare reform and all.

Let's let the election campaign run its course before we start speculating about a Kerry administration.

_______________________

Beaufort, S.C.: How can the Democrats expand their ranks by encouraging the 48 percent of nonvoters to register and vote for Kerry-Edwards?

Robert G. Kaiser: This is a topic much discussed here this week. Expanding the electorate is a great Democratic desire. Turning out swing voters for your man is the old-fashioned approach; this year the Dems want to turn out their loyalists who are not died-in-the wool voters, who might vote but don't always. So the marginal voter, not the swing voter, may be Target No. One in 2004. (For Republicans too, incidentally.)

_______________________

Annandale, Va.: Was "Fahrenheit 9/11" funded by the Democratic Party?

Robert G. Kaiser: No. It only cost few million to make, money Michael Moore easily had in the bank from his previous hit movies and books. He said in public yesterday that the movie will eventually gross about $250 million. That is a big number.

_______________________

Grand Rapids, Mich.: Just a reminder that C-SPAN is offering virtually uninterrupted coverage of the convention. However, it lacks the pundits repeating back to the viewer what the speaker just said, or historians reaching for parallels with remotely-associated past events. Wouldn't it be interesting, if not poetic justice, if this is how viewers started getting informed for their election decision?

Robert G. Kaiser: A well-deserved plug for C-SPAN, an American institution of enormous value in my opinion.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Have you visited the "free speech" zone and do you feel that it is truly necessary, in the name of anti-terrorism, to impose what photos seem to show as a police-state mentality in a country where we supposedly have freedom of speech and assembly?

Lucian Perkins: The "free speech" zone has been getting a lot of coverage by everyone, so we haven't made it a priority to get over there yet. I have walked by it. It does give an aura of a "Police State."

_______________________

Millersville, Md.: Why do some people call Barack Obama a 'rising star' in the Democratic Party?

Robert G. Kaiser: Because he is heavily favored to win a Senate seat at age 42; because he is handsome, smart and articulate; because voters of all genders, races and ages swoon over him; because of his exotic and impressive life story---whadya want already? He IS a rising star, don't you think?

_______________________

Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: Where you at the EMILY's List event? I weep everytime I hear Ann Richards talk. What an amazing woman.

Robert G. Kaiser: we missed it.

_______________________

Riva, Md.: Although the media presumed that education would have a little bit of stage during the election theater...the pesky little issue has been upstaged. Have you noticed any critical acknowlegement that this is an area that deserves a little bit of rehabilitation away from the bureacratic data-management under Secretary Paige and President Bush ?

Robert G. Kaiser: I've been hearing delegates and politicians talking about education all week. Surprised by your question. I'm sure we'll hear a lot about it from both Edwards tonight and Kerry tomorrow night.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: I was listening to Air America Radio yesterday, and Norm Ornstein said he was on the floor and ran into (literally) Jerry Springer. How do these people get to attend? Are they actually delegates?

Lucian Perkins: I'm amazed at the peopple I see on the floor from celebraties to photographers working for bogus organizations. Where there is a will, there is a way to get into any event like this.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I can't believe you call the extreme left-wing Democrats "Progressive Heros" and the extreme right-wing Republicans get slandered in the media.

Robert G. Kaiser: I used the term to suggest that they were heros to the progressives. Personally I don't dub heros, left, right or center. I leave that to royalty, and television. I'm sorry if you thought I was passing judgment; should have been more careful in my wording. The point I hope was clear from the diary entry: that crowd in Cambridge was sent into rapturous territory by Dean and Moore, who were, indisputablhy, THEIR heros.

_______________________

Somewhere USA: You just wrote:

"...So the marginal voter, not the swing voter, may be Target No. One in 2004. (For Republicans too, incidentally.) ..."

I don't understand the distinction, please elaborate.

Thank you.

Robert G. Kaiser: the marginal voter is one who may or may not vote, has or has not voted in the past. swing voters are attentive participants who vote Repub this year, Dem the next...

_______________________

Kansas City, Mo.: I felt that Barack Obama certainly transcended the current political climate of people screaming past each other in his speech last night. But right after I saw Bill O'Reilly and Michael Moore in a screaming match and a battle of monsterous egos on O'Reilly's highly-rated show. Don't you think that this sort of journalism polarizes people or just turns them off to politics?

Lucian Perkins: You've got a good point. It polarized our country and gets good ratings. Not a good combination to transcend.

Robert G. Kaiser: Shout TV is not congenial to those of us who have grown up working on a thoughtful, serious newspaper. Shout TV is a kind of entertainment, the first version, arguably, of Reality TV, which of course isn't real at all. O'Reilly, you might say, is to real politics as Donald Trump is to real business life. Sort of, but not really, if you know what I mean.

O'Reilly does have high ratings for a cable show, as Lucian notes. But his audience is tiny compared to, say, Meet The Press, not to mention the network news shows--or the really big audiences, like Trump's.

_______________________

Staten Island, N.Y.: Am I the only person to have watched Barak Obama, turned to my husband and said, "I think I've just seen the first African-American president."?

Robert G. Kaiser: Are you the only person on Staten Island? Or anywhere? I am guessing that you are not, but I have to admit that from where I sit just now, it isn't easy to interview every married couple in America.

_______________________

Monterey, Calif.: My Two Cents as a progressive who actively protested to try to prevent our invasion of Iraq and who felt totally abandoned by the evaporation of the Democratic party in the 18 months after 9/11 (and who relied on the Peace Movement, MoveOn.org, the ACLU, and later Howard Dean to fill the void)...

Much to my surprise, I feel welcome, included, supported, and validated by what I see happening in Boston.

Also even a wee bit hopeful!

Robert G. Kaiser: thanks for posting.

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: It seems to me that no matter how rabidly negative the speakers at this convention are, the media are willing to ignore the attacks. The Post informs us this morning that "Democrats focus on healing divisions," as if the paper were watching some other convention on some other planet. Was I the only one who heard Ted Kennedy say that the only thing to fear is four more years of the Bush administration?

washingtonpost.com: Democrats Focus on Healing Divisions (Post, July 28)

Robert G. Kaiser: Are you actually suggesting that an American political convention should contain NO criticism of the other party? Do you expect that to happen in NY next month?

Of course in a close election, when feelings are running high, and when anti-Bush feelings are the single most important animator of Dem activists, you are going to have criticism of the GOP--and of the Dems in New York.

I hope we can link here to David Maraniss's wonderful piece in today's paper about the power of these anti-Bush sentiments on the delegates here.

That said, the Kerry campaign has imposed a good deal of discipline here. The Bush-bashing one hears in every informal conversation among delegates is not being heard from the podium. The toughest anti-Bush speech by far came from Jimmy Carter, a former president who simply refused to be edited by the Kerry campaign. Clearly, Kerry pollsters and Kerry focus groups have persuaded the campaign that the country doesn't want to hear them dumping on Bush, they want to hear a positive message. So we will hear a positive message tonight and tomorrow night. And both nights you will also hear, as in my view you should, Edwards and Kerry criticize Bush on points they think he is weak on.

_______________________

Boston, Mass.: Did you get the #6 Texas Style French Toast at Mels? Its the best. Also what was your take on us local boys in town.

Lucian Perkins: No. Guess we'll have to go back. I did have the pancakes, which were delicious.
The local boys we talked to were exceptionally bright and had a very good handle on the election and the world around him. I commented to Bob afterward that we would be hard pressed to find college kids as well-informed and thoughful as these kids.

_______________________

washingtonpost.com: Among Delegates, Fear of Bush Becomes Powerful Uniting Force (Post, July 28)

_______________________

Minnesota: Why didn't you report what Moore really said at yesterday's event -- calling all Republicans racists and haters and that the only good republican is one who votes for Kerry?

Robert G. Kaiser: I didn't hear him say either of those things. He did a long, funny riff about good Republicans, in fact. He claimed that every family in America had a Republican hidden somewhere in its tree.

_______________________

Springfield, Va.: There's three journalists in Boston for every delegate -- you'd think one of them could put down their free food and goody bags long enough to do their job and ask a few tough questions. How could the Washington Post miss pointing out that Carter conveniently ignored mentioning President Clinton's record of military service while slamming Bush? Did anyone ask Carter about the impact of Clinton's failure to make himself available for military service in Vietnam? Somehow, according to Carter, being a draft dodger did not affect Clinton's ability to oversee our forces in harms way in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and flying over Iraq.

Robert G. Kaiser: I have to say, this kind of question does not bring out the best in a journalist. It takes "when did you stop beating your wife?" to a new level.

But happily, in this medium it can also be ignored.

_______________________

Brookline, Mass.: I heard the Dean and Moore speeches. Kaiser does a good job of presenting some highlights; however, I thought that Moore was extraordinarily effective in what he had to say and how he said it, much more so than can be conveyed by highlights. Is there some way to obtain or access a complete transcript or video?

Thanks

Lucian Perkins: There is no substitute to being there. As someone who was there, Kaiser did a great job capturing that event. You could try to go to the website of the host organization of the event.

_______________________

Amherst, N.Y.: Would someone please highlight the flip-flops of the current administration? Also, please address the vast discrepency between what Bush says and what he does and the way the Republicans use language to paint one picture while the actual policies achieve the opposite (e.g. "clean air" which in reality allows corportions to polute without government oversight; giving tax breaks to corporations who move overseas to hire people).

Robert G. Kaiser: If the Dems are doing their job, I expect you'll hear a good deal about Republican and Bush flipflops before election day. As I wrote in an earlier chat, changing your mind is endemic to politics--and to life, in my experience. No politician I've ever heard of was consistent from first day to last. Well, maybe Adloph Hitler. Anyone got another example?

_______________________

Anonymous: Mr Kaiser,

I know you've been covering politics for a while now.

I and many of my friends believe that this will be the most important election of our lifetimes. Numerous Democrats at the convention have said it, and last night Edward Kennedy (who has also been covering politics for a while) said it.

Do you agree?

If you do or if you don't, what do you think are the reasons people are saying this?

Robert G. Kaiser: Good question, also addressed in the Maraniss article linked to above. It made me think about this over breakfast this morning. The problem is, we never know on election day what the next four years will bring. I remember in 2000 thinking the election then was not remotely an important one, historically. And it wasn't , until 9/11. Similarly, how many voters realized the importance of the 1936 election, which made it possible for FDR to prepare the country to get into World War II?

So I think, literally, that your question is unanswerable. On the other hand, it is easy to defend the idea that 2004 will be important. The Supreme Court has never been so old; the next president will certainly have Justices to appoint. The status of the U.S. in the world is going to change as a rsult of the election, I think, perhaps in important ways. It looks like the stakes are high for a lot of issues, from budget deficits to the environment and beyond. So I have no trouble saying it's a big, important election. Most important of my lifetime? Can't say. Don't even know how long that lifetime might be!

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: Your talk with the three young men from Southie was very revealing Mr. Kaiser. How can we hope to have real answers to the toughest issues poor people face when the leadership doesn't have a personal connection? How can Kerry or Bush even begin to relate to being jumped at eight years old? All too often people without money are only talked about at election time with little actually being done to help them. What can we do to turn this trend around?

Robert G. Kaiser: this is a Very Big Question, and I don't feel competent to answer it. I do believe it is possible for rich people to feel genuine empathy for the poor--both Roosevelts come to mind, as another reader pointed out earlier in the week. But personally I do worry about the alienated portion of the American population, which may be 20% or more of the country, people who don't participate in the American dream at all, have no hope of doing so, and consider the world I live in as remote from them as Mars.

_______________________

Alexandria, Va.: The lack of convention coverage on the major networks was appalling! The first thing I did this morning was give money to WETA. Were it not for them, I would not have seen Barack Obama or Theresa Kerry. Are the networks taking any flack for this or they just willingly giving viewers to the cable channels and PBS?

Lucian Perkins: I hope more people respond and take action like you. As someone who has been on the floor each evening, the American people not watching this event are missing a great opportunity to learn more about their future leaders and, more importantly, missing a chance to help further form their own opinions about the issues that will greatly effect them in the future.

_______________________

New York, N.Y.: To Staten Island: No, you are not. I think many will agree that Obama, simply from his speech last night, seems like Presidential material. If he can do a good job in the Senate and steer clear of much controversy, I believe he will be the first African-American president. His speech was unbelievable. As an immigrant myself, I related to a lot of the things he said and had tears in my eyes when he talked about hope. In one word: Wow.

Robert G. Kaiser: thanks for letting me off the hook.

_______________________

Baltimore, Md.: Do you think the DNC has been a success so far for the Democrats (in promoting their message, reaching out to swing voters, etc...)

Robert G. Kaiser: hmm, I guess I do. Though the most relevant fact may be the 10% decline (compared to 2000) in the first-night TV audience, according to Nielsen ratings.

_______________________

Detroit, Mich.: I'd like to point out in response to the previous Q/A that Clinton himself pointed out that he, Cheney and Bush all found ways out of serving in the Military. Clinton has been known as a draft dodger, he admitted to it! The Washington Post and others have been quoting him! Basically it said that the aforementioned three had found ways out of serving, when his country called upon him for military service, John Kerry said "Send Me."

Robert G. Kaiser: thanks for the comment

_______________________

Re: Staten Island: My wife, a moderately conservative person by nature, said the same thing about the future senator from Illinois becoming the first president of African-American descent.

Robert G. Kaiser: OK, that's two wives in agreement. Any husbands?

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Looks like half of the former bennifer pair has been all over Boston. Have you had a chance to chat with Ben Affleck? Does his presence at the convention mean that we will be seeing more of him in D.C. on a regular basis?

Robert G. Kaiser: Lucian and I are not celebrity mavens. Lucian and his two Pulitzers are enough glitter for me. We are giving Ben a studied cold shoulder.

_______________________

East Stroudsburg, Pa.: Much has been made of the decision to limit coverage of the conventions to just one hour per night. I say if the corporate interests want to marginalize their news and public interest programming, so be it. After all, there is no shortage of alternative outlets for news and information. It seems that corporate interests and their are rather short-sighted these days, but that is their problem, not mine.

Robert G. Kaiser: Not even an hour a night--last night, no hours at all. Zip.

Of course you are literally right. But it's also true that millions of people who would have been exposed, say, to Obama's speech had it appeared on prime time network television saw nothing because it wasn't. Not everyone is as attentive as you seem to be. Of course that's their right too. But as I have said here several times, the networks would not exist, or make a nickel, if they couldn't use, for free, our national airwaves. Shouldn't they show a little gratitude for that at convention time?

_______________________

Los Angeles, Calif.: Democrats seem to be united, but under what belief? Maybe their disbelief in Bush, but that's not enough to run a campaign on. When we vote we don't vote to kick someone off of the island, you vote to put someone in the White House. So what makes Kerry different? What do Kerry Democrats believe in?

Robert G. Kaiser: Good question, to which I referred earlier. That is what Edwards and Kerry after to answer tonight and tomorrow night, in my opinion--and in a way that they can carry from here to November, consistently and coherently. I don't think they can win without doing so to the satisfaction of you and millions more skeptics in the country.

_______________________

Falls Church, Va.: So I thought Theresa Heinz Kerry was a wonderful addition to last night. Her perspective and intelligence I fear just goes over the heads of most of the electorate however. What did you think of her?

Lucian Perkins: This was the first time I heard her speak live. Her soft voice carries a lot of weight. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the country reacts to her.

Robert G. Kaiser: I urge you not to take a condescending attitude toward "the average voter." American history teaches us, I think, that average voters most often make the best choice--not always, but most often. Whenever I get the chance to spend time with ordinary Americans, I come away envigorated and encouraged. And we somehow continue to find new talent, new brainpower, new charm, often in the most unlikely places. So be of good cheer! Maybe.

_______________________

Rosslyn, Va.: Jerry Springer was Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio (D). Delegates that attend these conventions range from former elected members of local and state-level goverments to every day citizens.

Robert G. Kaiser: thanks

_______________________

Fairfax, Va.: Whatever happened to investigative reporting? It seems that the news services mainly report the press releases that are handed to them. I respect Howard Dean for asking the right questions, and to Michael Moore for his courage in making the case. Meanwhile, I rely on the Daily Show for any sort of thoughtful news analysis. Thanks.

Lucian Perkins: My hero Bob Kaiser wrote a book on this very subject along with the Managing Editor of our Paper, Leonard Downie. It is called, if my memory serves me correctly: "About the News: Journalism in Peril"

_______________________

Rockville, Md.: How many reporters have D.C. radio and TV stations sent to Boston to cover the convention? It does not seem like very many.
Why is that?

Robert G. Kaiser: Local television news is astoundingly underfunded. Our stations have no budgets to send large numbers o reporters to Boston--or to a fire in downtown Washington. We have more reporters on The Post's Maryland staff than all the TV stations in DC combined--and the Maryland staff is a small fraction of our total.

So forget TV. Read the paper! That's where most of the real reporting comes from -- including what they read on TV.

_______________________

San Antonio, Tex.: I was watching the PBS station here in San Antonio last night and couldn't believe NYT columnist and commentator David Brooks' remarks after Teresa Heinz Kerry's speech, saying that THK should have been more revealing about her husband, perhaps not in a Tammy Wynnette way, but more revealing nevertheless.

I couldn't get over this sexist, antiquarian comment. THK was emphatic in her speech last night that she is her own woman. Is it not possible for her to define herself in her own right, not in a way connected to her husband? THK was bold, direct, and it was amazing to see her speak in French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, as well as English.

With comments like Brooks', is it any wonder that we need more high-level women pundits? What are your thoughts on THK's round at the podium last night and my observation?

Robert G. Kaiser: Didn't see Brooks, but there are few questions that divide Americans as emphatically as this one: What is the proper role for a political, especially presidential, spouse to play? It's sort of a Rorzak test, however you spell that. Brooks speaks (if you are quoting him accurately) for one camp; there are numerous others.

Of course we need more female pundits. I also think we need more women newspaper editors, generals and CEOs. And we're getting them, if slowly. Think how much women's status has changed in the last two generations. It's one of the most amazing developments in American life in my lifetime.

_______________________

Homesick for Massachussetts: I just recently moved from Boston to D.C. and I wanted to say that I hope you're having a great time in that great city! I am very sad to be missing out on Boston's big week. Enjoy yourselves and eat some good seafood!

Robert G. Kaiser: Thanks. We're having a great time. I've been visiting Boston for more than 50 years; the city has never looked better. The scrod is good too!

_______________________

Indianapolis, Ind.: I purposely did NOT watch Obama because I get resentful when I hear of yet another of the black "chosen ones." Curiosity got the better of me this morning and I read the transcript (provided by the Washington Post -- thanks). It was an incredible. Read

I was greatful for him comments about the poor living in the 'hood. The average American has no clue how hard it is to get out of those circumstances. Unlike Barack Obama I did have to alter my name (from Lekisha to Lee) and my address (from my apartment in the 'hood to my sisters on the good side of town) get a replies to my resume and interviews.

It's not easy to make that move into the mainstream... but I still believe in the promise of America.

Lucian Perkins: Glad you took the time to read the transcripts and dig deeper into this story. Obviously you really do care about the "promise of American."

_______________________

San Antonio, Tex.: Lucien,
Kaiser's book is titled, "The News About the News: American Journalism in Peril," published in 2002 and an extremely enlightening read.

Robert G. Kaiser: This is my cousin in San Antonio, a great American.

Just kidding...

_______________________

Miami, Fla.: Just reading the EJ Dionne column from this morning's discussion and he mentions Dean.

Do you think Dean's support of Kerry is because he is vying for a high profile spot in a Kerry administration?

Thanks.

washingtonpost.com: Transcript: E.J. Dionne, Jr., (Live Online, July 28)

Robert G. Kaiser: Watching Dean in Cambridge yesterday gave me the impression that he is serious about his stated goal: rebuilding a Democratic Party infrastructure that can last. Dean is an inspirer, but as is campaign revealed, he doesn't have a lot of talent or patience for nuts and bolts. I can't say if he'd like a cabinet post, but my hunch is that he'd prefer a role where he can regularly stand up in front of adoring crowds and exort them to do good works for their cause, whatever it is.

_______________________

Boston, Mass.: Writing from Boston, I can say that the atmosphere here is electric. And with all of the national news coverage, it seems to be spreading across the nation. At what point do we do a reality check to see where all the excitement has actually gotten the Democrats, especially, Kerry and Edwards?

Robert G. Kaiser: Well, al lthe pollsters will be in the field over next weekend and next week, producing the first measurements of the "convention bump." But experience teaches that only after Labor Day, and after the Republican convention, might the polls give us a really useful sense of where public opinion stands. And even then it can be misleading. Carter led Reagan in 1980 in September, and in October in many polls. The debates will be very big this year, I think. So don't expect to know anything REALLY important until about Nov. 3.

_______________________

Boston, Mass.: To follow up on what others have been saying, PBS should be applauded for its coverage of the convention. It seems to be the only non-cable network giving it due coverage.

Robert G. Kaiser: Right on.

_______________________

San Antonio, Tex.: Rorschach, named after the Swiss psychiatrist Herman Rorschach, 1884-1922. Danke schoen. Bite schoen.

Robert G. Kaiser: I love our readers! Thanks.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: The emergence of Obama and other diverse leadership gives me great hope for the future. Society is already rich in diversity, D.C. being no exception. Could it be that the government to come will be more reflective of our true society? Could we be seeing the dominant Christian white male stereotype coming to an end in politics? I know this is less of a question than a comment.

Robert G. Kaiser: and an interesting one. thanks.

_______________________

Boston, Mass.: Boston is a very strange city. If you visit one part or another you will get totally different views. For me Boston is Cambridge, the Back Bay and BU's campus out from the back bay to allston. Places like Dorchester, Mattapan, Chelsea are just strange wastelands of crime, full of people missing out on all the opertunities the city has to offer.

I came up here from northern Virginia from to go to MIT the differences in the college areas and the regular parts of the cities is stunning, and the difference is the people. My girlfriend grew up in Chelsea worked hard and got a full scholarship to BU, along with a lot of her classmates. They left the vast majority of their friends behind to drugs and crime, but those are the choices those people made. Its the residence who have left themselves behind, filling out Section 8 forms and complaining is easier than going to college.

Robert G. Kaiser: thanks for posting

_______________________

Re. Obama: Obama, Osama. We'll take care of them both before long. You don't cross this President and keep your reputation intact.

Robert G. Kaiser: What a charming comment.

_______________________

Western, Mass.: Really enjoyed the Southie article. I can see UMass Amherst from my back yard across the Conneticuit river valley so Liam is over there somehwere...

Anyway, to the clever person in Virginia who started this chat off, I was at a cookout this weekend and there was this kid there who had one week left before he was being sent back to Iraq. He said the only thing he wanted to get done before he went back was see "Farenheit 9/11." Guess he doesn't think Moore is a traitor...

Robert G. Kaiser: thanks for the comment.

_______________________

Bristol, UK: Will Kerry and Edwards campaign in Bush's home town of Crawford, Tex. and if so how do they plan to win the support of people who are likely to get behind what they would perceive to be their hometown boy?

Lucian Perkins: From my quick "google" search Crawford has a population of 667. I doubt Kerry and Edwards would go there to campaign, though it would be a great media event.

I should have done a google on Bob's book. Darn!

_______________________

San Jose, Calif.: How are delegates elected and for how long they represent their subjects?

Robert G. Kaiser: We get questions like this every day, a reminder that civics is no longer taught in American high schools, or not taught at all well.

Delegates are elected by their state party organizations. Most states now have a primary or a caucus. Most chose delegates based on which candidate they are supporting at the time of the primary or caucus. that's why, for example, there are 14 Kucinich delegates in the Colorado delegation, which was chosen through caucuses.

_______________________

Brooklyn, N.Y.: Why would the Democratic Party leave enviromental issues off of its platform. It may not be the most important issue to voters, but they have a huge advantage over the current administration.

Robert G. Kaiser: I'll bet you a Brooklyn Lager that we hear something substantial about the environment from Kerry on Thursday night.

_______________________

Tucson, Ariz.: Hi Bob, as a Nam vet my question is about Mr. Kerry policy?s towards us, cause he is a vet as well, so has he said anything or what?
Thanks.

Robert G. Kaiser: Where have you been for the last year? Vietnam and Vietnam Vets have been perhaps the single most important element in Kerry's cmpaign. His support for, and support from, the Vietnam vets was probably the key factor in his Iowa victory, which in turn was th ekey moment in his run for the Democratic Nomination.

_______________________

Robert G. Kaiser: That will have to be it for today; back tomorrow, and Friday too.

Remember, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions you want to send to us directly, please e-mail them to conventiondiary@washingtonpost.com.

Thanks to all!

_______________________