They Got Nothing

Marshall takes this bit from an almost balanced AP article:

When the evening ended following Michelle O'Bama's speech about her husband, and some cute family unity with Barack Obama seen via satellite, commentators on both CNN and Fox judged that too little had happened on the first night.

"I thought it was a beautiful speech, beautifully done," said Fox's Chris Wallace. "But I can't help but feel after the first night of the convention that it was largely a wasted night."

The "too little" that they're concentrating on is a direct result of the media buying its own bullshit, completely sure there would be something to pounce on last night. The only reason we're hearing any praise from those you'd least expect it is because they weren't prepared to like Michelle. They couldn't have done extensive research on her, instead lazily believing the rotten shit they were sold and selling. Always eager to offer cute, snide, cutting, and/or condescending judgments and prepared statements/talking points supposedly on behalf of inquisitive Amurkens, they just don't know what to do when they have to think on their feet any more.

They got nothing. I agree with Cesca:

There's also a lot of griping from old media that the first night sucked. Why did it suck? Because now, instead of defending McCain against Obama attacks, everyone is forced to talk about Senator Kennedy's unifying appearance, and Michelle Obama's historical address. And the kids. A whole news cycle about a unified Democratic Party and a historical address by the wife of the first African-American presidential nominee? I call that a HUGE win, and a very smart lassoing of the media narrative.

[And...After sharply changing my mind at least 10 times over the last 24 hours, for several valid reasons, I'm not leaving. It fucking sucks, I'm not exactly happy about it, but it is what it is. I doubt anyone gives a shit, nor should you, but I'll explain why later.]

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