Keller @ Large: Campaigns Now Demolition Derby With Nuclear Missiles
TAMPA (CBS) – Mitt Romney did a good job with his speech Thursday night even if it likely didn't sway all that many voters.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
Podcast
I have no doubt President Obama will do an equally good job with his re-nomination speech next week.
And if that strikes you as an innocuous bit of analysis, let me assure you that by later today there will be angry comments in my inbox and online from Democrats wanting to know how dare I give even mild praise to Romney's dishonest screed, thus betraying my right-wing bias.
And from Republicans, outrage that I equated Romney with the evil incumbent and his lie-filled rhetoric, a sure sign of being in the Obama tank.
That's just the way things are today in our ridiculously polarized, garbage strewn political culture, where partisans don't just agree to disagree, they make it their business to set their phasers on vaporize and use all the online tools at their disposal to ensure that even if some day collaboration might be in order, there will be no one left standing to collaborate with.
As I said, I thought Governor Romney and the Republicans did a good job of sketching rough outlines of what they want to do on a few issues.
He had a clever line Thursday night about how President Obama promised to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet, but Romney's promise is to help you and your family.
But while that vow seems more pragmatic than Obama's, it's still pretty vague and because each party, moments after these lofty speeches end, set about slandering the other in a campaign process that only picks up steam after Inauguration Day, there's little hope of bi-partisan progress being made on anything controversial.
One of the more depressing moments of this week was a conversation I had with Tagg Romney, the candidate's eldest son and a smart guy, who years ago told me he might like to try a political career himself.
But after his close-up view of this race he now says no thanks, too ugly.
Great job baby boomers.
American politics has never been a polite parlor game, but you've turned it into a demolition derby with nuclear missiles instead of cars.
And if mutual-assured destruction was the goal, then mission accomplished.
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.
