Online or Over-the-Air, Convention Is a Must-See

I'm a little bit giddy. The Democratic National Convention is a little more than four weeks away and I can't wait! I will celebrate my 40th anniversary of being glued to the television watching speeches; some good, some not, and every once in awhile a masterful oration.

Since I don't like the speeches interrupted by idle chit chat, I usually watch alone. This is serious stuff going on. I do get a visitor from time-to-time, but they know talking is for breaks between speakers only; or they soon learn. No wonder my circle of friends is not very big around.

During the '96 convention, then State House candidate Eber Phelps was watching the convention with me. It was later in the evening for the headliners. I noticed he kept staring at the VCR. Finally, he looked over at me and asked, "Are you taping this?"

I replied that I did tape the conventions from the afternoon through the evening sessions. I explained that if there was a really, really good speech, I could watch it again. I then would watch the taped afternoon sessions which feature the non-headliners; and try to predict who would be the next Bill Clinton.

He looked at me and exclaimed, "I'm proud that you are my chair!"

When I am asked to give presentations, I describe myself as a political dork. To further prove that, I will admit to watching the Republican Convention also. Two reasons. The previously mentioned speeches and to get me ready for the rest of the campaign; you know, get an edge.

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This year's Democratic Convention should have much more than a little interest for Kansans. Two Kansans are being mentioned as vice presidential candidates: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. You see, Gov. Kaine grew up in Overland Park . Even if neither is selected for second slot on the ticket, both will be featured during the convention and Gov. Sebelius is one of the co-chairs.

And locally, the Ellis County Democratic Party is going to sponsor a Web site that you can access through www.hdnews.net. Click on the "Democratic National Convention" logo and you will be taken to the convention site.

Inauguration Day of the Web site is Aug. 1. It will be going through updates and improvements as the convention nears.

The site will bring you upcoming news of the convention and when the convention begins -- from the convention. Fort Hays State University students will be blogging regularly. Besides the obvious stories of a national convention, there will be plenty of sidebars with local interest. Shala Mills, FHSU chair of the Political Science Department, and Damar's Leonard Schamber are delegates for Sen. Barack Obama. Etta Walker is a delegate for Sen. Clinton. Etta is from Wallace County , which probably has fewer Democrats than any county in Kansas . When Sean Buchanan was elected as an alternate, he was 17 years old and a senior at Buhler High School . He was eligible to be elected, as he will be 18 before the November general election. After the national convention, he will start his freshman year at KU Sean's dad is president of Harris Enterprises -- and a Republican.

Master of our EverydayCitizen.com domain, Pam Pohly, will have daily stories and photo updates. There will be political cartoons. It will be an interactive Web site. If you feel inclined to help offset the cost of the site, you will be able to do that also.

(There will be plenty of local, state and national stories and you can read all about them on the site. Don't let the picture on the front page scare you.)

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Big news in sports is the return of Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre after his retirement, which basically lasted the off-season. Green Bay might trade the soon-to-be 39-year-old-legend. Just think, in seven or eight years, Carl Peterson might be interested in signing him for the Chiefs.

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Best of luck to Sarah Kessinger as she leaves her post as a Harris News reporter to become editor of her hometown newspaper, the Marysville Advocate. Most of our communication was the result of interviews and conversations after those interviews with some e-mails thrown in from time to time. Enough to consider her a friend.

In the story announcing her return to her hometown, she was quoted, "I think there's still a lot of value in community journalism."

I couldn't agree more.