HOOPLA!
In silly, obtrusive hats
they banter on the floor of
the convention, knowing
the intention and the rules.
Their duty, to nominate
their candidate… yet, they’re
only in their element
acting like damned fools.
No matter which party,
they’re mostly foolhardy.
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Three Word Wednesday (Banter, Duty, Element) and ABC Wednesday (H). Also at the convention of brilliant poets (who let me write there, too!): Poets United.
PROCESS NOTES: Yes, I watched BOTH the Republican and Democratic conventions, as much as I could, some online. The stupid behavior and outlandish dress displayed by members of both parties was truly a turnoff, considering the solemn duty they are to perform.
I hope all voters will take time to watch the speeches (now that they are so easily accessed online) and visit the various fact-checking sites to evaluate, to discern… not simply go for the usual line. However you vote, GET TO THE POLLS! Otherwise, I really don’t want to hear your complaints. Get active, get American, get real. Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio
Amen to that, sister! Too many people giving too many speeches for too many days.
Sarav
Amen, Sister Amy!!! Get thee to a polling booth, or no complaining 🙂 Excellent poem
Roger Green
i’ll vote, i’ll vote!
i always do
Sherry Blue Sky
Way to shout it, sistah! Yes, PLEASE, everybody, vote!!!!!! Up here in Canada, we care very much who your President is.
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m glad to hear it, Sherry. Of course, hardly any Americans know your Prime Minister is Stephen Harper… ! Love, Amy
brian miller
nice call to vote…ugh….there are def fools on both sides….can we get a third party yet?
Sharp Little Pencil
Would like nothing more. One of my friends is a Socialist, which makes some sense except for the fact that, due to the immense size of our country, some jerk would always be at the top, corrupt as hell. We need to carve the US into manageable, bite-sized pieces, perhaps. A
kaykuala
You’re doing your bit for King and country (that’s how Brits say it). Voting is a serious matter. Convention has it that party members vote for theirs. But fence sitters may swing votes either way. With online info voters could be swayed better than before.That was what happened here. The Opposition gained lots of grounds. They were swayed by blog postings of the young favoring the opposition.
Am not familiar with US politics. Hope to follow the online debates as you’ve suggested. Nicely,Amy!
Hank
vivinfrance
Elections seem to place the voters between a rock and a hard place – with equally unattractive choices.
Do we really have to suffer this razzamataz until November?
BTW, good poem!
oldegg
Wouldn’t it be great if our politicians were serious?
Mary
I agree with Brian! Wish we had a third party.
Sharp Little Pencil
How about the Beer and Coffee party? Something for everyone, and all locally brewed and fair trade…!
Richard Cody
Amen again.
Joseph Harker
I steadfastly refused to watch either one, but I did cackle gleefully at the fact-checking comparisons between the two. (In Clinton’s entire speech, there was only one statement which was not-quite-the-whole truth, and everything else was dead-on. Pretty impressive in this day and age, especially from him.)
“Hoopla” is a word that doesn’t get nearly enough use…
Sharp Little Pencil
Funny, the only time I use the word “hoopla” is to describe the hysteria that passes for politics in our country. Thanks, J! And happy fact-checking…
purplepeninportland
It’s all quite terrifying, isn’t it?