The Dictatorship of Boredom, pp. 15-26 Summary and Analysis

In the sub-section "On the Blandwagon," O'Rourke compares the American voter to a blindfolded person trying to smack a piñata candidate. He relates two anecdotes about visiting the political party conventions of the 1988 presidential election, reserving most of his scorn for the Democrats, whom he regards as boring, stupid and specious. O'Rourke characterizes the Republicans as merely vapid. Arguing that the people should govern themselves, O'Rourke is disgusted by the pretense of a political convention.

O'Rourke sees political conventions as inscrutable, pointless and boring. He dismisses them as a sort of cheer leading rally, almost entirely devoid of real content or meaning. O'Rourke offers examples from the Democratic convention, where the speakers offer broad statements of principles which could apply to any candidate. He argues that, while the Republicans have...