Are there major differences between the two party conventions?
Matthews: The Democratic party is diversity times 10. It is manifest diversity. The Republican party, less so. The comfort level among the delegates at the Democratic convention is not quite anything goes, but close to it. Fun is in the air. “Please clear the aisles” actually means something at the Republican convention. They actually do clear the aisles. At the Democratic convention, it means you have two more hours to table-hop. The downside is the Democrats have a problem when it gets down to the time to get to the polls and knowing how to use voting machines. TVGO: Where do you go for political talk on TV? Matthews: My hero is Jon Stewart. If I could ever get his audience… My natural audience is the red-faced Irish and Italian guys in their late fifties. People will say to me, “My dad just died. He watched you every night.” Basic cable we’re the best retirement deal in the world.
