Thoughts on the Surprising - and Expected - Reactions from Pundits on Night One of the DNC Convention

It was generally expected that like everything taking place from the DNC Convention stage, Michelle Obama's opening-night speech would be spun every which way by all those concerned - but one surprising reaction took the cake. The following post-speech exchange between CNN's Anderson Cooper and guest pundit James Carville was a truly unexpected delight in an otherwise droll evening:

AC: "James Carville seems the least satisfied Democrat right now...What's going on, James?"

JC: "Well, if this party has a message, it's done a hell of a job of hiding it tonight. I promise you that."

A moment later...

JC: "I'm about to jump off the chair and say -"

AC: "Are you gonna make a run on the stage?"

Because James Carville is - well, James Carville - a good chunk of the ensuing dialogue was unintelligible (until he began gushing over Ted Kennedy's appearance). But for those who rolled their eyes at the string of anecdotal clichés that floated through the air during Mrs. Obama's 20-something minutes onstage, Carville's comments were a refreshing reprieve from the oooh's and ahhh's coming out of MSNBC's Chris Matthews (yes, they actually pre-empted "Inside San Quentin" to broadcast a live news event).

Matthews - shocker! - was nearly breaking down in tears the moment his cameras came on. This is not a matter of viewer opinion, but one of journalistic observation, thanks to the Los Angeles Times. Times reporter Mary McNamara noted that "Even MSNBC's Chris Matthews seemed choked up." Really? "Even" Chris Matthews? Has she ever watched Matthews disseminate a Democratic candidate's speech before? This is the same guy who said that an Obama speech in February caused a "thrill going up my leg." Ewww!

Yes, I know Carville was just frustrated that the evening was somewhat lacking in cheap shots at John McCain, who of course is the current symbol of the nation's collective woes. Ironically, the only prominent speaker to address said woes - or, for that matter, John McCain - was Nancy Pelosi, who (so I've heard) is Speaker of the House, and may - hold your breath - hold partial responsibility in a number of these woes as well. Yes, really. Maybe that's one reason why her speech failed to get anyone's attention. Or maybe people were just bored, and hoping MSNBC would cut to a prison documentary they haven't already seen six times.