I am truly baffled why anyone, especially a Democrat, would watch the Republican convention.

[AngryAmish]

First, the replay of the Open Championship was on, which was the most thrilling sports competition of the year, probably the decade.

Second, it is morally wrong to give any of the news channels ratings.

Third, who wants to see that shit?

Jeez. Life is out there. It is summer. Go live life.

[DonCoquixote]

1. know thine enemies

so you can snipe at them rather than let them get close.

[BooScout]

3. Yup...

[Blue_Tires]

20. That's always been my mom's philosophy...

And yes, she watched most, if not all of last night...

[Nictuku]

53. Exactly.

Know thine enemies. I want to know exactly what we are up against.

Besides, not everyone is a sports fan.

It was too hot to be outside, I have a physical aversion to the sun.

Morale of the story: Not everyone is you.

[tallahasseedem]

73. It's also important to see/hear it from your own perspective...

it's obvious we can't trust what the print/television media tells us happened.

Basic Democracy folks!

[modem77]

77. Yep.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. "He who knows both his enemy and himself need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles" - Sun Tzu

[beachbum bob]

4. becasue not paying attention to what the otherside is doing is clearly

ignorant to do....

[840high]

85. .+1

[RockaFowler]

5. I watched it for the laugh factor

I was laughing so hard last night. The Reality Show Nominee came into the room like the WWE. You can't write stuff this corny!

[PJMcK]

6. Answers to your questions

First, I already watched the Open Championship. Lefty was awesome but Stenson won.

Second, I watched the RNC online: no Nielsen ratings.

Third, I wanted to see "that shit." It's called American Democracy and it's an important part of our current events.

Fourth, I'm enjoying my summer. In fact, I played 18 holes Monday morning. It was a beautiful day with sunshine and the plants all smelled heavenly. My playing partners, all Republicans, never mentioned politics or religion: the 2 taboos of the golf course.

Don't be so angry, AngryAmish. It's a beautiful life. Just vote Democratic!

[redstateblues]

83. From someone who works with many Republicans

We observe the same taboos. I watch it in small doses.

[pinboy3niner]

7. I wanted to hear Michelle Obama's speech again

[Raissa]

14. Nice!

[Solly Mack]

17. lolololol

[Maven]

79. /thread

[DrDan]

8. yeah - plus those Duck Dynasty reruns are on

1 - some of us watched the US Open live - hence know the outcome

2 - I have no problems watching (and switching between) MSNBC and CNN - what is morally wrong with that

3 - I want to see it

Why so concerned over other's viewing habits?????

[Ilsa]

9. We watched a rerun of a cable tv show and Jeopardy.

I watched most of MT's speech.

It's hard to watch, especially with the ugly criticism, but there were some interesting stories, like from the anti-Trump Utah woman who was intimidated and threatened by his supporters while she was in the bathroom.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Did you find Pikachu yet?

[AngryAmish]

11. No, dammit.

[Gothmog]

12. Trainwrecks are fun to watch

[ecstatic]

15. +1000. nt

[csziggy]

58. I was thinking more on the lines of demolition derby

[cwydro]

13. It's been fun to watch.

I can't stand golf, so forget that.

I watch online, but would watch on TV if I wanted. "Morally wrong" - seriously?

Summer is going just fine here thanks, I work out, run, garden, as well as going to work everyday.

I find these OPs that tell other DUers what they SHOULD be doing hilarious. Hey, is it morally ok for me to make some coffee now?

[lapucelle]

52. Thank you.

The only sport I know is baseball, so I wasn't sure whether "the Open" was tennis or golf.
Now I know.

[oswaldactedalone]

16. Law and Order SVU

was on last night, a Monday night staple on Ion. So I could half pay attention to it, read the threads on here and have a much more enjoyable time than watching such ugliness.

[longship]

43. I prefer the original with wise-cracking Lennie Briscoe.

Sadly, Jerry Orbach died far too young.

Here is a tribute.

BTW, I also like Law and Order SUV
And I watched the NPR/PBS RNC coverage.

[whistler162]

18. Drinking games?

[Javaman]

19. It's a morbid fasination of driving pass a massive trainwreck and thinking...

thankfully, that's not me. LOL

I'm watching and it's an education into the true depths of stupidity and willful ignorance.

I watched the duck dynasty moron and chachi.

chachi is trying his best to "polish" himself for congress, mark my words.

basically, this is the red meat portion of the convention where they want to whip the mouth breathers into a frothy mass so when tRump takes the stage, they will want blood.

[Motley13]

21. Best comedy show

And we need amonition against their insanity.

[bigwillq]

22. Folks can watch what they want.

I won't judge.

[quickesst]

23. political rubbernecking...

[sufrommich]

24. Seriously? Everyone here is a political geek.

Why would you be surprised we'd watch huge political events?

[Act_of_Reparation]

25. The important part is you found a way to feel superior to everyone else.

Grats.

[auntpurl]

30. THIS

[AngryAmish]

31. That really is true.

[tallahasseedem]

74. +1

I never thought we'd be chastised for being informed citizens.

[NaturalHigh]

26. I don't watch either convention.

Why would I want to watch a bunch of politicians patting one another on the back?

[Eric J in MN]

36. The speakers also criticize the other party's nominee. NT

NT

[oberliner]

27. I am baffled why anyone who cares about this country would watch sports instead of the convention

Once every four years, this country elects a president.

There is nothing more thrilling than watching democracy in action.

[AngryAmish]

29. You didn't see the Open, then.

Epic. Truly amazing.

[oberliner]

41. Nope

If this was an ESPN discussion board, or something like that, I would understand that everyone would be watching sports and not politics. But for DU, I would think it would be the other way around.

I just think these conventions are historical events that will be talked about and referenced possibly for decades to come. Since DUers tend to be political junkies, I would think such an event (even the Republican one) would be more important than a sports tournament.

[AngryAmish]

42. The golf channel, they might replay it again.

I wish I could tape it. But the interview with Trump did get bounced for the replay.

[cwydro]

57. Golf

is a good walk ruined.

Mark Twain

[csziggy]

60. Robin Williams on golf (and Scotsmen)

[davidn3600]

70. Unless you despise the choices

For people who dont vote, that's the reason they give. They hate the candidates. They don't like the two-party monopoly system. And they don't feel their vote makes any difference.

[kentuck]

28. The Boston Celtics vs the LA Lakers...

Why would they want to look at any film clips of their opponent?

[aikoaiko]

32. Some people like primary sources for their information.

[gordianot]

33. Pure Comedy Gold.

Especially the NBC attempt at coverage. The whole thing approaches a bad SNL skit the commentary is so poor you could almost feel sorry for them.

[bravenak]

34. I do it for the Nation.

For everyone. Glad I did cause it was bananas. Besides, the sun comes up super early and goes down around midnight so I get outside a lot these days.

[Eric J in MN]

35. Because whether Trump wins-or-loses, the conventions will probably be a factor. NT

NT

[HughBeaumont]

37. It stopped being fun when they just kept on fearmongering.

Even worse when you consider most of the stuff they were talking about were cock-ups they caused and happened on their watches.

[LanternWaste]

38. As am I baffled by the incurious and indifferent mind

As am I baffled by the incurious and indifferent mind which rationalizes its own laziness.

[Brickbat]

39. Allowing ourselves to be baffled by simple things is what leads to division, really.

Let your contempt and revulsion go, and life will be better.

[davidn3600]

40. To political junkies....this is like the Super Bowl

[FrodosPet]

62. Or at least the Ty D Bowl

[maxsolomon]

44. I didn't, not even for the LULZ

Many of my friends did, and it raised their blood pressure to unhealthy levels. The rhetoric is simply incorrect or blatantly offensive.

Living on PST makes it easy to ignore - it's all over by the time dinner's done.

[Jimbo S]

45. Know thy enemy

Get to know their talking points.

American history in the making.

Morbid fascination of watching a train wreck.

With the regards to the last two, think Clint Eastwood's meltdown four years ago.

[geomon666]

46. I watched it on CSPAN.org so no ratings were given

Also, I like to watch things burn sometimes and this was a glorious dumpster fire.

[Xithras]

47. For the same reason I listen to right-wing talk radio as I drive to work.

Sometimes it's just fun to scream at the stupidity and laugh at the idiocy they are spouting. Listening to Republicans argue with each other really improves the self-confidence by driving home just how dumb their opposition really is.

Besides, when I run into a real-life fire breathing Republican, it's always nice to know what their current talking points are going to be. Debunking is so much easier when their stupidity can't catch you off-guard. GOP populist talking points are pretty easy to counter anyway, but it's always a good idea to do your homework ahead of time.

[Matrosov]

48. To watch HRC being elected

Republicans are using the convention as an opportunity to throw away whatever slim and final chance they might have had to win over independents before the general election. The Trump campaign is putting the final nail into its own political coffin.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

49. What Open? Golf? Tennis? Neither one of those is "thrilling". Indeed, they're boring as hell. nt

[Logical]

50. Lol, watching golf is living?????

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

51. It's a whole hell of a lot more interesting than watching golf.

[LisaM]

54. I think that's kind of a funny question to ask on a politics-driven website

Many of us are here because we enjoy politics and political discussion. I'm not even going to bother coming up with a defense for why I'm watching, because politics has always been something I've been interested in. If there was a third-party convention, I'd watch that, too.

[RAFisher]

55. I watched it on YouTube with TYT's commentary. It made the whole thing hilarious.

Would have been hard to watch it without that. Definitely more fun that golf.

[greatauntoftriplets]

56. Best comedy on television!

[Lil Missy]

59. Not me. I'm afraid that the stoopid might be contagious. n/t

[nolabear]

61. Because it's history. It's a danger to the country. It's fascinating psychology. It's stimulating.

It's important information. It's a lesson in democracy. It's comic relief in a rough world. It's a way to appreciate how adult we Democrats are by comparison. It's a great lesson in modern journalism. It's a lesson in how NOT to organize an event. It's a lesson in how far a shyster can push frightened people for personal gain.

I could go on and on.

I want to see that shit. I do. I hate golf.

[Vinca]

63. Purely for the entertainment value, although I have to admit I threw in the towel

when Rudy 9/11 Giuliani appeared.

[FrodosPet]

65. You could watch a bunch of robots, spinning and flipping and trying to destroy everything near them

Or you could watch BattleBots, which at least confines the carnage behind lexan shields.

[PasadenaTrudy]

64. It's summer

Too hot to be outside. Air conditioned rooms are where it's at!

[Yavin4]

66. For the same reason you would visit a Creationist museum.

You know its chock full of ignorance, bigotry, superstition, and fear, but you just have to see it for yourself to get a idea of the entirety of it.

[GoCubsGo]

67. I'm baffled that anyone would call a golf match "the most thrilling sports competition of the year."

Most. Boring. Sport. Ever. If someone wanted to torture me, they wouldn't have to waterboard me. All they would have to do is tie me to a chair and force me to watch golf. Not that I have, or intend to watch any of the GOP convention. However, sitting inside, watching someone else play golf on the TV is not exactly going out and living life, either. Just sayin'.

[Tarheel_Dem]

68. I appreciate that every news outlet is covering the spectacle. It gives me a chance to catch up....

on all the stuff I've recorded. Ring me when the Democratic convention starts.

[IgelJames4]

69. One must know the enemy in order to defeat it

I personally don't have the stomach to sit through that garbage, so I'm pretty much ignoring the RNC.

[tallahasseedem]

71. Because it is important to know what the other side...

is saying in order to counteract the madness. You never know who you're going to run into the next day and what you're going to talk about...it's good to be able to refute it immediately.

[JHB]

72. Popcorn craving.

Needs a show to taste just right.

[Raine]

75. Funniest most entertaining show on TV! I'm baffled as to why anyone would

miss this, it's hysterical!

[chillfactor]

76. greatest circus on earth...

why not watch...besides it is raining here.

[giftedgirl77]

78. It's morally wrong to give news channels...

As I have raised my kid's for the last 18 yrs & was teaching them to be good people & not to be assholes, not giving news channels ratings never came up.

[Different Drummer]

80. Already saw the Open Championship when it

was originally on. Personally, I like golf.

To your second point, I agree with you.

To your third point, not me. I've been watching reruns of the Tour du France stages at night--as I am as I type this.

[Laffy Kat]

81. I don't know.

It's sort of fun watching a cluster f*ck. I just hope ours isn't the same.

[Ninga]

82. All of the above. Nt

[backscatter712]

84. Watching parts of it on the Youtube livestream.

(so no, the cable "news" channels aren't getting my eyeballs).

And at this point, it's simply to point and laugh at the dumpster fire.

[Cresent City Kid]

86. Different strokes I guess

I can't bring myself to watch golf with the outcome in question, much less after I've heard the results. Secondly, I watch on PBS on an antenna so even if they somehow know what I'm watching I'm more bothered that they know what I'm watching than PBS getting my measly single ratings point. The third point is good, but I like to see their approach and I enjoy how sloppy the whole thing is put together.

The summer is my hibernation time, I will go outside when the fall comes and the dreaded summer is blown away by that glorious first cool front of autumn.

[47of74]

87. I watched some MST3K last night

That was 10,000 times better than the Nuremberg Rallies 2016 GOP Convention.

[milestogo]

88. 45 seconds of Trump's son was enough for me.