Greetings!  

     They came.  They saw.  They convened.   

     In the week just past, some 35,000 politicians, celebrities, reporters , lobbyists, supporters and protesters were in Charlotte for the 2012 Democratic National Convention.  By most accounts, it did both the Democrats and the city of Charlotte a lot of good. 

     The Republicans had their big soiree the week before, of course, and it may be that I am looking at the schedule like a trial attorney, but I think it's been a HUGE advantage for the Democrats to go last.  So powerful is the last argument in a trial, some of the best courtroom lawyers I know will often strategically maneuver to get it.  Under the NC General Rules of Practice, the plaintiff usually gets the last word, but an important exception occurs when the defendant chooses not to put on any evidence of its own.  I've seen many trials in which a wily defense counsel chooses NOT to introduce any evidence -- even if it might be helpful -- in order to have an unrebutted closing argument.  

The view from the cheap seats of Bill Clinton's "jury argument."

    Thus, from a strategic standpoint, the DNC had the upper hand coming into Charlotte just because of the scheduling.  And indeed, much of the language from Time Warner Arena seemed to be a rebuttal to the RNC assertions made in Tampa.

     The most cogent and informative address for many observers, was for me a lot like a jury argument itself.  Granted, President Clinton's nominating speech on Wednesday evening (which I was fortunate to see live, albeit from the cheap seats) was a "closing argument" was in front of a jury of 20,000 screaming Democrats, and broadcast to millions more.  But that just makes his communication and persuasion techniques all the more remarkable.       

     Indeed, whether it's in a mediation or a trial, I often find that the most "persuasive persuasion" is packaged as simple education.  Point out the favorable facts. Don't hide unfavorable facts, but bring them out and explore them. Preview what's coming; summarize what you've said. Rather than telling jurors what to conclude, lead them to a conclusion that THEY can make. And if you can do it as Clinton did with punchy memorable one-liners that the jurors can repeat back in the jury room, all the better!  

All the best,