Editor's Note: Dr. Terry F. Buss is a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Public Administration. He wrote this article exclusively for Tuoi Tre News to review the first day of the 2016 Democrat Party Convention on Tuesday.

The Democrat Party Convention started out in chaos as Bernie Sanders’ supporters disrupted early party meetings and start of the convention: Bernie supporters feel the Party sabotaged their candidate who would have won the election.

The Party will focus once again on diversity politics to hold their supporters and attack Trump to attract new supporters. The Democrat and previous Republican Party convention will be politics in the extreme, leaving America more divided than ever before.

Another e-mail scandal

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, head of the Democrat National Committee (DNC), was accused by the Bernie campaign of secretly supporting Hillary Clinton and trying to undermine Bernie. Wikileaks’ hackers released confidential e-mails validating Bernie’s claims against Wasserman-Schultz and the DNC. On the morning of the convention, Wasserman-Schultz tried to calm delegates from her own state of Florida, but was booed off the floor.  Wasserman-Schultz who was to lead the convention was forced to resign and withdraw from the convention in disgrace.

This further alienated Bernie supporters, as they believed throughout the primary elections that the system was rigged. Recall that convention “super delegates” voted for Hillary even before the campaigns started. If Bernie supporters feel the election was stolen, this could lose Hillary the election.

Bizarrely, Robbie Mook, Hillary campaign manager claimed the Russian government hacked the DNC to help Donald Trump. Russians may be involved, but this has not been validated. This damage probably won’t endure given Wasserman-Schultz’s departure. The DNC also apologized to Bernie.

America the greatest or worst?

First Lady Michelle Obama focused her speech on how great America is—“American Exceptionalism.” This was an obvious attack on Trump whose campaign focus is “Making America Great Again.” Democrats want to convince voters that Obama’s presidency was great, and that Hillary will continue to preserve and expand his achievements.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, once considered as a vice-president for Hillary and a dedicated social democrat in the Bernie mode, followed Michelle, offering a catalog of what is wrong with America. This speech was followed by Bernie giving an even more full-throated assault on America.

Competing visions of America pose a huge problem for Hillary. She has to defend Obama who has had many failures, and propose a new vision which does not tarnish Obama’s legacy. Trump is attacking Hillary on these issues. The vision voters come to accept will determine who becomes president.

Opinion polls reflect this conundrum. More than half of voters believe that Obama is doing a good job as president, but at the same time three-fourths feel the country is going in the wrong direction.

Bernie delivers his standard campaign speech

Bernie spoke to his 1,900 delegates on Monday morning to unite them behind Hillary. His erstwhile supporters booed his speech throughout, suggesting that Hillary has a long road ahead to gain their support. 

But during Bernie’s prime time address Monday night, Bernie supporters remained quiet. Many delegates were crying however.

Bernie endorsed Hillary in his speech. But he did so by talking mostly about his own socialist policies making up his “People’s Revolution.” His intent was to keep his revolution alive by drawing Hillary to the left. Remember, Bernie has never been a Democrat, so he is not afraid to abandon traditional Democrat policies in favor of Socialist ones.

During Hillary’s endorsement, Bernie focused almost entirely on policy, not on Hillary’s leadership, trust, ethics and hypocrisy issues which he had attacked throughout his campaign.

Bernie did say he looked forward to having his delegates vote for him on Tuesday. This was intended as a reminder that he would be keeping Hillary moving left, or risk losing his supporters.

Overall, Bernie gave Hillary everything she hoped for. But, Hillary needs all of Bernie’s supporters to win the presidency. Will they support her? Will they turn to Trump? Or will they not vote at all? No one knows for sure.

Trans Pacific Partnership in jeopardy; racism, police violence an issue

The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, something that would greatly benefit Vietnam, is clearly in trouble as Democrats reject it.  Unfortunately, Trump for the Republicans is also against TPP. Especially in view of recent incursions by China in the East Sea, creation of an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and trade and investment agreements across the region; giving up on trade will isolate the US even more under a Democrat or Republican administration.

Obama has made TPP a cornerstone of his legacy. But Obama has insufficient time left in his presidency to get the TPP enacted.

Democrats are intent on making racism and police violence a campaign issue, likely to appease black supporters. Democrats have invited mothers of black youth who were killed by police to the convention. In so doing, Democrats will continues alienate police across the country.

In days to come, the convention will seek to divide Americans not only by race, but also by class, gender, immigration status, religion, and the like, as they did in Obama’s 2012 campaign. “Identity politics” will fragment the country further.

My prediction

Democrats will come together around their new policy positions that now reflect democratic socialism ala Sanders and Warren. These policies are intended to appeal to and reward the Democrat diverse base. These policies are also intended to draw attention away from Hillary’s scandals, trust, personality and leadership issues. Ironically, Democrats will focus on Donald Trump’s scandals, personality and leadership. Trump has yet to give specifics on any of his policies.

I believe this election campaign will end up being a three month’s long brawl that will leave American weakened, divided and damaged no matter who wins.