This was a much bigger day in terms of news and speakers. Last night was headlined by President Bush, former Senator and Pres. candidate Fred Thompson, and Sen. Joe Lieberman. Here is a nutshell of those speeches, as well as some general observations.
President Bush
He spoke briefly via satellite. The reason given for the lack of personal appearance was that he was originally slated for the first night of the convention, and his schedule wouldn't allow an appearance on the second night. My hunch is that they realize Obama is desperate to paint McCain as a third Bush presidency, so they're just not playing into that trap. I could be wrong, but that's my take. Anyway, he spoke briefly but forcefully, mainly about national security and readiness to lead America forward through this difficult time through a correct understanding of the events of 9/11. An excerpt:
It was a good endorsement, somewhat subdued because it wasn't in person, but still solid.
Fred Thompson
Thompson spoke for much longer, and did well. He spoke at length about McCain's time as a POW to illustrate that his lifetime had built character that couldn't be destroyed by anything. It gave insight into McCain's history to a level of detail which I haven't heard before. He delivered the speech with his typical on-camera expertise, and came off well. Some excerpts:
This speech not only praised McCain's character, but it also pointed out how that character combined with his independent streak has allowed him to blaze his own trail, accomplishing things few others could, and showing how he is well suited to lead this country over the next few years. Thompson also took an excellent (not to mention valid) shot at the competition:
Too true! This was a good speech, and it was delivered well.
Joe Lieberman
I didn't get to watch this speech, but the transcript is good. He spoke mainly about McCain's ability to cross party lines to accomplish his goals, and about how McCain is the man who has actually been the true reformer and agent of change. Some excerpts:
And:
He appealed directly to Democrats and Independents to give John McCain a look. This was a bold speech, and a gutsy move for Lieberman. Chances are good that he'll be completely locked out of the Dem caucuses in the Senate after this, so his words have likely put him on a political island. Still, those words are largely true. While I would disagree with him on the degree to which bipartisanship is necessary, Lieberman still brought home the message that it is McCain-Palin, not Obama-Biden, that is the ticket of change in 2008 - both McCain and Palin have a track record of taking on corruption and misuse of public office/funds, even in their own parties. Stealing the main schtick of the competition is a bold move, but one that is warranted in this case, and one that could (if communicated effectively) work extremely well.
For a great list of all of these speeches and transcripts (and more), go here.
Now, how about some general impressions? I've seen it written more than once that the RNC has so far been a good deal flatter than the DNC was, and I would have to agree. There haven't yet been any bring-down-the-house moments in St. Paul like there were in Denver, but the GOP is usually more reserved by nature, and the hurricane worries don't exactly lend themselves to exuberance, either. Still, the best speakers are yet to come, so the excitement will continue to build.
Jay Nordlinger commented on a very good point regarding the testimonials of the two conventions. Both conventions have had 'ordinary' people get up and speak throughout the event, sharing their stories of life outside of political corridors, but the themes have been completely different:
This is a common difference between liberals and conservatives. Wherever there is whining, there is a liberal. For them, it's all about being fair to everyone, and considering feelings above anything else (style over substance). In contrast, most Americans live pretty conservatively, preferring to keep the government at arm's length and going about their daily lives to make things better for themselves. This difference is something to remember.
Debbie at Right Truth points out another key difference: at the RNC, spontaneous chants of "USA! USA!" have broken out more than once. Not so at the DNC. The obvious question is: why not? I'll let you answer that one yourself. Similarly, the crowd at the DNC was always waving signs about 'Obama' and 'Change', while the RNC crowd was waving signs about 'Country First' and 'USA'. Another small but important difference, I think.
One last gripe. It appears that the major networks didn't show all the speeches in their entirety, nor did they air some of them at all. More shameless bias.
Tonight's line-up is as good as it gets: Romney, Huckabee, Giuliani, and Sarah Palin. Some are predicting Palin's speech to get ratings similar to that of the Obamessiah himself. The evening should ratchet up the excitement several notches. I'll have recaps tomorrow!
There's my two cents.
President Bush
He spoke briefly via satellite. The reason given for the lack of personal appearance was that he was originally slated for the first night of the convention, and his schedule wouldn't allow an appearance on the second night. My hunch is that they realize Obama is desperate to paint McCain as a third Bush presidency, so they're just not playing into that trap. I could be wrong, but that's my take. Anyway, he spoke briefly but forcefully, mainly about national security and readiness to lead America forward through this difficult time through a correct understanding of the events of 9/11. An excerpt:
"We live in a dangerous world," Bush says in remarks prepared for delivery to delegates by satellite from the White House. "And we need a president who understands the lessons of September 11, 2001: that to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again. The man we need is John McCain."
It was a good endorsement, somewhat subdued because it wasn't in person, but still solid.
Fred Thompson
Thompson spoke for much longer, and did well. He spoke at length about McCain's time as a POW to illustrate that his lifetime had built character that couldn't be destroyed by anything. It gave insight into McCain's history to a level of detail which I haven't heard before. He delivered the speech with his typical on-camera expertise, and came off well. Some excerpts:
On John McCain's qualifications to be president:
"This is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders. Strength. Courage. Humility. Wisdom. Duty. Honor. It's pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, 'Who is this man?' and 'Can we trust this man with the presidency?'"
On John McCain's dedication to doing what is right – not what is popular:
"He has been to Iraq eight times since 2003. He went seeking truth, not publicity. When he travels abroad, he prefers quietly speaking to the troops amidst the heat and hardship of their daily lives. And the same character that marked John McCain's military career has also marked his political career. This man, John McCain, is not intimidated by what the polls say or by what is politically safe or popular."
On John McCain's commitment to taking real action to reform Washington:
"But while others were talking reform, John McCain led the effort to make reform happen – always pressing, always moving for what he believed was right and necessary to restore the people's faith in their government. Confronting when necessary, reaching across the aisle when possible, John personified why we came to Washington in the first place."
On John McCain's ability to restore integrity to our government:
"My role is to help remind you of the man behind the vision. Because tonight our country is calling to all of us to step up, stand up, and put 'Country First' with John McCain. Tonight we are being called upon to do what is right for our country."
"This is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders. Strength. Courage. Humility. Wisdom. Duty. Honor. It's pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, 'Who is this man?' and 'Can we trust this man with the presidency?'"
On John McCain's dedication to doing what is right – not what is popular:
"He has been to Iraq eight times since 2003. He went seeking truth, not publicity. When he travels abroad, he prefers quietly speaking to the troops amidst the heat and hardship of their daily lives. And the same character that marked John McCain's military career has also marked his political career. This man, John McCain, is not intimidated by what the polls say or by what is politically safe or popular."
On John McCain's commitment to taking real action to reform Washington:
"But while others were talking reform, John McCain led the effort to make reform happen – always pressing, always moving for what he believed was right and necessary to restore the people's faith in their government. Confronting when necessary, reaching across the aisle when possible, John personified why we came to Washington in the first place."
On John McCain's ability to restore integrity to our government:
"My role is to help remind you of the man behind the vision. Because tonight our country is calling to all of us to step up, stand up, and put 'Country First' with John McCain. Tonight we are being called upon to do what is right for our country."
This speech not only praised McCain's character, but it also pointed out how that character combined with his independent streak has allowed him to blaze his own trail, accomplishing things few others could, and showing how he is well suited to lead this country over the next few years. Thompson also took an excellent (not to mention valid) shot at the competition:
To deal with these challenges the Democrats present a history-making nominee for president. History-making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for President.
Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it's the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation's history. Together, they would take on these urgent challenges with protectionism, higher taxes and an even bigger bureaucracy.
And a Supreme Court that could be lost to liberalism for a generation.
This is not reform. And it's certainly not change. It is basically the same old stuff they've been peddling for years. America needs a President who understands the nature of the world we live in.
A President who feels no need to apologize for the United States of America.
Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it's the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation's history. Together, they would take on these urgent challenges with protectionism, higher taxes and an even bigger bureaucracy.
And a Supreme Court that could be lost to liberalism for a generation.
This is not reform. And it's certainly not change. It is basically the same old stuff they've been peddling for years. America needs a President who understands the nature of the world we live in.
A President who feels no need to apologize for the United States of America.
Too true! This was a good speech, and it was delivered well.
Joe Lieberman
I didn't get to watch this speech, but the transcript is good. He spoke mainly about McCain's ability to cross party lines to accomplish his goals, and about how McCain is the man who has actually been the true reformer and agent of change. Some excerpts:
Our founding fathers foresaw the danger of ... senseless partisanship. George Washington himself -- in his Farewell Address to our country -- warned that the "spirit of party" is "the worst enemy" of our democracy and "enfeebles" our government's ability to do its job.
George Washington was absolutely right. The sad truth is -- today we are living through his worst nightmare, in the capital city that bears his name. And that brings me directly to why I am here tonight. What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?
The answer is simple.
I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party. I'm here tonight because John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward. I'm here because John McCain's whole life testifies to a great truth: being a Democrat or a Republican is important.
But it is not more important than being an American.
George Washington was absolutely right. The sad truth is -- today we are living through his worst nightmare, in the capital city that bears his name. And that brings me directly to why I am here tonight. What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?
The answer is simple.
I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party. I'm here tonight because John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward. I'm here because John McCain's whole life testifies to a great truth: being a Democrat or a Republican is important.
But it is not more important than being an American.
And:
Both presidential candidates this year talk about changing the culture of Washington, about breaking through the partisan gridlock and special interests that are poisoning our politics.
But only one of them has actually done it.
Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But eloquence is no substitute for a record -- not in these tough times.
In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party.
Contrast that to John McCain's record, or the record of the last Democratic President, Bill Clinton, who stood up to some of those same Democratic interest groups and worked with Republicans to get important things done like welfare reform, free trade agreements, and a balanced budget.
Governor Sarah Palin, like John McCain, is a reformer who has taken on the special interests and reached across party lines. She is a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington.
That's why the McCain-Palin ticket is the real ticket for change this year.
But only one of them has actually done it.
Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But eloquence is no substitute for a record -- not in these tough times.
In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party.
Contrast that to John McCain's record, or the record of the last Democratic President, Bill Clinton, who stood up to some of those same Democratic interest groups and worked with Republicans to get important things done like welfare reform, free trade agreements, and a balanced budget.
Governor Sarah Palin, like John McCain, is a reformer who has taken on the special interests and reached across party lines. She is a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington.
That's why the McCain-Palin ticket is the real ticket for change this year.
He appealed directly to Democrats and Independents to give John McCain a look. This was a bold speech, and a gutsy move for Lieberman. Chances are good that he'll be completely locked out of the Dem caucuses in the Senate after this, so his words have likely put him on a political island. Still, those words are largely true. While I would disagree with him on the degree to which bipartisanship is necessary, Lieberman still brought home the message that it is McCain-Palin, not Obama-Biden, that is the ticket of change in 2008 - both McCain and Palin have a track record of taking on corruption and misuse of public office/funds, even in their own parties. Stealing the main schtick of the competition is a bold move, but one that is warranted in this case, and one that could (if communicated effectively) work extremely well.
For a great list of all of these speeches and transcripts (and more), go here.
Now, how about some general impressions? I've seen it written more than once that the RNC has so far been a good deal flatter than the DNC was, and I would have to agree. There haven't yet been any bring-down-the-house moments in St. Paul like there were in Denver, but the GOP is usually more reserved by nature, and the hurricane worries don't exactly lend themselves to exuberance, either. Still, the best speakers are yet to come, so the excitement will continue to build.
Jay Nordlinger commented on a very good point regarding the testimonials of the two conventions. Both conventions have had 'ordinary' people get up and speak throughout the event, sharing their stories of life outside of political corridors, but the themes have been completely different:
At the Democratic convention, there was a parade of sad sacks, or victims — testifying to the harshness and injustice of America, particularly when governed by Republicans. There have been "ordinary Americans" at the Republican convention, too. But they have talked about striving and overcoming. One woman said, "The most liberating day of my life was the day I stopped saying, 'Why me?'" If I can grossly, grossly simplify: The Democratic convention seemed to emphasize the half-emptiness of the American glass; and this one is emphasizing the half-full.
This is a common difference between liberals and conservatives. Wherever there is whining, there is a liberal. For them, it's all about being fair to everyone, and considering feelings above anything else (style over substance). In contrast, most Americans live pretty conservatively, preferring to keep the government at arm's length and going about their daily lives to make things better for themselves. This difference is something to remember.
Debbie at Right Truth points out another key difference: at the RNC, spontaneous chants of "USA! USA!" have broken out more than once. Not so at the DNC. The obvious question is: why not? I'll let you answer that one yourself. Similarly, the crowd at the DNC was always waving signs about 'Obama' and 'Change', while the RNC crowd was waving signs about 'Country First' and 'USA'. Another small but important difference, I think.
One last gripe. It appears that the major networks didn't show all the speeches in their entirety, nor did they air some of them at all. More shameless bias.
Tonight's line-up is as good as it gets: Romney, Huckabee, Giuliani, and Sarah Palin. Some are predicting Palin's speech to get ratings similar to that of the Obamessiah himself. The evening should ratchet up the excitement several notches. I'll have recaps tomorrow!
There's my two cents.
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