After two days of speeches, briefly:
Hot:
1. Paul Ryan – totally knocked it out of the park. He not only jabbed the Obama administration mercilessly, he did it surgically and did so in a disarming way that’s bound to hurt. It’s gonna be very tough for Democrats to run negative ads against a guy who comes across as genuine and earnest as Ryan does. Compared to Joe Biden, you’re talking humans vs. vegetables.
2. Condoleezza Rice – what can I say, the woman exudes class in every sense of the word. Like others, I found her speech electrifying, moving, and passionate. I’d vote her for anything she would run for in a New York minute.
3. Ann Romney – yeah, she started off slow, and the the “talking about love” thing made me cringe a bit, but still, she came off as genuine, non-partisan, and someone whom you’d love to see as a First Lady. She gave a great speech, and, unlike the witch currently in that position, Ms. Romney exudes both class, humility and positivity.
4. Susana Martinez – the governor of New Mexico did a great job following Rice’s speech – no easy feat, to be sure. She’s refreshing, forceful, and genuine.
5. Nikki Haley – similar to Martinez, the governor of South Carolina did a great job Tuesday night. Another rising star among a legion of rising stars for the GOP. You take a look at the up-and-comers on the Republican side and compare them with the Democrats, and you can see which party has the most vibrant and refreshing up-and-comers.
And we haven’t even heard from Marco Rubio yet!
Not:
The boring white-bread (apologies if that sounds racist!) bunch they dragged up earlier both nights – the Mike Huckabees, Bob McDonnells, Rob Portmans and Tim Pawlentys of the GOP just sound so boring. Fortunately, those who have impressed have created a lot more buzz than these guys.
I sure wish Michele Bachman and Sarah Palin were speaking.
Footnotes:
1. What’s wrong with the Arizona Republican Party? Sarah Palin was appearing 15 mins. from my house on Monday and I never received one word of notice about it.
2. I’ve always liked Fox News’ Juan Williams, but I lost all respect for him for what he said about Ann Romney and will change the channel whenever I see him on again. I don’t accept his explanation for what he said; he’s nothing more than a hateful spiteful, racist ignoramus who deserves nothing but scorn. But that’s a liberal for you… they always show their colors sooner or later. What a jerk…
Hey, not ALL liberals are jerks no more than ALL conservatives are upstanding members of the community. I have to take issue with broad generalizations.
You are the nicest conservative I know…I am, most likely, the nicest liberal you know. A person’s politics by no means defines who they are or what they do…only represents how they vote.
And that’s all I have to say about that…as Forrest Gump would say.
Comment by Jana — August 30, 2012 @ 5:03 am
Don’t forget Mia Love’s and Artur Davis’ speeches on Tuesday, Doug.
Both excellent examples of people who “get it”.
Comment by Dave Richard — August 30, 2012 @ 7:02 am
Shank –
I enjoyed reading your blogs, but I do take offense to you calling our first lady a “witch”. That shows total ignorance. Michelle Obama is a articulate, caring person that does have this country’s best interest at heart. It’s time we start acting like the “United” States of America and put aside these constant negative attacks of who’s right and who’s wrong. Enough. The conventions really show what this country is made of vs what it should be. Maybe if we started taking positives from both parties and apply that we all might be in a better place.
Comment by Killer — September 5, 2012 @ 12:52 pm
Hey Killer! Actually, under the last two Presidents this country has never been more divided post-Civil War. One can argue that the wars GWB got us into were ill-advised, but all the gross and extreme hatred by the left towards him and Dick Cheney were over the top, considering that the Afghanistan and Iraq decisions were supported by Democrats as well.
Under Barack Obama, the divisions have become even more stark due to Obama’s constant use of the race and class warfare cards. So, excuse me for this pie-in-the-sky nonsense that “we’re all in this together” and need to just get along and let Barack and Michelle and the bloated Washington bureaucracy enabled by both parties and the Northeast / Beltway elitists do what what’s best for everyone.
The fact is, you can’t get both parties anymore to agree on much of anything. I can tell you I certainly have no interest in compromising with liberals who want to take more of my money and freedoms to support their “nanny state” agenda; I’m sure if you talk to most, if not all, of the Democratic delegates this week they’ll tell you they have no interest in compromising with conservatives like me and my desire for individual freedom and the desire for less taxation, less government, and less regulation.
No matter who is elected president come November, these divisions will not be bridged. The only question is who gets more of their voters out to the polls on November 6.
And the comment about the First Lady stands. There’s nothing I can say to convince you, but she’s an elitist, power-hungry limousine liberal who acts, says, and thinks the “do as I say not as I do” mentality with every bone and fiber of her body. More than anything, she’s a phony just like her “Hope and Change” husband. I’d encourage you to the following:
http://www.thedenenbergreport.org/article.php?index=1556
That’s the real Michelle Obama.
Comment by The Great White Shank — September 6, 2012 @ 5:17 pm