The Official Republican Convention Thread

[Roguish Lawyer]

Let's discuss the convention here. Should we start with expectations?

[Roguish Lawyer]

On CNN this am, I noticed that they were spending lots of time discussing how all of the GOP delegates are right-wing wackos but the party is going to try to look moderate by putting McCain, Giuliani and Arnold in the spotlight.

I didn't see anyone talking about the Demo delegates being left-wing wackos when they had their convention . . .

:rolleyes:

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally posted by Roguish Lawyer


I didn't see anyone talking about the Demo delegates being left-wing wackos when they had their convention . . .

:rolleyes:

Nor will you!

Terry

[The Reaper]

NBC lead with that allegation.

Why is it that peripheral connections between minor Bush officials and the SBVFT are major evil, yet the blatant connection between senior Dems and Michael Moore, the lib 527s, or the protestors in NY are ignored?

TR

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally posted by The Reaper


Why is it that peripheral connections between minor Bush officials and the SBVFT are major evil, yet the blatant connection between senior Dems and Michael Moore, the lib 527s, or the protestors in NY are ignored?

TR

I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question.

Terry

[Airbornelawyer]

CNN led its RNC convention coverage off this morning with... Bill Clinton speaking yesterday at a church in Harlem.

So far. my convention has involved getting shitfaced with the staff of National Review.

[The Reaper]

Watching it on Fox. Chatter has been mainly about B-C momentum and the K-E fade.

John McCain just gave one hell of a speech, giving Michael Moore a verbal bitch slap in the process.

Looking good so far.

TR

[Ambush Master]

They just "Back-Doored" the 9-11 Family mambers. This will be tough for the Dems to counter !!!

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Ambush Master
They just "Back-Doored" the 9-11 Family mambers. This will be tough for the Dems to counter !!!

These 9/11 family speeches are incredible. I am sitting here tearing up.

I suspect that the media will not run any of them on their coverage, and if Michael Moore had any decency at all, he would be hiding his head in shame (if not putting a bullet through it).

RIP, 9/11 victims.

TR

[Gypsy]

Originally posted by The Reaper
John McCain just gave one hell of a speech, giving Michael Moore a verbal bitch slap in the process.

Looking good so far.

TR

Not once but twice!

Rudy is fired up as well. :lifter and is going over skerry's "voting record" and flip flopping.

I admit I lost it during the 9/11 families speeches, followed up by Amazing Grace.

[Ambush Master]

The VERY HONORABLE Mr. Gulliani, JUST STOMPED A MUD HOLE IN THEIR ASS!!!!:D

[Gypsy]

He did and continues to do so AM! He's incredible and on fire tonight.

[Ambush Master]

Originally posted by Gypsy
He did and continues to do so AM! He's incredible and on fire tonight.

If he could only utter: "De Opresso Liber" !!!!!

[The Reaper]

Rudy's stories are killing me.

Rather than focus on what JK may (or may not) have done 30 years ago, the focus here seems to be on the POTUS, his actions as President, and his direction for the future.

Playing to this theme should resonate with the undecided who were Bush supporters in the post-9/11 era. I would say that so far, this is a much more cogent, focused approach than the hate and vitriol I saw at the Dems' Convention. This is playing to the President's strength. He may just get a decent bounce out of this and add to his momentum.

Good time for killing/capturing OBL.

Stay the course.

TR

[Gypsy]

Originally posted by Ambush Master
If he could only utter: "De Opresso Liber" !!!!!

LOL that would have been awesome!

I agree TR, some of his stories in the way he told them were absolutely hysterical. I like the message so far from this convention, very powerful.

[Gypsy]

I just made the mistake and flipped to MSNBC...there's Tom Brokjaw talking about the unsuccessful war in Iraq and blah blah blah. :mad:

On the other hand there was a Ret LTC interviewed briefly and the reporter asked him what he made of the comments by McCain re Moore....the LTC was quiet a brief second and said "I'd like to meet him...let's just leave it at that".

[DunbarFC]

Originally posted by Ambush Master
The VERY HONORABLE Mr. Gulliani, JUST STOMPED A MUD HOLE IN THEIR ASS!!!!:D

This was the best part of the night IMHO

GIULIANI: He even, at one point, declared himself as an antiwar candidate. And now he says he's pro-war candidate. At this rate, with 64 days left, he still has time to change his position four or five more times.

My point about John Kerry being inconsistent is best described in his own words, not mine. I quote John Kerry, "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."

Maybe this explains John Edwards' need for two Americas.

One is where John Kerry can vote for something and another where he can vote against exactly the same thing.




:lifter

[Roguish Lawyer]

I watched on C-Span, which probably was a mistake because I got the actual convention without any of the biased media filter. Checked CNN and Fox this am before leaving for work to see what the spint would be, but they were covering POTUS's American Legion speech live.

What were the sound bites this am? I'm going to check some papers and see the print spin . . .

[Roguish Lawyer]

Day 2 Review:

I thought Arnold was great. He's a real star in the party.

I liked the twins. I thought they were funny and accomplished their objective of making POTUS look more human. I think they won a few young, female votes. Not many, but there was some impact I think.

Didn't see Laura's entire speech, but I thought she did OK. She's much more approachable than that bitch Kerry is married to. Probably turned off a lot of "modern" women with her homey demeanor, but they're not going to vote for Bush anyway.

Overall, a good night for us.

I'm feeling a nice bump coming from this convention.

:munchin

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Roguish Lawyer
Day 2 Review:

I thought Arnold was great. He's a real star in the party.

I liked the twins. I thought they were funny and accomplished their objective of making POTUS look more human. I think they won a few young, female votes. Not many, but there was some impact I think.

Didn't see Laura's entire speech, but I thought she did OK. She's much more approachable than that bitch Kerry is married to. Probably turned off a lot of "modern" women with her homey demeanor, but they're not going to vote for Bush anyway.

Overall, a good night for us.

I'm feeling a nice bump coming from this convention.

:munchin

Roger all. Concur.

TR

[bberkley]

I really have enjoyed the speeches so far. I think Sen. McCain and Giuliani have broad appeal in both parties, and is a ticket I hope to see in 2008. Gov. Schwarzenegger was awesome, and Mrs. Bush is just a class act. The elder Mrs. Bush was a great First Lady, and after 8 years of Billary, Laura is a welcome change.

I watch the coverage on C-SPAN, as I can't tolerate the network hacks spinning it.

[The Reaper]

I would welcome J.C. Watts or Condi Rice on the ticket before McCain.

Too liberal, like Powell, for my vote.

TR

[Bravo1-3]

Full text of Arnolds Speech.

My 7 year old asked me this morning: "Dad, are the Communists going to take over here like they did in Austria?"
"Not if your dad and a couple of thousand of his friends have anything to say about it Josh."

http://www.juiceenewsdaily.com/0804/news/rnc_arnold.html

[CPTAUSRET]

Originally posted by The Reaper
I would welcome J.C. Watts or Condi Rice on the ticket before McCain.

Too liberal, like Powell, for my vote.

TR

A friend of mine with whom I flew gunships in VN 65-66, and who now works directly for the President/Whitehouse, knows JC Watts very well, and speaks very highly of him.

Terry

[Roguish Lawyer]

I'm TIVO'ing it tonight. Catwoman and I will watch it after the kids go to bed.

My mouth hurts so much that I've prescribed copious amounts of Blanton's. So I'll enjoy the evening no matter what. LOL

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Roguish Lawyer
I'm TIVO'ing it tonight. Catwoman and I will watch it after the kids go to bed.

My mouth hurts so much that I've prescribed copious amounts of Blanton's. So I'll enjoy the evening no matter what. LOL

Concentrated Alcohol, and a open, dry socket.

Yeah, that'll keep you awake.

TR

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally posted by The Reaper
Concentrated Alcohol, and a open, dry socket.

Yeah, that'll keep you awake.

TR

Hey, I'm swallowing on the other side! LOL

[The Reaper]

Returning to the topic of the thread, Pres is doing okay, and they just ran a protester out of there on a rail.

Rassmussen showed a big bump for the POTUS earlier today, and the Kerry campaign appears to be imploding.

TR

[Gypsy]

"Here buildings fell....here a nation rose".

Good speech, he laid it out on the line with conviction. The last 10 minutes of the speech were so emotionally charged. His naked emotions while talking about our Military put a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

I'm damn proud to support this man for President.

[The Reaper]

I liked the time spent talking about servicemembers and their families, and not himself, like his opponent did.

The line about families of the fallen praying for him was particularly touching.

I will make my election prediction in a few days.

TR

[Bravo1-3]

I thought he was going to cry for a few minutes.

Now Kerry is going to give a statement tonight in Ohio that attacks Bush/Cheney for "attacking his patriotism and his military service" I distinctley remember hearing Cheney say "I commend him for his service in vietnam". I remember Zell Miller saying "I don't question their (Kerry, Kennedy) patriotism, I question their judgement."

Now it seems that people are starting to call Zell Miller a racist. I wonder if they knew he was a racist when he gave the key note address in 1992, or when he worked for the Carter and Mondale Campaigns?

[Doc]

I thought this was a great convention. Good sequence of speakers.

There were people trying to disrupt it but I don't think the ordinary American identifies with these fringe groups. It only showed me how desparate these people have become.

Solid reasoning does not become desparate. It prevails.

[Sacamuelas]

I really enjoyed the last portion of his speech. I had that mysterious allergic reaction kick in again where my throat feels like its swelling up and my eyes exhibit mild Epiphora during the President's words about our Fallen.
Damn beer from Holland, must be allergic to this stuff.


Note- I know, I used a two dollar word, trying to impress the new Doc with my fancy lingo. ;) LOL It means excess tearing for all you who didn't feel like googling. :)

[The Reaper]

Originally posted by Bravo1-3
Now it seems that people are starting to call Zell Miller a racist. I wonder if they knew he was a racist when he gave the key note address in 1992, or when he worked for the Carter and Mondale Campaigns?

See, follow the media, neither Zell, nor Robert Byrd (a former Klansman known to use the "n-word" on the floor of the Senate) are racists as long as they are part of the Democratic party, toeing the line.

We know this because we are told that Democrats cannot be racists. That pejorative is reserved for supporters of the Party of Lincoln.

That parallels the lack of attention to military service during the two Clinton elections, when the Republican candidates were bonafide war heroes, and now, wartime service was the theme of the DNC.

I am waiting for Kerry to call Bush a coward for being a member of the Guard during the Vietnam War. Equating Guard service with cowardice when so many Guardsmen are deployed right now fighting the GWOT will alienate large numbers of them and their families.

This was a great example of how to run a convention, particularly when compared to the exclusionary Democratic Love Fest.

Oh, yeah, and the NYPD gets a BIG gold star, in my book! Well done!

TR

[Roguish Lawyer]

This may be an unpopular view, but I thought the POTUS's speech sucked. His speechwriter and all who signed off on the speech should be fired. He had a shot at a 10-15 point bounce, and because of this lame speech, he'll be lucky to get 5-7. I am deeply disappointed.

I give the speech a "C."

[Doc]

Originally posted by Roguish Lawyer
This may be an unpopular view, but I thought the POTUS's speech sucked. His speechwriter and all who signed off on the speech should be fired. He had a shot at a 10-15 point bounce, and because of this lame speech, he'll be lucky to get 5-7. I am deeply disappointed.

I give the speech a "C."

You're entitled to your view.

How could the POTUS done better in your opinion?

Doc

[pulque]

I thought it was a great speech. I watched it to see what all the fuss was about. I mean, what PS.com folks like and/or love about President Bush. I was not disappointed. I have been yearning to hear presidential optimism and future plans for 3 hard years.

I feel reassured now that if he should he win, he will be an inspiration to many of those who serve this country with courage and loyalty overseas.

[JGarcia]

I too got misty eyed during that speach of his. I disagree with you RL, in that i think POTUS hit his mark with that speech.

I have Dish Network TV, so I scrolled down into the 9000's channels to see what the left is saying. I think they are reeling from the RNC, and are making "hate fillled rhetoric" ...I am amused at Kerry's thoughts on the RNC, specifically what he had to say RE: Cheney's speech. Cheney as all of you know, applauded Kerrys service and attacked his voting record.

Kerry is saying he will not have two people who got out of serving question his service, or words to that effect. He's grasping at straws on his way down the tube. I hope.

As a guardsman, who served in OIF, I concur with you TR, Kerry and other Dems have alienated many of us with their derogatory comments about the guard. Absolute hogwash. I still remember DNC lawyers trying to prevent absentee votes from servicemen being counted in Florida during the last election fiasco, DO YOU?

That single act showed me exactly what the Dems think of the Soldiers.

As many have said, being a 'war hero' wasnt important in the two Klinton elections, why is it now? I often wonder why the GOP never brings up these kinds of things the socialists have done or the empty arguments socialists have made when it is convenient for them to be on one side of the issue or another depending on the time of the year.

[DanUCSB]

Eh, I think I might have to be with RL on this one. It had a couple of good moments, but it was bland and fairly uninspiring most of the way, with the constant irritation of the constant applause screwing up the flow. Par for the course, though.

He did do a good job of saluting our servicemen (and women), and did a good job of laying out specifics for his second term, something Kerry has been lacking. Sounded dignified and presidential, which is a plus.

Sorry George, but the moments I'll remember from the RNC are "Spitballs!" and my Governator intoning, "And for all you pessimists about the economy, I say: Don't be an economic girly-man!"

[The Reaper]

I think the speech was about a 99 of 100 for Bush.

He is not "The Great Communicator", or Bill Clinton (got to give him his props, he could work a room), Giuliani, Schwarzenegger, or Miller.

His style of communication is better in a small setting, or one on one, and he had no option to not follow a better orator without hurting the cause.

Frankly, I think he did the best he could with what he had, and could have done far worse. How could you ask for more?

By the way, RL, I will settle for a 1 point lead and a 1 vote victory in the Electoral College.

TR

[Guy]

Article in the current issue of Newsweek about the POTUS.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5853701/site/newsweek/

I heard someone say the other day...

"It's not only about your journey...it's your destination!"

[DanUCSB]

Originally posted by The Reaper
By the way, RL, I will settle for a 1 point lead and a 1 vote victory in the Electoral College.

Sounds like the old joke:

Q: What do you call the guy who graduated dead last in the med-school class?

A: Doctor.

[Airbornelawyer]

Originally posted by DanUCSB
Sounds like the old joke:

Q: What do you call the guy who graduated dead last in the med-school class?

A: Doctor.

Q: What do you call the guy who graduated dead last from USMA?

A: Lieutenant.

[Roguish Lawyer]

How could the POTUS done better in your opinion?

1. Generally speaking, the speech was just not well-written. There are good speeches and bad ones, and this one was mediocre. It wasn't so much the delivery as the text itself that I disliked. Too few sound bites, weak rhetoric and little substance from a public policy point of view.

2. He should have catered more to the media. The speech did absolutely nothing to try to secure a positive media spin on the speech. It did not attempt to respond directly -- or at least did not do so adequately IMO -- to any of the issues constantly raised by the press. This was a lost opportunity.

3. What exactly were the domestic policy accomplishments? And what is the agenda? I thought this was all incredibly weak. He left himself open to attacks for this. I am a rabid Republican and I was disappointed in his lack of policy leadership. Can you imagine how a moderate would react?

I didn't give the speech an F. There were no gaffes, so it was OK, I guess. But I do not believe that the speech won a single vote for the President. It was good enough and probably made existing supporters happy, but this is a very important speech -- one that can actually get people to get out and vote, move from undecided or even change sides. I believe it was a missed opportunity.

But what do I know?

[Doc]

1. Generally speaking, the speech was just not well-written. There are good speeches and bad ones, and this one was mediocre. It wasn't so much the delivery as the text itself that I disliked. Too few sound bites, weak rhetoric and little substance from a public policy point of view.

2. He should have catered more to the media. The speech did absolutely nothing to try to secure a positive media spin on the speech. It did not attempt to respond directly -- or at least did not do so adequately IMO -- to any of the issues constantly raised by the press. This was a lost opportunity.

3. What exactly were the domestic policy accomplishments? And what is the agenda? I thought this was all incredibly weak. He left himself open to attacks for this. I am a rabid Republican and I was disappointed in his lack of policy leadership. Can you imagine how a moderate would react?

I didn't give the speech an F. There were no gaffes, so it was OK, I guess. But I do not believe that the speech won a single vote for the President. It was good enough and probably made existing supporters happy, but this is a very important speech -- one that can actually get people to get out and vote, move from undecided or even change sides. I believe it was a missed opportunity.

But what do I know?


Thanks for your reply.

Doc

[Solid]

I'm with Dan on this. I'm new to Convention speech-making simply because it was never shown in full over in London while I was awake. While I understand that applause during a speech is good- it COULD be like direct-audience feedback if it wasn't a given that everyone was clapping- I think it interrupts the flow of the speech. The President here gave a speech here for convocation, and it was only interrupted twice by clapping, and it was at appropriate times. Thusly, the rhythm of the speech was preserved. I'd have much preferred the parts of the President's speech that I saw if the applause had been similarly limited to appropriate moments.

The CINC was enjoying it, though...

What did you guys think of the CINC using spanish in his speech?

Thank you,

Solid

[Razor]

AL, actually the common form of that joke is a theorem:

4.0 = 2LT

2.0 = 2LT

therefore,

4.0 = 2.0

:D

[Airbornelawyer]

AL, actually the common form of that joke is a theorem:

4.0 = 2LT

2.0 = 2LT

therefore,

4.0 = 2.0

:D
A syllogism. And a classic example of the fallacy of the undistributed middle.

[Roguish Lawyer]

A syllogism. And a classic example of the fallacy of the undistributed middle.

But pretty funny nevertheless!