QandO

August 31, 2004

Liveblogging the Convention
Posted by Dale Franks

Arnold is looking very, very Teutonic this evening.

Arnold talks about how he grew up in fear in Soviet-occupied Austria. Notes that the Sovs are gone, because of the USA.

Evidently, he became a Republican after watching the Nixon-Humphrey debates. Of course, that was '68, when Nixon was still a conservative, rather than a crook.

Everything I have...I owe to America. America gave me opportunities, and my immigrant dreams came true.

If you believe that this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope for democracy, then you are a Republican. If you believe we must be fierce and determined to "terminate" terrorism, then you are a Republican.

If you are pessimistic about the country's economy, don't be economic "girly-men".

Arnold seems to take a perverse pleasure in the yelps of dismay that his use of that line engenders among the perpetually affronted.

Nice line: Our troops don't believe in "two Americas". They believe in one America and they are fighting for it.

Decent speech from Arnold, with a couple of stirring moments. Nothing like Giuliani last night, though.

Is it just me, or is FOXNews trying to show every single African-American they can find in the convention? They just did a crowd reaction shot that flashed to five different black guys in a row. 92% of African-Americans vote Democrat. There can't be that many black delegates at the convention.

And, wherever they are finding the black people, I'm not seeing any of them in the longer-lens crowd shots. It strikes me that FOX is intentionally highlighting minorities.

Maybe there would be more black delegates if the Repubs weren't just writing them all off, or offering token blacks like, say, Alan Keyes, as candidates.

Jenna and Barbara Bush. Cuties.

Jenna: We've tried to stay out of the spotlight over the last four years. Sometimes we did a better job than others. But we told our dad that, when we were young and stupid, we were young and stupid.

For some reason, Jenna looks like the kind of girl who's always ready to say "yes" to a party. Barbara looks like the girl you take home to mother.

Barbara:

We had a hamster, too. *grimace* Let's just say it didn't make it.

That's the best line the kids have. Whoever wrote their speech needs to take a few classes at humor school. Corny, corny, corny.

This is a bit of surprise. W is on live from a remote location, to introduce Laura Bush.

I'm sure Laura Bush is a wonderfully nice person. Heck, I'm sure Teresa Kerry is a peach, too. I'm not to sure whay I am supposed to listen to either of them. That whole Libby Dole deal in 96 set a bad precedent. I mean, what are the wives gonna say? "My husband is a misanthrope who should be put in a bamboo cage and poked with sharp sticks."

I don't think I'd want to make The Lovely Christine speak before a convention. In fact, I'm pretty sure I couldn't.

By the way, is it just me, or is every other person on the convention floor wearing an American Legion or VFW hat? Actually, it's not just me. Veterans are the largest delegate group present at the Con.

You gotta hand it to the Democrats, though. They clearly win the flamboyant headger contest.

Lot's of signs in the Crowd: "W Stands for WOMEN"

Obvious Democratic rejoinder: As long as they don't want, you know, abortions.

Mort Kondracke: Compared to the Kerry Daughters, the Bush Girls came off like ditzes. The rest of the panel agrees. I do too. They seemed like giggly teenagers, while Kery's daughters were poised and mature, and far more entertaining.

Unfortunately, the race isn't between Jenna and Alexandra.

Fred Barnes has it right: Our politicians aren't royalty, and the families really have no business having prime-time speaking roles.

TrackBack