Tuesday Republican National Convention running commentary thread

[Eraserhead]

Fake Reagan is on.

[Keystone Phil]

Yelling into a mic, an exciting speech does not make.

He's firing up the crowd, pal. It's not boring.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Is anyone watching (CNN) and hearing some guy yelling "YEAHHHHH!!!!" in a really deep and loud voice every time there's a cheer?

I noticed the same thing.  I wish someone would shut him up - its really distracting.

[Keystone Phil]

Draining a swamp...oh Lord...

[The Mikado]

After the Reagan video, Reagan comes to stage.  Oh, wait, it's Fred Thompson.  Why would they put a video about Reagan before Fred Thompson?

I can't hear him.  Does he still sound like a shrimp trawler?  Thompson's bashing the pessimistic "other party."  Saying we're free and generous and thankful.  Fred doesn't look as old as he did.  He's complimenting Sarah Palin.  He has a creepy backdrop.  Small-town values not good enough for Democrats attacking her.  Media in a frenzy over woman who actually governed rather than talked a good game.  Shot at Clinton?  Alaskan governor who took on the establishment (hah) in the largest state in the Union (hah hah).  Media in state of panic because she's a courageous, successful reformer (hah hah hah!).  Something about a field dress and a moose?  Missed it.  With the exception of Teddy Roosevelt...what?  They're going to drain a swamp?  Is he talking about the Everglades or something?  This closed captioning is crazy.

[angus]

Haha. They are replaying Bush on the major networks. LOL.

I think I caught his remarks in toto.  Just as Paul walked off CSPAN cut to Laura's introduction.  Almost as if on cue.  I wonder if Paul had a "wrap it up, King George is walking on" light on his podium.

I thought it was a well-delivered, but short, speech.  Optimism seemed to be the watchword.  As an endorsement it was lacking.  He kept saying that McCain was up to the job.  It sort of reminded me of Hillary's speech.  Different styles, of course.  And they were talking of different people.  But those people are running for the same office.  And it strikes me that in both cases, the one person that might have delivered a ringing, unmitigated endorsement fell somewhat short.  Also, in both cases, their spouses gave better speeches.  Again, different styles, different emphasis, and neither being able to fully make up for their spouses' lack of a ringing endorsement.

[Lief 🗽]

Probably the best speech of the night so far, for what it's worth.

[War on Want]

Probably the best speech of the night so far, for what it's worth.

lol not that that's saying much.

[The Mikado]

Whose children are those?

[Eraserhead]

I'm not sure if this is good or not. I'm not capable of liking any speechs from this man.

[Keystone Phil]

McCain dated a stripper! Call BRTD!

[The Mikado]

John McCain's mother.  96.  John's a rebel.  333 demerits at Naval Academy...a positive?  Troublemaker.  Leader troublemaker.  Principal in rebellion but never broke honor code.  Did an exotic dancer in a Cadillac (?!?).

[True Democrat]

He's doing much better than I expected.

This party still seems lame compared to the Democrats.

[Daniel Adams]

Wow, Fred is giving a pretty good speech. He isn't like the old bore we saw in the primary season.

[Lief 🗽]

Why is Thompson talking about how McCain was a bad student and a trouble-maker and a stripper-fucker?

[Eraserhead]

McCain dated a stripper! Call BRTD!

I can't believe he said that. His family didn't look pleased.

[Keystone Phil]

This party still seems lame compared to the Democrats.

Welcome to something everyone has said for years now.  

Why is Thompson talking about how McCain was a bad student and a trouble-maker and a stripper-er?

It was a weird set up for his Vietnam days.

[The Mikado]

Fire burned up planes, POW, etc.

[NOVA Green]

Yelling into a mic, an exciting speech does not make.

He's firing up the crowd, pal. It's not boring.

It's actually one of the best speeches of either convention in terms of entertainment value.

I never thought Thompson was such a good storyteller and so engaging. I guess the debates and stump speeches weren't the type of format where he does best.

[Dan the Roman]

Fred is doing better than the primaries, but I can't believe there are people who think this stuff is funny. The speech was clearly intended to be humorous but the delivery has killed whatever humor there was. The pauses every five seconds are a killer.

ps. Did anyone see on CNN when they switched to the camera behind Thompson and you could see him reading off the teleprompter. I am convinced that is the force at fault for most bad political speeches. The reason Clinton is so good is that he doesn't use one.

[Keystone Phil]

I never thought Thompson was such a good storyteller and so engaging. I guess the debates and stump speeches weren't the type of format where he does best.

He's a great narrator. He did the voiceover for the Bush introduction video at the 2004 convention.

[The Mikado]

Sat in cell in his own waste.  Unsuccessfully had his arm set.  In solitary for two years.  Heat tin roof.  Lightbulb.  Cell windows blocking fresh air.  Baseball under his arms.  McCain knows hope.

I should watch all convention speeches by closed captioning.

[Eraserhead]

Alright, this is pretty terrible, to me at least.

[Dan the Roman]

Decent speech but I assume it is supposed to make us want to vote for McCain. It seems like an odd choice of topics.

[The Mikado]

"POW doesn't qualify you to be President, but it shows character."  Fred says "My friends," the new GOP catchphrase.  He's been to Iraq 8 times.  Unintimidated by polls.  Iraq went badly, people lost confidence, John McCain called for more troops.