Summary of Tuesday's RNC events for those that avoided watching.

[abrock]

Lets see... as unbiased as I can be, and note all my 'quotes' are paraphrased because I didn't Tivo any of this dreck:

Bill Frist (R-TN) gave a very flaccid and uninspired speech relating mostly to healthcare, at least, thats what the focus seemed to be. The audience didn't care at all, and he'd often pause for applause and not get any for a few seconds before they realized what he wanted. It was the worst speech from a delivery standpoint that I've seen in a long time.

I didn't see most of the speech by Rod Paige, but I did see him take a lot of cheap shots at Kerry's senate record. He used repitition of the phrase "...but not kerry!" and got the crowd into it... "everyone voted for this important bill to give our troops body armor... BUT NOT KERRY."

Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R-CA) speech was much, much better. The best of the convention so far from a delivery standpoint. He made the rest of their speakers sound positively comotose (which they essentially were). He used a lot of lame movie references like "the democratic convention should have been named 'True Lies'" and called anyone who thought the economy wasn't on the road to recovery a a bunch of 'economic girly men'. He didn't bash Kerry at all from what I remember, or even mention him, but he did stump for Bush and describe growing up under communism. As I said, from a delivery standpoint, it was excellent: The crowd loved him. However, he didn't say anything important. No issues were spoken of except the war on terror (I don't think he mentioned 9/11 -- Amazing in itself) which was, of course, claimed for which the only proper leader was W. His speech is very unlikely to convince INDs or undecideds who want to hear about the issues.

Laura Bush and the Bush daughters were out after that, I forget which was first, but I think it was the kids. They were simply fucking awful, no way to put it any nicer. They literally acted like a female version of Beavis and Butthead, (Beavisira and Buttheadina as one DU forumer noted) insulting their own family and lamely talking about liking Sex in the City, Outkast, and having a hamster that died. It all came off INCREDIBLY fake and forced, and the audience were even more uncomfortable than they were.


Thats pretty much it. The Republicans are digging their own grave with this stuff, and I'd fully expect Rove to be in full attack mode soon to make up for how much the convention has sucked.

[Nite Owl]

1. Thanks for the summary.

I just couldn't take being there for this. Sounds like maybe if people did tune in they would be thinking of how much Kerry really does have to offer.

[abrock]

2. One thing is for sure.

Nobody will be impressed by the republicans after these first 2 nights, not even their die hards are gushing. The best I've heard is "pretty good so far"

Nothing at all like the DNC where many of us were floored by the speeches, people were crying, the applause was deafening, people were just attuned to the party so much better. I wasn't even there (wish I could have been) but it was obvious even watching it on c-span.

[homerthompson]

3. dont forget that every cutaway to an outside opinion

went straight to a rethuglican talking point repeater, who was being asked softball questions by the rethuglican shrill of a "journalist". what a double wammy - first, a carefully crafted speech full of colloquialisms, nationalism, and distortions. Then followed by commentary full of talking points and distortions.
whereas after every single dem speech at the dnc, there was not one but two rethuglican vile spewers ready to pounce with distortions, straw mans, and talking points.
some liberal media bias, eh?

[abrock]

4. C-span!

Because I watched this all on c-span on the web I was not treated to our wonderful TV 'journalism'.

[GaryL]

5. I was surprised they allowed the * offspring to speak.

They tried to out 'Kerry' the Kerry women and flopped badly. Whoever planned for those two to appear screwed up in a major way. I actually felt sorry for them at one point. My guess is we'll see a completely different version in tommorow's press but to actual viewers, this truly sucked.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Beavisira and Buttheadina came from Freepland

I can't take credit for that.

[DemonFighterLives]

7. Thanks for the summary

I skipped most of this night. Guess I didn't miss much. ;-)