RNCC wrap-up: Successful beyond expectations
posted at 9:24 am on September 5, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Two weeks ago, had someone told me that the Republican convention would generate energy, excitement, drama, suspense, and unity, I probably would have laughed in their face, or cried in my beer. At best, I hoped for a solid effort to bring people together for what looked to be a grueling general election campaign. Instead, John McCain found a formula to generate momentum and to unite the competing factions of the GOP under a reform banner, while simultaneously lifting the next generation of Republicans.
This convention had its difficulties to surmount, though. The self-imposed limitations of Day One while McCain and Sarah Palin attended to Hurricane Gustav essentially ground the momentum of her selection to a halt, and allowed a vacuum that got filled with slurs and innuendo. By the time the convention got back into gear on Day Two, a sense of siege could be sensed in the Xcel.
However, unlike the assumptions of a few in the media who began talking about an “Eagleton option”, this sense of siege had two effects on the assembled. First, it rallied them around Palin, even before they’d had a chance to hear her speak. Second, it reminded them that the media would play a hostile role in this election, even with a man with proven centrist and reform credentials at the top of the ticket. When people like John Roberts started questioning whether the little woman wouldn’t be better advised staying home with the kiddies, people got angry — and they got motivated.
By Wednesday, the stage was set inside the convention for a hero’s welcome for Palin. Anticipation ran as high inside as expectations got set low by the media, and the combination gave Palin a hanging curve to hit for a grand slam. Not only did she perform magnificently within or without that context, Palin energized people to fight despite the hostile media and the slurs.
Wednesday night was the emotional climax of the convention. Day Four brought a glow of success and hope that Republicans could prevail in this election. No one expected John McCain to top the energy of his running mate — indeed, he couldn’t have possibly done so, because McCain is a known quantity. However, after Wednesday night, people had a lot more enthusiasm for McCain himself, thanks to his choice of running mate. If Thursday night didn’t reach the heights of emotion and excitement of the previous night, it served as a comfortable afterglow to a convention that had reached beyond anyone’s expectations.
We could see this on the inside, even if it didn’t come across in the televised coverage. By Thursday, people had confidence in this ticket and looked forward to seeing them campaign against Obama. And the latest CBS poll, which saw Obama’s convention bounce eliminated before Palin’s speech, bolstered that confidence significantly.
I have more video from the convention coming today, so stay tuned.
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…to the above…
I meant the RNC convention obviously
Waterboy on September 5, 2008 at 10:44 AM
If you truly,,,
Dave Rywall on Sept 5,2008 at 10:21AM.
Dave Rywall:Good Lord,a fellow Canadian who has lost their
mind,a Left brain on liberal Koolaid!!
Good gawd,America is,America was,and America
will always be the good guy!
And,not revisionist history,or Liberal history,
but America saved the Worlds #ss twice,in two
wars!
Ungrateful koolaid drinks who hate America,even
tho,the idiots can’t tell you why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on September 5, 2008 at 10:45 AM
O/T question:
The other night when they were doing the roll call, when the delegate from Ariz. was at the mic, she did not declare support for McCain, instead “passing”. I waited for an explanation on this, but have yet to hear/see one. Anyone know what this was all about?
Syd B. on September 5, 2008 at 10:51 AM
“How the hell does a woman dressed in Code Pink garb even get into the convention?”
She cleverly disguised herself as a Zamboni buy attaching a steering wheel to her forehead.
“Can you imagine the beating someone would have gotten shouting down Obama last week?”
They are the party of thugs and clown acts, not us.
NoDonkey on September 5, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I think that overall we had the better convention. I watched almost every speech the Democrats put forth and thought Michelle, Bill and Obama gave great speeches, but that’s it. Hillary’s speech didn’t do a thing to tear McCain down or build Obama up.
We had Fred, Lieberman, Rudy and Palin give great speeches. Ridge and Huck and Cindy McCain gave good speeches, and McCain presented an acceptance speech unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It looks better in text than it did live, but it had a much clearer vision than Obama and never took a single jab at him, which I thought was very nce.
I think we’re headed on the right track.
BadgerHawk on September 5, 2008 at 10:52 AM
It’s so that they could come back to Arizona later and they would be the state to officially put him over the top.
BadgerHawk on September 5, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Here’s why Canadian lefies like to get involved US polistics and/or bash the US instead of legitimate facist countries like Venezuala, Iran, etc etc:
1. Canadian politics is beyond boring. There are no words. Just trust me on this.
2. We feel, perhaps with justification, that we get no respect from Americans…so basically US bashing is just to get attention.
3. Left wing Canadians make Code Pink look like the John Birch Society. 20% of Canadians support the NDP (New Democratic Party) which is essentially a party with no real ambition to get into power, but rather exist to foil and obstruct the ruling party at every turn. At least the Dems are trying to get in. Code Pink would love to take over the DNC. On the other hand, you could offer the leaver of power (and thus responsibility) to Canadian lefties and they would shrink in horror.
Waterboy on September 5, 2008 at 10:55 AM
The Dims can’t express outrage over a situation they created. Obama voted for soft-on-crime bills when he was in the Illinois legislature. Now those chickens are coming home to roost. Obama and Ayers took $160 Million from Annenberg to improve Chicago’s public school system. They spent all the money . . . and achieved absolutely nothing. (An independent study found no measurable improvement in the school system as a result of Obama’s “work” doling out all the grant money).
What you see happening in Chicago today is the direct result of Obama’s idiotic Liberalism put into action. If Obama gets elected President, this same kind of crap will be coming soon to a neighborhood near you.
AZCoyote on September 5, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I hope all these things make it into RNC ads for the next 60 days. McCain has some real momentum now…use it or lose it.
Waterboy on September 5, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I for one would have loved to see the Democrats show a 9/11 video, or honor some of our fallen heroes and MOH recipients.
BadgerHawk on September 5, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Perhaps you should reacquaint yourself with many of the leading voices of the liberal left in this country in the months followin 9-11, such as Susan Sontag and Noam Chomsky. How about the little gems that Ward Churchill dispensed? Put on hip waders and slog through the fever swamps of the left-wing blogosphere and you will find all sorts of nauseating rants that celebrate what happened to us that awful day.
But then, what do you care? You are safe and snug in canuckland, under the watchful protection of the United States of America.
ManlyRash on September 5, 2008 at 10:31 AM
———–
In those first few weeks when you heard people talking about the possible reasons why 9/11 happened, it was too much for your tiny brain to process. You misinterpreted questions for actual answers. I know, even reading this is difficult for you.
***********************************
I live in DC and I see the people who marched in the A.N.S.W.E.R. rallies. Red flags. Kuffiyehanas. Palestinian Flags.
You bet these people loved 9/11. And you can bet that many of these people, with their first shower in months, were sitting in the audience in Denver.
All Democrat politicians are scum and their delegates aren’t any better.
NoDonkey on September 5, 2008 at 10:32 AM
————-
Ahhh, so you see a few freak fringe as*holes celebrating 911 so that means they’re democrats and therefore all democrats feel the same way? How fu*king stupid. As ignorant as claiming all Christians share the same views as the Westboro as*holes. You need to get your head out of your as*.
Dave Rywall on September 5, 2008 at 11:01 AM
You’ve summed up the situation quite nicely. As an American living in Toronto, I can tell you that there is a very distinct factor that divides the left from the right in Canada and that would be wealth. Canada is a socialist society in many respects and over the years, much of the population has become increasingly reliant on government hand holding. Of course, someone has to pay for this so if you’re efforts provide you with financial success, the government is there like a flea on a $hitrag with their hand in your pocket. In other words, if you risk everything to start up a business and you succeed, the government and its larda$$ beneficiaries share in the win. If you don’t do so well, you’re on your own. It’s a wonderful environment in which there is little encouragement for the entrepreneur.
As I type this, I am starting to realize that I could well be describing the Democratic mindset in the US.
Syd B. on September 5, 2008 at 11:09 AM
“Ahhh, so you see a few freak fringe as*holes celebrating 911 so that means they’re democrats and therefore all democrats feel the same way? How fu*king stupid. As ignorant as claiming all Christians share the same views as the Westboro as*holes. You need to get your head out of your as*.”
Ooooh, touchy today. Feeling blue about Obama blowing the election? At least Sarah Palin knows that Canada has a Prime Minister.
Sorry, but I’ve had my fill of the left. From the freaks demonstrating in the streets here DAILY (they’ve occupied Lafayette Park throughout Bush’s term), from getting my car vandalized for having bumper stickers supporting Republicans, to seeing these people assault law enforcement officers and trash the city with their stupid signs and other trash, they can all go to hell on a cracker, as far as I’m concerned.
And the DNC here, they’re right behind them. Never once a discouraging word. In fact, encouragement.
You live in Canada, super. You don’t have to deal with these people. You have no idea what kind of people hyperliberal Democrats are. They are scum.
NoDonkey on September 5, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Bill and Hillary Clinton are both lawyers.
Michelle Obama is a lawyer.
Harry Reid is a lawyer.
Gore went to law school, but didn’t finish.
It’s a party of lawyers who know how to legislate bills, but without a lot of understanding of how those bills impact the economy or individuals.
BadgerHawk on September 5, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Well, I wouldn’t go that far. However, the point that drives me crazy about some lefties is that they attack the US as if it is and always the bad guy.
I know it goes both ways, but there seems to be a greater proportion of “extreme” views on the left compared to the right (again, just my observation and experience). It makes it difficult in most cases to have a genuine debate about US policy over a beer with a stranger at a bar from “the other side” because odds are very good that you are going to be debating with someone who believes Bush “slaughtered 23,000,000 Iraqis” or something to that effect.
There just doesn’t seem to be any common ground in having any sort of discussion about politics anymore.
Waterboy on September 5, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Ah, Dave is here claiming that the Code Pink wackos, the Answer folks, Acorn, DailyKos, etc. don’t represent the Democrats.
Well, if they don’t, then who does? Olberman? Chris Matthews?
The Democrats kicked out Joe Leiberman, recall. Nancy Pelosi hobnobs with Syrians. Reid tried to surrender on the US Senate floor. Cindy Sheehan orgasms at the thought of Hugo Chavez.
If there are any moderate Democrats left, where are they? Lieberman isn’t there. The Blue dogs are despised. Sure seems to me your party, Dave, hates America and loves dead American troops–they sure go into paroxysms of glee when some die! And the lunatics are running your Democrat party. Michael Moore gets VIP seating at your convention. Sure, not all self described democrats support this stuff… but any self described Democrat who doesn’t hate America gets run out of the party if they dare open their mouth. See, Zell Miller, Joe Lieberman, and that poor Hillary supporter this year.
Vanceone on September 5, 2008 at 11:11 AM
I certainly did not reference Democrats at all, canuck. I was speaking of liberals. You know…your kind of people.
Curiously, most liberals are Democrats - even if not all Democrats are liberals. Knda like terrorism tese days - most, if not all terrorists are Muslims, although not all Muslims are terrorists.
ManlyRash on September 5, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Dave Rywall on September 5, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Do you mind not using such language? Throw in as many asterisks as you want, doesn’t make it any classier or make your comments anymore readable.
Does the left just not know the most basic manners?
amkun on September 5, 2008 at 11:14 AM
That’s what a lot of Americans are concerned about too. As the percentage of people paying taxes into the government decreases, there becomes more and more pressure from the majority to continue the trend (raising taxes on the rich and removing more and more people from the rolls). I think once a country hits socialism there is no easy way to get out of it. The percentage of the voting population who rely on the government for most of their needs becomes to great, and once that happens no politician can get elected by promising to take benefits away from people.
BadgerHawk on September 5, 2008 at 11:15 AM
My God man, so you went to work for half salary and double taxes!
I did the opposite years ago and have not regretted it even once (except when Celine Dion followed me down here…the bitch)
;)
Waterboy on September 5, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Overseeing Gustav efforts.
Pitbull seat already taken.
One of McCain’s first comments were praise for President Bush for keeping America safe.
Idiot comment on your part.
YOUR press brought her family into the spotlight, to destroy her for political purposes.
Don’t get pissy because we have video of John McCain’s trials and tribulations; be grateful there’s no video of Barrak whiffing coke for his.
I defer to the cogent points of ManlyRash on September 5, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I’m playing Cry Me a River for you now, Drywall. Call a lawyer.
Patrick S on September 5, 2008 at 11:16 AM
As for the Code Pink members that somehow got into the convention last night. I don’t know how the hell that happens, but McCain sure handled it well.
BadgerHawk on September 5, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I married a Canadian girl with ah, how shall I say, sizeable assets and a very rich father. The snow’s a biatch, though.
Syd B. on September 5, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Bang on.
And look, there are many many examples in Europe right now dealing with, or more precisely, unable to deal with rising welfare rolls and a shrinking tax base in any effective manner politically. I’ve heard it described as the Tyranny of the Underclass, although I don’t like that expression much since it blames the poor instead of the real culprints: a political class of grievance-mongers.
Waterboy on September 5, 2008 at 11:24 AM
As an American living in Toronto
My God man, so you went to work for half salary and double taxes!
I did the opposite years ago and have not regretted it even once (except when Celine Dion followed me down here…the bitch)
;)
Waterboy on September 5, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I married a Canadian girl with, oh, how should I put this, rather large assets and a rich father. The snow’s not bad, eh!!
Syd B. on September 5, 2008 at 11:24 AM
If Dave is not an angry teenager with a foul mouth he is at least doing a good impression of one. Certainly a dismal display of lack of class and intelligence. He must have gotten chased out of ‘Small Dead Animals’.
Yoop on September 5, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Losing the first night to the hurricane turned out to be a good thing. Having fewer speaking slots meant that the speakers had to be high profile and reduce the length of their speeches. Fewer gasbags, droning speakers and less time for newscasters to show how smart they are by picking everything apart.
It end up being more interesting. They ought to consider cutting conventions by a day in the future.
(Yes, Mike, there is a God!)
obladioblada on September 5, 2008 at 12:07 PM
When the Democrats start condemning those who act like this, rather than giving them box seats and other honors, then will take your claim that these nuts do not represent Democrats a whole lot more seriously.
MarkTheGreat on September 5, 2008 at 12:38 PM
The problem is not that they don’t know what the impacts will be, it’s that they are convinced they do know, but are completely wrong.
Liberals in general are so completely convinced of their mental superiority that they actually believe that they have considered all aspects and that the bill will do precisely what they claim it will do.
MarkTheGreat on September 5, 2008 at 12:41 PM
Someone asked why Arizona passed.
It’s tradition for the home state of a presidential candidate to wait to cast it’s votes until it’s vote totals will put the candidate over the top.
Illinois and New York did similar things at the Democratic convention.
Sackett on September 5, 2008 at 12:55 PM
And here’s why…
Patrick S on September 5, 2008 at 1:05 PM
A friend who is a Dem told me that he was touched by McCain’s speech, nearly to tears. I think he and many other Dems have found reason enough to vote for McCain/Palin.
Doug on September 5, 2008 at 1:31 PM
“When the Democrats start condemning those who act like this, rather than giving them box seats and other honors, then will take your claim that these nuts do not represent Democrats a whole lot more seriously.”
Exactly - and let us remember that Michael Moore, the one who condemned 9/11 by asking why Al Qaeda came after blue voters rather than voters in red states (who voted for Bush), had his fat ass in Jimmy Carter’s box at the 2004 Democrat Convention.
Did one Democrat politician denounce that? Of course not. This is the party with a candidate who is buddy-buddy with unrepentant terrorist William Ayers.
NoDonkey on September 5, 2008 at 1:32 PM
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