Posted on 08/31/2004 5:21:00 AM PDT by crushkerry
Unlike our coverage of the Democratic Convention, we will not be giving grades or commenting on every speaker. The reason? Most of the folks up on the dais are normal and not spitting angry, unlike the freak show held yesterday in the streets or last month in Boston. That makes it a bit harder to "grade". If we have one complaint it's with the RNC "correspondents" who are "interviewing" people. They're a bit annoying.
And while John McCain and Rudy Giuliani had the prime speaking slots, and both gave amazing and moving speeches - or in Giuliani's case, a spectacular "conversation" more than a speech - the real message tonight was reminding people was that 9/11 happened (the speeches of the family members and the Amazing Grace performance nearly had us in tears) that the war on terror goes on.
And oddly, the night was symbolized by two members of the Hollywood industry, both used to perfection.
While we here at crushkerry.com are not big fans of John McCain the politician, tonight was probably his finest moment since he was elected. Why? Because of the eloquence in which he connected the dots from war in Iraq to the war on terror in a way even President Bush has not been able to do thus far. Further, his passionate and logical defense of the Bush doctrine drew a very distinct difference between President Bush and the "sensitive" war wanted by John Kerry. And the reason we get so aggravated at McCain - his longing for media acceptance - actually works for us tonight.
Perhaps the coup de grace of the McCain performance was his direct hit on overweight low budget filmmaker Michael Moore. Not only because it's about time Moore got just a bit of what he so richly deserved, but because it slams Kerry without naming him.
Face it, Moore is the face of the Democratic party and of the loony left "Anybody But Bush" crowd. To people in middle America, Moore represents everything that is wrong about the left and the lunatic fringe. To be blunt, it says to people, "Look, this guy wants Kerry to win, as to all the nuts like him". That enough cost Kerry thousands of votes in places like Ohio and Wisconsin.
Rudy Giuliani, as he so often does, told it like it is. He mentioned that the terrorists, Saddam, and Libya "heard from us", just as President Bush promised. Giuliani, who has credibility all across the political spectrum, vividly recalled 9/11, and why President Bush's actions show the leadership and resolve the country needs to go forward.
Giuliani's best moment was the history he lesson he gave on what happens when terror gets appeased. In short: Terror begets terror. Comparison to Neville Chamberlain and pointing to the lunacy of an Arafat Nobel Peace Prize, what logical or sane person could argue that President Bush's offensive war on terror is wrong? And it was an awesome touch to mention how Reagan and Churchill were vilified by the press, but were proven to be right, and effective.
The beauty of the speeches tonight is that except for once at the end of Giuliani's speech John Kerry's name was not mentioned, because it didn't have to be. He also proved that Kerry's whine that his service and patriotism are being attacked is nothing more than whistling past the graveyard. All mentions of him simply stated his voting record and its logical inconsistency. A great line about how this flip flopping is the real reason John Edwards is talking about "two Americas". An effective boosting of President Bush and a nailing of Kerry (without being "angry"). All in all, a great job that kept people hanging on every word.
But surprisingly, the night's whole message was summed up by reformed liberal (on national security issues anyway) Ron Silver. As he so simply and genuinely stated: "We Will Never Forget, We Will Never Forgive, and We Will Never Excuse".
Like McCain and Giuliani, we likely wouldn't agree with Silver on much, but on the most important issue of our time - the war on terror, he gets it.
We suggest a name for such folks - "Ron Silver Democrats". We have a feeling there are a lot of them out there who will pulling the lever for George Bush.
Ping
9/11 Democrats. There are lots like Silver and Ed Koch. Check out Roger L. Simon's blog.
It was a night of super speeches. (But I admit that I giggled MUCH more watching the Boston convention!)
Nearly? Man, you're a lot tougher than I am! I bawled like a baby.
One thing you do have to say for Moore, though - he kept chewing his cud without missing a beat.
.....and one of these days, Moore is going to bite his forked tongue.....
I think Ron Silver "got it" the day he realized that military is not bad if the right people run it. ("those are our jets now.") He has merely changed his opinion of who the right people are.
Two of my Senate district Bush campaign organizers are reformed RATs. In my state Representative re-election race, one of the best workers my Representative has is a young man that claims to be an erstwhile RAT.
The good news is that they know their kingdom of the RATs is taking water well above the water line. The bad news is that they are coming on board our ship. The need to instill conservative values and leadership is greater than ever, since a generational victory for the Republicans could easily devolve into a RAT tainted dilution with the full cooperation of RINOs.
GREAT thread - thanks for posting CK!!
The speeches last night were GREAT!
I have a new found liking for Baldwin and boxing promoter King.
I thought Silver was good also, more dems need to listen to him.
moore is just a fat slob.
"Ron Silver Democrats"
Perhaps there should be a civilian version of the Silver Star to award those who have overcome the blinding scourge of Liberalism.
I have no cable; I didn't see it at all.
If it weren't for Free Republic and the Live Threads, I'd have missed everything.
"We suggest a name for such folks - "Ron Silver Democrats". We have a feeling there are a lot of them out there who will pulling the lever for George Bush."
My wife heard Silver's comments from the other room, and came out after he finished and said "Thats exactly how I feel about all of this stuff".
I think you are correct, there are far more Democrats like Silver and Zell Miller than Terry McAufille and company will admit.
Used to call them "Reagan Democrats".
Welcome back, you guys have been sorely missed for the last decade or so....
And I didn't use the paragraph tag. I'm so ashamed!
Horrendous. Truly horrendous. My mostest biggest apologies. This is a truly series mistake.
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