The Republican National Convention Commentary: Day 1

[Sorry for the formatting. It's a work in progress.]

Okay, so I’m a little late to the game here.  It’s 6:46, and I’m just sitting down to type.  I’ve been watching PBS’s coverage of the RNC since it started at 6:00, but my computer wasn’t cooperating, so I apologize for not giving running commentary during the remarks given by Speaker John Boehner and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.  They didn’t really say anything that I haven’t already, but their speeches were fantastic.  However, they weren’t near as energizing, for me personally, as the wonderful woman who just finished her speech.  Before tonight, I hadn’t ever heard of Mia Love, the mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah.  What an electrifying speech.  And naturally, the talking heads on PBS tried to demean her speech by saying she’s just trying to steal Obama’s story.  Super lame.  Just because she’s black, she’s riding on his coattails?  No.  She had more substance in her five minute speech than I’ve ever heard in our president’s laboriously lengthy speeches.   Fantastic.

This isn’t going to be my typical running commentary, but more like an overview of each of the speeches – I may do full-bore commentary for Ann Romney and Chris Christie – but I’ll try to include quotes.

The talking heads are still going.  It’s really no surprise that they’re not covering Janine Turner, and they should really shut up and let [the country crooner whose name I can’t find] entertain without them talking over him.   

Obviously, the themes of the night is “We Can Do Better” and “We Built It”.  Both are noble and so true.

Sher Valenzuela is speaking now.  She’s running for lieutenant governor in Delaware.  Very professional.  A business leader who obviously cares about the direction of the country.   Talking about over-regulation, being able to grow a small business.  Good stuff. 

Now that Ms. Valenzuela is done, the talking heads aren’t wasting any time trying to tie Hurricane Issac to this convention. 

I’m shocked.  They’re actually airing the Oak Ridge Boys’ performance of Amazing Grace.  Wonderful!

Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers just took the stage.  “We Built It” Love it.  As a side note, there hasn’t been an unattractive woman on this stage.

Hello, Senator Kelly Ayotte.  “In addition to being a United States Senator, I’m also pretty good with a snowplow.”  Hot.  Finally, someone who brings up ObamaCare.  “President Obama has never even run a lemonade stand…And it shows.” Love it. 

Okay, a nice businessman just had a little speech.  Not terribly polished, but fits nice.   

Governor John Kasich of Ohio just took to the stage to the tune of I’ve Got a Feelin’ by the Black Eyed Peas – one of the most annoyingly overused songs ever.  Fail, RNC music supervisor.  “We killed the death tax” Preach.  This guy is fired up.  Now he’s addressing the debt.  Love the debt clock hung in the arena.  Perfect.  “Taxachusetts”  Love it. 

Nice, we’re not going to watch the video that uses Obama’s own words against him.  Instead, the talking heads are going to fixate on this Ron Paul delegate “controversy”.  Yes, the rules change is concerning, but they’re trying to make a bigger deal out of this than necessary.  Naturally, the media types (to borrow a phrase from Rush) are trying to paint the convention as divided or fractured.  Are we not going to hear from Governor Mary Fallin of Oklahoma?  “Kerfuffle”, Gwen [Ifill]?  Really?  I do like this Luis Fortuno, governor of Puerto Rico.  Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa is also on with the talking heads, and he’s pretty good as well.  He’s fired up and driving Gwen crazy.  It’s quite comical.   

Ooo.  The PBS guy on the floor is about to take on [former governor John] Sununu.  Love that guy.  I love how the talking head is trying his best to make the Republicans look bad, but Sununu isn’t having any of it.  Though, he didn’t really get unleashed.

Ooo.  Governor Bob McDonnell of Virginia just took the podium.  I like this guy.  Don’t necessarily agree with him 100 percent of the time, but I still like him.  “The EPA is the ‘Employment Prevention Agency’.” Love it.  “Talk is cheap.  Results matter.”  So true.  Why did we shift away from him as he introduces Bev Gray?  Oh, because this is PBS.  Let’s see, that’s three women that PBS hasn’t carried.  And it’s Republicans who hate women.  Right. 

And again.  Not airing the video of Obama’s own words that are so easily used against him. 

Oh, yes.  Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin is taking the podium.  Really love him.  The crowd does too.  Cheese head in the Wisconsin delegation!  Love it!  Okay, Gov. Walker, I love you, but I hate sob stories.  Granted, yours is uplifting – as opposed to depressing, like our president likes to say – but you’re better than this.  “The ‘R’ next to [Romney’s] name doesn’t just stand for ‘Republican’, but also for ‘reformer’ [with the selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate].”  Oh, you left too soon.  Sad. 

Seriously, where did PBS dig up these talking heads?  One is from the New York Times.  That speaks volumes.   Oh, and we’re not going to carry Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada’s speech?  Is this just to appear not as sexist?  You still suck, PBS.  Oh, and now you’re trying to justify the “You didn’t build that” comment, Judy [Woodruff]?  Indefensible.  Even in context.  But Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming isn’t letting them have it, and he’s doing so concisely and calmly.  Very Paul Ryan-esque.  PS – this Botoxed douche from the NYT is scary.  And the other one is just the male version of Debbie Wasserman-Shultz with 30 years and a wattle.  He’s really talking up the federal government. 

Whoa.  Why are we showing a video?  Oh, so Gwen and Judy can talk over it.  Apparently [former Senator] Rick Santorum is about to take the stage.  Ooo.  Newt Gingrich is in the box, but first, Santorum.

Seriously, I like this guy.  I backed him in the primaries, so it’s nice to see him here.  “Graduate high school, work hard, get married before you have children.”  Preach.  “We must stop the assault on marriage and the family in America today.”  Word.  He’s really bringing it on this executive order [baloney].  I’m loving this hands bit.  “…born and unborn.”  Perfect way to weave in a pro-life message.  “In November, we have a chance to vote for life and liberty, not dependency.”  Great speech.

Okay, Newt.  Let these whack-jobs have it.  Oh, and we’re not carrying Ted Cruz’s speech.  Racists.  How ironic.  Newt is talking about how broad the Republican party is and how the media doesn’t want to show it.  Oh, so now we’re going to Mr. Cruz.  Must not like what Newt is saying. 

Oh, I love it.  He’s working the stage, not just standing behind a podium.  I’d love to see Obama do that, but I don’t think the TOTUS is portable.  And the Texas delegation is loving him.  Normally, I don’t like multi-lingual speeches, but I’ll let it pass, because this guy is propping up freedom.  “Government is not the answer.”  Nice way to invoke Reagan.  Love it.  He’s propping up learning English and not taking a handout.  Good stuff. 

I like this Artur Davis, former congressman from Alabama.  “You thought it was the glare, some of us thought it was a halo.”  Nice.  PS – this guy is a former Obamaite.  He’s really taking it to the Democrat party.  Lovin’ it.  I just love his southern twang.  Lots of people say such a twang makes you sound unintelligent, but I love when people embrace it.  “We bend, we do not break.”  Fantastic.  “2008-2001: Lesson learned. 2012: Mistake corrected.”  Great speech. 

Oh, nice, we’re not carrying Nikki Haley, governor of South Carolina.  I love her, so naturally, PBS isn’t going to cover her.  Typical. 

Ugh.  I’m switching to NBC, because my local FOX station isn’t doing convention coverage.  Lame.  Actually, screw this.  I don’t want to listen to the [P]MSNBC types.  I won’t be able to handle it if Rachel Maddow comes on.  I’m over to CBS, where they’re more concerned about Hurricane Isaac.  Thinking I’ll switch back to PBS, sadly.  Okay, back to PBS.   Newt is taking on the wattle. 

Luce Vela Fortuno, first lady of Puerto Rico, just took the stage.  Again, I don’t think there is an unattractive Republican woman in the arena.  She’s here to introduce Ann Romney.  Dude, I could listen to her talk all night.

And here’s Ann.  Looking good.  The lady in red.  The crowd is loving her.  Well done, Ann.  Mention Hurricane Isaac, but don’t dwell on it.  She’s poised and pleasant, and apolitical, really, but she’s not a robot.  She’s really got the crowd wrapped around her finger.  She says she and Mitt don’t have a “storybook marriage”; they “have a real marriage.”  “…Mitt Romney was not handed success; he built it.”  Love this woman.  “Mitt doesn’t like to talk about how he’s helped others, because he sees it as a privilege, not a political talking point.”   Ooo…hello Condi.  Sorry.  A.D.D.  This speech is dynamite, and not in the political sense.  This gal has got heart.  Well done! 

Now Christie.  Love. This. Guy.  Not 100 percent aligned with his views, but he’s fantastic.  Unconventional and a true leader.

“The public needs to start being treated like adults.”  I’m surprised they’re playing this video.

“Tonight, we’re going to choose respect over love.”  Loving this.  I do wish he’d get more to the meat, but I’ll take his recalling his fight with the teacher’s unions.  “Our ideas are right for America, and their ideas have failed America.”  That’s more like it.  And he’s on to fiscal policy.  Loving this.  He just dropped my favorite word of late, “coddled.”  So glad he’s on the same page as me.  Now he’s taking it to education.  Have I mentioned that I love this guy?  “They believe in teacher’s unions.  We believe in teachers.”  Word up, yo.  “When there are people in the room that are more concerned about doing the job they were elected to do, than they are about winning reelection…”  Ooo…take on ObamaCare.  “It is time to end this era of absenteeism in the Oval Office.”  Seriously, I know why Ann Coulter loves this guy.  “Mr. President, real leaders don’t follow polls, real leaders change polls.”  “We’ve never been victims of destiny.  We’ve always been the masters of our own.”  Preach.  Side note – Romney sure looks humble when Christie keeps lauding him.  Props.  This guy is awesome.  He’s done, and the crowd wants more.  Epic. 

This was a great kick off to the convention.  It’s too bad they’re not carrying Three Doors Down, because I guarantee you they’re much more entertaining than these talking heads.  I’m stoked for the next two nights.  Stay tuned.  

Thoughts on the Republican Presidentail Race

So, this started as a letter to my little sister who’s serving with the Peace Corps in Zambia.  Don’t fret.  She’s not a whack job liberal with parental issues.  She wanted to travel.  Peace Corps does that.  She writes regualarly that it’s pretty much a worthless organization, but she’s making the most of it - being one of the few conservatives over there.  But I digress…

I haven’t really hit on the Republican presidential race, so I’ll just put this exerpt from her letter on here to assuage my guilt about not doing so thus far.  So, without further ado, this is what I shared with my little sis.

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So, it’s down to four with the Republicans.  Romney, Santorum, Paul, and Gingrich. 

I’ve obviously written Paul off.  If he wasn’t such a whack-job on foreign policy, I’d give him a second chance.  But essentially saying that we caused 9-11 kind of put the final nail in the coffin.  He’s still pulling pretty good numbers for such a kook though.  He came in second in a few of the primaries, but realistically, he won’t win by a long shot.  However, this may be where the Republicans shoot themselves in the foot – like the really enjoy doing.  You can’t discount his supporters.  You have to find a way to bring them into the Republican voting base.  They account for like 6-8% of the Republican base, but if you alienate them, that basically gives that 6-8% to Obambi.  We can’t afford to do that.  Even though Paul continually says that he doesn’t plan on running as a third-party candidate, I wouldn’t rule it out.  So, he could be what gives us four more years of douchebaggery.

There was a time where I [was in love] with Gingrich’s words, but the allure has worn off.  He’s kind of become the bitter candidate who’s got an ax to grind with Romney.  He had some strong debate performances, but I think people are starting to see that he’s not as strong of a candidate as many want him to be.  Yes, he would obliterate Obama in a debate, but he doesn’t have a great track record to run on.  He’s been trying to channel Reagan, but isn’t really winning me over.  Just a few years ago he said that the era of Reagan is over and that Republicans need to move on.  Pretty sure that was around the same time he was sitting on a couch with Nancy Pelosi talking about ways to curb global warming.  I’m kind of burnt out on him.  He didn’t do too well in the first two states (Iowa and New Hampshire), but then pummeled Romney in South Carolina, only to come in second in Florida, and not win another since.  We’ll see what happens on Super Tuesday (March 6), but I look for him to stay in, just because he’s an agitator now.  If Romney is the nominee, I think Gingrich won’t endorse him, which will hurt the party and our chance of kicking this douche out.

Santorum has been kind of a surprise.  You probably don’t know much about him (like most people), but I kind of like the guy.  He’s got some issues, but they all do.  Basically, he came out of nowhere to win Iowa (by 34 caucus votes – which they originally gave to Romney by 8, but the recount showed Santorum actually won, even though 8 precincts didn’t report or something – so essentially, it was a tie).  He’s become the “conservative” alternative to Romney.  I do have to say that he’s got a great track record on social issues, he’s good on the fiscal stuff, and he’s generally a quite likable guy (even [our cousin] said he was when she sat next to him on a flight).  The problems I have with him is that he’s a former senator, and senators don’t make the best presidents – obviously.  He’s also got some issues with illegal immigration that is driving Ann [Coulter] mad.  More on that in a minute.  He also won a couple other primaries, but he’s still behind in the delegate count by half.  Honestly, if it comes down to the Kansas Caucuses (March 10), I don’t know who I’ll pull for, but it’ll be a toss-up between him and Romney.

I still maintain my indifference towards Romney.  Yes, I’m not a fan of the fact that he signed RomneyCare, but that was a state issue, not a federal one.  And I could really care less about Massachusetts.  I do think he has a pretty good chance of beating Obama, and Chris Christie is behind him – which is probably why Ann [Coulter] is behind him.  She made a great point in this week’s column:

Just four years ago, one Republican candidate for president was avowedly pro-abortion (Rudy Giuliani). One had opposed Clinton's impeachment and tort reform (Fred Thompson). One supported amnesty for illegals, restrictions on core First Amendment speech, federal laws to combat nonexistent global warming, and opposed Guantanamo and the Bush tax cuts ("tax cuts for the rich!") and called waterboarding "torture."
That last one was our nominee: John McCain.
This year, every Republican candidate for president opposes abortion, promises to repeal Obamacare, opposes raising taxes, and on and on. Only one candidate is strong on illegal immigration, which is second only to repealing Obamacare as the most important issue facing the nation.
That's the alleged liberal, Mitt Romney.

I can agree with her, and I really do trust her opinion.  [Glenn] Beck has kind of been a little silent on the issue, really, but I think he’s kind of pulling for Romney, because he too is a Mormon.  Rush [Limbaugh] has the right approach (in so many ways).  He’s pretty sure it’ll come down to either Romney or Santorum, but he continues to pound that the focus should be on having a united front against Obama.  He’s kind of keeping me optimistic, and actually kind of excited by the idea of a brokered convention.  I don’t think that’ll happen, but it’s an interesting idea that we won’t even know who the nominee is, much less the VP nominee (though, the smart money is on Marco Rubio, but we’ll see), until the convention starts.

It’s all exciting and depressing at the same time.  The fact that the polls show Obama still beating any of the candidates is depressing.  While I don’t put too much stock in polls, it’s still unsettling.  Every poll should show a landslide for any Republican at this point – even Ron Paul.  People in their right minds would never vote for this guy again.  Everything he touches falls to pieces.  He tries to blame everything on Congress (which, to a degree he’s right, because the Democrat-controlled Senate is blocking measure after measure that the House has passed), but if Bush had ever said that he’ll be issuing as many executive orders as he can because the Congress has been refusing to act, the media would have had a field day with it.  Instead, after Obama said almost those exact words, the media has been silent.  We’re talking dictatorial leanings here, and since he’s a Democrat, that’s okay.  In just the last few weeks it came out that Catholic hospitals and charities would have to make contraceptives free to their employees – you know, basically violating one of their beliefs.  Well, everyone thought that he backpedaled when he withdrew religious organizations from the need to do so.  But what the media won’t explain is that he’s now requiring insurance companies to provide contraceptives instead – which is no better.  Especially, given that many Catholic hospitals are self-insured.  Okay, I’ll spare you.  Rant over.

Oh, and gas is up to $3.47 a gallon.  Up 191% since Obama took office.  Change we can believe in.