Posted on 09/06/2004 9:07:25 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
The conventions are over and so, in my opinion, is the election. The thud received by the Democrats from their gathering in Boston was met with a resounding bounce heard round the world from New York City, site of the Republican National Convention.
This convention was so effective, John Kerry felt the need to hold a silly midnight rally immediately following George Bush’s acceptance speech. With the possible exception of the chaotic 1968 Democrat fiasco in Chicago, I have seen few political events as riveting as the GOP get together in Madison Square Garden. And that is remarkable, since today's choreographed political conventions are little more than formalities to validate the results of primary elections held months earlier.
To those of us who need our daily dose of politics as much as the rest of humanity requires oxygen, it is hard to imagine that two months before the most important presidential election of our time, there is still such a thing as an undecided voter. Given the startling 11-point lead George W. Bush now holds over John Kerry, apparently the GOP Convention not only helped make up some minds, it changed some as well.
After Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Arnold Schwarzenegger got through with him, Kerry was then filleted like a freshly caught Georgia Catfish by Democrat Sen. Zell Miller in his prime time keynote speech. Miller wasted no time laying out Kerry's disgraceful 20-year Senate record of appeasement and capitulation, and showed voters why Sen. Flip-Flop from Massachusetts has nothing on which to campaign except his four-month tour of duty in Vietnam. And despite all the harrumphing from the mainstream media, mainstream America ate it up.
Vice President Dick Cheney seemed calm and quiet following Zell Miller's thunder. Then came the president. Toward the end of his overly long acceptance speech, George W. Bush demonstrated why he should be reelected to a second term. His emotion when talking about those he has had to send into harm's way in the war on terror reached out to every voter who cares about a friend or family member serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. For all of John Kerry's feigned concern about our troops in combat, I have never seen him come close to shedding a tear over them.
Bush also won points when he joked about Arnold Schwarzenegger correcting his English, and confessed that in Texas his swagger is simply called walking. Those are the kind of self-effacing remarks that are disarming to detractors, endearing to friends and reassuring those who are undecided. They also show the character of the man. Can you imagine John Kerry saying to the American people, in that Massachusetts monotone of his, "Some people say I'm stiff and aloof, but that's just the way it is with us New Englanders, you know?" Ha, ha, ha.
John Kerry goes wind surfing for relaxation, takes himself very seriously (but seldom means what he says) and would ask the tyrants at the United Nations when he can defend America. George Bush clears brush with a chain saw, makes jokes about his fractured syntax, tells the world if they are not with us, they are with the terrorists — and means it. As voters continue to focus on this race long enough to ask themselves which of these very different men would make a better commander-in-chief, the polls will continue to favor the president.
Democrats called the Republican Convention mean-spirited and negative, but it was a breath of fresh air. After 18 months of hate-filled vitriol and outrageous accusations from the entire Democrat attack machine, it was refreshing to see someone actually defend the President of the United States and set the record straight about his opponent. It was a moment reminiscent of the battle scene in Mel Gibson's movie, 'Braveheart,' when Scottish rebels wait until the last second to raise hundreds of long spears toward advancing English cavalry, who are skewered by their own arrogance, momentum and inability to change course.
Similarly, John Kerry and his Democrat cavalry are in full charge, oblivious to the fact that what awaits them is defeat.
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Doug Patton is a freelance columnist who has served as a speechwriter and policy advisor for federal, state and local candidates, elected officials and public policy organizations. His weekly columns can be read in newspapers across the country, on MensNewsDaily.com, and on GOPUSA.com, where he serves as the Nebraska Editor. He also writes for Talon News Service. Readers can e-mail him at dpatton@neonramp.com.
"The most impassioned speech of the RNC was delivered by a respected Democrat. That had to hurt."
And the most impassioned words (IMHO) of tha speech were:
"and no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often than the two Senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry."
Man that felt good when he said that....I am still smiling.
Kerry is the best, most compelling reason to vote for Bush.
It's decided only if WE DON'T LET UP.
I agree Eggs, but the keyword is "think".
FMCDH(BITS)
I think Bush the man is the best, most compelling reason to vote for Bush. I can't think of any other Republican today who I would rather have in charge.
Young Harold Ford, Jr. and the rest of his corrupt family must have some MASSIVE voter fraud lined up in Memphis.
I'd prefer a conservative alternative.
Yes, his options are narrowing down to the court system and the dead vote.
There's one vote....
The best thing that could happen is for the "tinderbox" to ignite, reminding everyone tha we are in a war, and giving Bush the exuse he needs to override the Iraqi government and say, "wipe 'em out." Bush benefits, Iraq benefits.
Honestly, I see no one anywhere in any way letting up. So this is something of a red herring. Republicans aren't going to quit working---just last week I had six calls in about three nights from the local and national GOP. My sign is up; my bumpersticker is on. But at some point we need to be clear eyed about resources and determine if we can take out a couple of these lame senators with the funds that will not (apparently) be needed to defeat Kerry.
I'd prefer Jesus. Name a conservative alternative to Dubya.
In order for bad news to help Kerry, you need to assume the American voters believe he can do a better job.
So far, all Kerry has had to offer was his four months in Viet Nam, and his promise he would do whatever President Bush is doing, only better.
Bill Clinton was an likable unknown. The American people were feeling good with themselves and decided what what it hurt.
These are different times, and different men.
I don't think that electoral poll is correct. The one I saw yesterday was on a different site than the one in this thread and it had Bush taking Tennessee at 76% or 78%. Tennessee has been for Bush in all the electoral projections that I've seen. You have to look really hard to find Kerry supporters here. In the big cities maybe but not in the majority of places.
I went to the authors website and there are all kinds of links that are Bush bashers. It seems to be a very pro Kerry site.
It was indeed an extemely effective convention. And as such, this election is likely decided.
Why? Because there is only one truth.
Good point.
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