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.
"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."
This is a great analogy.
Kerry.
Still, the author is absolutely right, IMHO: the election is decided, and the only thing UNdecided is the margin and whether the S.S. Kerry will take down a couple of now-safe Dem senators with him.
The most impassioned speech of the RNC was delivered by a respected Democrat. That had to hurt.
BTW, when's the duel?
Nice.
Another way to look at this is to try to figure out how Kerry could win, not just how Bush could lose. Kerry's options are getting rather thin. Not even Clinton's rabid attack dogs will be able to pull Kerry's fat from the fire. They're going to need something far more substantial and far reaching than a campaign shakeup.
Kerry can't even take a good photo, let alone hold his own in this Campaign. He'll probably implode at the debates.
I just loved that line, I hope so.........
Kerry says: "I don't fall down." That really scares me!
In 2000, George Bush, somewhat unknown, managed to beat Gore, the out-going, well known Veep. Yes, it was a very close race, but Bush prevailed.
Now, four years later, a time-tested and very well known George Bush should have no trouble at all beating a lazy, non-performing Senator who led the North Vietnamese to victory thirty years before.
I mean, if people just think in those terms, there's no way Bush will NOT win.
"the S.S. Kerry will take down a couple of now-safe Dem senators with him."
Apparently Tom Daschle feels rather vulnerable.
Kerry change course? No way. How many days before kerry caves and discusses Vietnam again? Any guesses?
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.
LOL.......great line.
Thank you. I rather like it myself.
Nice piece.
Almost 2 months to the election
Iraq is a tinderbox and the militia should have been wiped out long ago instead of all this Fallujah crap
They've still got Tennessee in the Kerry column.
True, but how does that help Kerry?
The Democrats are hoping that more Americans will be killed in Iraq, and I would not be surprised (and I wish I was wrong on this) that they are hoping we have another 9/11 here in the United States.
But again, how would this help Kerry. He is on record as saying our military action was wrong and we should let the UN protect us.
No, I am afraid the terrorist (and the Democrats) are miscalculating on the effect another terrorist attack will have.
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