Contributors

Friday, August 31, 2012

Open Mic Night

Well, the GOP convention has come to a close and it's time for the post mortem? What were the highlights? The lowlights? The good, the bad, and the ugly?

Mainly, I thought that it was not very well done. Compared to 2008, it really sucked. At least in that year, we saw good speeches that stayed on message with no real head scratchers. Sarah Palin may have been (and still is) not intelligent or competent but she gave a great speech and hadn't flopped yet.

This year, however, seemed like open mic night for 2016. Chris Christie's keynote address was awful. He didn't even mention Mitt Romney until the very end of his speech. And it didn't contain any of the colorful attitude that he has displayed previously in public. He looked too restrained. Several new stars (Kelly Ayotte, Rick Santorum, and even Paul Ryan) seemed to be there for their own purposes, not Mitt's.

Speaking of Ryan, he wasn't the only one lying his ass off this week. John Thune said


The big-government bureaucrats of the Obama administration have set their sights on our way of life. Instead of preserving family farms and ranches, President Obama’s policies are effectively regulating them out of business. His administration even proposed banning farm kids from doing basic chores!

Obama's also building an army of killer robots with the express purpose of stealing our luggage! The Washington Post has the truth on this (ahem) issue. 

Rob Portman also had this ditty

Then you have Barack Obama, who never started a business — never even worked in business.

Not true.

He worked briefly at Business International Corp. in New York after college, and then also was an associate and a partner at a law firm for 11 years.

Now, Paul Ryan's private sector experience is very minimal and has been a life long politician so I'm not sure why he brought this up.

And then there was the weird. First up, Clint Eastwood....WTF??!!?? I love the guy but perhaps he should have talked about how, as a senior, Mitt was going to help him with his benefits while the president wouldn't. Instead, we got the empty chair. I love Clint and all his films (even the ones with the monkey) but seeing an old man scold an empty chair pretty much sums up the demographic of the GOP in 2012.


Another weird one...I had no idea what Mike Huckabee was talking about when he ripped Deb Wasserman-Schultz. Her VOICE is irritating? Really? And then to follow it with "bless her heart"...good grief...

If there was any good to be found, I thought the Ron Paul folks really made it known that they are the future of the party when the geezers sail off into the sunset. Ann Romney's speech was great. Why isn't she running? Condi Rice brought a touch of class to the week that was sorely needed.

Otherwise, though, I thought it was terrible. The placing of the non white convention goers in the most prime camera spots was hilariously illustrative of how the GOP is really shitting themselves over their demographics problem. Time is indeed running out...

15 comments:

last in line said...

It must have been effective judging by how pissed off the commentators were on msnbc. Chris Matthews was labeling everything Racism, which shouldn't have to be done if you are truly ahead in the polls.

last in line said...

It must have been effective judging by how pissed off the commentators were on msnbc. Chris Matthews was labeling everything Racism, which shouldn't have to be done if you are truly ahead in the polls.

last in line said...

It must have been effective judging by how pissed off the commentators were on msnbc. Chris Matthews was labeling everything Racism, which shouldn't have to be done if you are truly ahead in the polls.

last in line said...

Woops.

Mark Ward said...

Chris Matthews was labeling everything Racism, which shouldn't have to be done if you are truly ahead in the polls.

When is there ever racism or prejudice anymore in the Republican party?

As far as the polls go, you need only click on the map on the right of the blog to see where the race currently stands.

last in line said...

I can tell you that saying the word Chicago isn't racism. Way to cheapen the effect of the charge Chris.

Mark Ward said...

That doesn't really answer my question.

last in line said...

The premise of your question is faulty and it has nothing to do with what I typed. I never said it doesn't exist - I said it doesn't exist in literally every word - and in simple words like Chicago...like Matthews is trying to sell to us. When you throw the accusation around all the time, it cheapens the effect it may have.

Mark Ward said...

Let me rephrase my question...when can one accuse someone on the right of being prejudice or racist? It seems to me as though the answer to that is barely ever or never. Basically, anything short of "President Nigger" is race baiting nonsense.

last in line said...

Accusing someone of racism doesn't help my kids.

Speaking of terrible, how about that speaking lineup at the DNC...

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin

Newark Mayor Cory Booker

Former President Jimmy Carter (via video)

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro,

Former President Bill Clinton

Former Republican Governor of Florida Charlie Crist

Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx

Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper

Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau

Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine

Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.)

Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California

CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon

President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy Keenan

Caroline Kennedy

Women’s rights activist Lilly Ledbetter

Obama Campaign Co-Chair Eva Longoria

U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, together with the women of the U.S. Senate

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick

President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak

Journalist Cristina Saralegui

Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal

Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland

Los Angeles Mayor, Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa

Senate candidate from Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren

Congressman G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina

Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina Walter Dalton

The Honorable Arne Duncan

Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina

Former Governor of North Carolina Jim Hunt

The Honorable Karen Mills

Congressman David Price of North Carolina

The Honorable Ken Salazar

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius

The Honorable Tom Vilsack

Congressman Mel Watt of North Carolina

Color me inspired! Where is Pelosi? Hillary? Reid? Bueller?

Mark Ward said...

I guess I don't get the dig. I'd say that's an impressive list. Where was George Bush and/or Dick Cheney in Tampa? In fact, where was George HW? Dan Quayle? Why is that? No former GOP presidents or VPs. Obviously, many are dead and George HW is old but the Democrats have Clinton and Carter.

Getting back to the issue of race, I agree that Sharpton and Jackson are part of the problem and make mountains out of nothing on a regular basis. Obviously, not Dr. King's dream. But I'm pretty sick of seeing this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial#DARVO

all the fucking time.

Mark Ward said...

Oh, forgot. Hillary cant' attend because she's Secretary of State and I'm sure Pelosi and Reid are campaigning for Congressional candidates.

last in line said...

Yep, Hillary had a very important meeting in the Cook Islands that just couldn't wait.

I have no idea why those folks weren't there - you'll have to ask the GOP party apparatus. My guess is that they focused on the future with Christie, Ryan, Rubio, Haley, Martinez, Love, and so forth. Bill Clinton, John Kerry and Jimmy Carter are the past. Didn't Pelosi tell their candidates not to go to their convention?

Mark Ward said...

Yep, Hillary had a very important meeting in the Cook Islands that just couldn't wait.

No, she can't because as Secretary of State, she is prohibited by law to engage in partisan political activities (Hatch Act of 1939).

You have no idea why W wasn't there? C'mon, last...:)

Chairman Meow said...

The Democrats are all Dog Whistling Past the Graveyard