RNC 2012: Ryan finishes off a powerful second night
TAMPA — Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention was drifting along unremarkably for a couple of hours. For Georgians, even Attorney General Sam Olens’ speech — the only one this week by someone from our state — suffered from his pairing with his Floridian counterpart, Pam Bondi; the tag-team format just didn’t work all that well. Speeches from Sen. John Thune, the South Dakotan whose name was bandied about (inexplicably, I’d say tonight) as a potential presidential candidate, and Sen. John McCain, the 2008 nominee, were flat.
Then came the wave.
It started with Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and 2008 presidential candidate. To be honest, I wasn’t able to catch much of his speech, but I could tell that the crowd responded to it with much more energy than any of the earlier speakers generated.
Then came Condoleezza Rice. The former secretary of state is highly regarded for her intellect and experience, but I don’t know anyone who expected a set-piece speech from her like the one she gave tonight. She’s obviously known as a foreign-policy expert, but her topics ran the gamut: immigration, education and school choice (which Rice, who grew up in Jim Crow Birmingham, called “the civil rights issue of our day”), and the federal debt. She was powerful on the moral aspects of American leadership in the world and the threat that our finances pose to our ability to exercise it: “There is no country, not even a rising China, that can do more harm to us than we can do to ourselves if we do not do the hard work at home.” She was firm in speaking against the “narrative of grievance and entitlement,” which she described as alien to America. She was wholly impressive and utterly convincing as a future politician (though she’s served in government, she’s never run for office).
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez followed Rice and, having never heard her speak before, I wasn’t sure about the wisdom of putting her between such a powerful speech by Rice and the night’s headliner, Paul Ryan. But Martinez was very impressive. She spoke of her upbringing in a family with its own small security business — and of working, at age 18, as an armed guard for it. She had one of the lines of the night, describing her surprised reaction after she and her husband met with Republicans trying to convince her to switch to their party years ago: “I’ll be damned. We’re Republicans!”
But Ryan, of course, was every bit the closer the GOP wanted this night. He took on President Obama directly and forcefully, as the vice presidential nominee traditionally is expected to do. He spoke of wasted stimulus money that went to companies “like Solyndra, with their gold-plated connections, subsidized jobs and make-believe markets.” He welcomed the confrontation with Democrats over Medicare: “Our nation needs this debate, we [Romney and Ryan] want this debate, and we will win this debate.” He described the Obama campaign as “a ship trying to sail on yesterday’s wind.”
He defined himself as the youthful candidate on the ticket and in the race, playfully comparing Romney’s songs, which he’s heard “on the campaign bus and in many hotel elevators” with his own playlist, which “starts with AC/DC and ends with Zeppelin.” But more importantly, he made a play for young voters with the line of the convention, maybe the campaign, so far: “College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life.”
Two nights in, this campaign is taking a shape that it sorely lacked before Ryan joined the ticket and, to some degree, even until this week. It will be interesting to see not only how Romney closes it out Thursday, but how the Democrats react in Charlotte next week.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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318 comments Add your comment
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:17 pm
So Obozo didn’t keep his promise to keep the plant open? Thanks for the clarification.
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 30th, 2012
12:17 pm
You can already see the consequences. As the AJC reported Tuesday, just 2 percent of delegates to the GOP convention in Tampa — 46 in all — are African-American. As recently as 2004, that number was quite a bit larger, at 167 African-American delegates. That’s a dramatic decline.
That tent is getting smaller and smaller boys.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 30th, 2012
12:18 pm
Now it’s off to help out a few friends in need. You know, without government handouts.
Later.
MikeB
August 30th, 2012
12:19 pm
Too bad all the so called “fact checkers” don’t apply the same zeal to the Obama Administrations actions/activities… Too bad the pundits don’t treat whatever is uncovered the same way for both parties…… Huge double standard in media today….. Don’t expect it to change as long as Obama is in office…….. Just noting for the record… Just look at what liberals say when there is a hot mic around….. Its very telling…. Former Yaho D.C. Political Correspondent David Chalian yesterday (Former because Yahoo fired his butt for it), and Obama to Medvedev? Never mind what comes out of Bidens mouth…. Very telling….
HDB
August 30th, 2012
12:21 pm
Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:01 pm
Politifact says you’re wrong, LBB…..
In 1918, General Motors bought a farm implement manufacturing plant in Janesville, a city of 60,000 near the Illinois border. Production of Chevrolets began there in 1923. Employment peaked at 7,100 in 1978, but a series of five layoffs occurred over the next 30 years.
By December 2008, when President George W. Bush authorized nearly $14 billion in loans to General Motors and Chrysler, both of which were near financial collapse, GM had already warned it might close the Janesville plant because of sagging sport-utility vehicle sales. The plant was effectively shut down on Dec. 23, 2008, when GM ceased production of SUVs there and laid off 1,200 workers. (Several dozen workers stayed on another four months to finish an order of small- to medium-duty trucks for Isuzu Motors.)
So, the plant closed while Bush was still in office, about a month before Obama was inaugurated.
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/aug/29/paul-ryan/did-barack-obama-break-promise-keep-gm-plant-open/
Get Real
August 30th, 2012
12:22 pm
JamVet
Would never expect to change your mind as you are part of the kool-aid brigade…march FORWARD…over the cliff…good luck with that
In the Middle
August 30th, 2012
12:24 pm
Lil B,
Obama never promised anything. This is what he said:
“This can be America’s future. I know that General Motors received some bad news yesterday, and I know how hard your Governor has fought to keep jobs in this plant. But I also know how much progress you’ve made – how many hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles you’re churning out. And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. ”
The bad news he was referring to was a report that showed GM had a tremendous 4th qtr loss in 2007. A few months after his speech, GM made the decision to close the plant. In June 2008, I do believe the democrat primaries were just ending and George W. Bush was still in the White House!
Oh, and you’re welcome!
JamVet
August 30th, 2012
12:26 pm
Tibby,
If me simply being here drives you to such agonizing apoplexy, it is almost worth dealing with your childish unprovoked personal insults.
Seriously, what does that say about you?
Citizens United has created a new political environment even more vulnerable to what Thomas Jefferson called “the excesses of the monied interests.”
Wake up and quit listening to nitwits like Dick Cheney, cons. That brilliant Founding Father wasn’t kidding when he talked about how the banksters were going try to destroy this country…
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:27 pm
Still counting by race, Cheesy?
You know what we call folks who make decisions based on race, right? Racist.
wallbanger
August 30th, 2012
12:28 pm
If you don’t see a theme here you are obtuse. What they are saying is that you can come from anywhere, anyplace, and in America, if you aspire to greatness you can make it. That is a recurrent theme among all of these, most of whom are 2nd generation from legal immigration. What Obama’s ilk like to sell is that Americans are all helpless pawns of a relentless fate. How sick is that?
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:30 pm
Obozo: And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. ”
———
And the plant is closed, you say?
Hmm.
Get Real
August 30th, 2012
12:30 pm
MikeB….spot on, it would be comical if it were not so sad. But I believe this time around most fair minded folks have caught on to the double standard…
JamVet
August 30th, 2012
12:32 pm
Excellent, Get!
You provide yet another compelling, fact-filled example of that logic and fact filled discussion you seek so badly and require of others!
You’re on a roll!
At a bare minimum, I’d think you have some great quotes from Paul Ryan or Dick Cheney to disprove those Jefferson quotes.
To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men. ~Abraham Lincoln
Occupy that…
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
12:33 pm
Barry
Apparently Lindsey Graham is also doing a little counting, just saying.
“The demographics race we’re losing badly. We’re not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term.”
Take it your whining up with the Senator
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:36 pm
The subject is Cheesy’s racism, but nice try at deflection.
Get Real
August 30th, 2012
12:37 pm
Again JamVet…my statements are based on the volumes of pro left statements that you and your ilk have put forth every time you blog, why would I waste my time trying to convince someone of another view point that they simply refuse to see….it is that simple..
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
12:37 pm
Lil’ Barry Bailout – Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:27 pm
Still counting by race, Cheesy?
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
12:38 pm
Take it up with the Senator who seems to be counting and saying the outlook isn’t sunny
Kyle Wingfield
August 30th, 2012
12:38 pm
JamVet: You know the rules about using people’s names. See you next week.
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
12:38 pm
Get Real
And that would be opposed to all the right wing comments?
So what is your point?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 30th, 2012
12:39 pm
Teaching People to Hate Their Own Govt. Is at the Core of the Project to Destroy the Middle Class
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/teaching-people-hate-their-own-govt-core-project-destroy-middle-class
In the Middle
August 30th, 2012
12:44 pm
Lil B,
Yes, it did close. Evidently the administration in place at the time (Bush) was not able to provide GM with any type of assurances that they would receive help. Thus, GM made the decision to close. I don’t understand your point! He didn’t promise anything!
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:46 pm
I’ve often wondered what the point is of “destroying the middle class”. Who will buy the products and services churned out by all the factories the greedy one percenters have offshored?
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 30th, 2012
12:49 pm
Still counting by race, Cheesy?
Yes. In Politics
Question is why is the Republican party so unpopular with minorities?
Stock answer : Because the Dems send them free checks and they dont have to work !!!
Anybody give me a reason other than the provided stock answer.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
12:50 pm
Our President Bush didn’t promise to keep it open.
That was Obozo.
gm
August 30th, 2012
12:51 pm
Joe The Plumber Too
You fall into that stero type image that some white people think of blacks with those stupid comments:
What did Malcome X say that white people call a black doctor, lawyer, now a black President behind their back” I dont even have to say it””
Here is one for you uncle Charlie: TD Jakes and his wife were on food stamps once were they lazy? now I know why Harriet Tubman had to kill a lot of inside slaves first to be able to move forward, trust me Al Sharpton and Jessie will come to your rescue first before Rice, West even look at you. ”””
Kyle Wingfield
August 30th, 2012
12:52 pm
JamVet: If you have specific comments you want to bring to my attention, email them to me.
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
12:53 pm
“Who will buy the products and services churned out by all the factories the greedy one percenters have offshored?”
Well both parties and 1%ers of all political stripes are guilty of offshoring, especially over the last 30 yrs.
Their shortsightedness for profits in combination with no choice in regards to competition has know reared it is ugly head.
Unintended consequences is what they call it. The number of jobs created in the US due to opening of markets worldwide as not kept pass with the jobs being sent overseas. Keep in mind these are not just union jobs. As many of more non union jobs have left this country, which include manufacturing, IT / programming, customer service, engineering, etc, etc.
Take out the dot.com and construction bubbles that masked these issues for a number of years and we would have been in this shape or close to it for sometime now.
Get Real
August 30th, 2012
12:56 pm
TBS…it definitely cuts both ways no doubt…my point was specific to JamVet…that is all
Darwin
August 30th, 2012
12:58 pm
Full of lies.
@@
August 30th, 2012
12:58 pm
More Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that progress in the labor market is faltering amid a slowing economy.
U.S. stocks retreated, trimming the third straight monthly advance for the benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as reports from Europe, Japan and South Korea intensified concern the global economy is cooling. The S&P 500 fell 0.8 percent to 1,399.18 at 10:29 a.m. in New York.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to speak tomorrow in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he may discuss the economic outlook.–Bloomberg
Apropos that Bernanke would be speaking from The Hole.
Poetry “in motion.”
NOT!
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
12:59 pm
Barry
Doesn’t mean that there are not current sectors that not growing and will continue to grow, however unless we get some type of bubble (I hate to say it, but it is probably true) we are in for a slow ride until avg consumer debt come down.
Continued government spending by both parties is at best short term except in areas. Tax cuts can be an infusion, but if taxes are the only variable at current rates (individual and corporate) compared over the last 50 yrs we should be getting trickled upon at this time.
Going to be a bumpy ride
gm
August 30th, 2012
1:00 pm
Rice stands in front of these people in tears concerning civil rights, yet the people she claim are great Americans are the ones who voted against civil rights, John McCain, Mitch Mcconnell and the list goes on.
How can any women with a brain vote for a ticket with Paul vote against women Ryan?
The Dem next week with put his records against women out there, votes against Ledbetter act for women on and on.
@@
August 30th, 2012
1:04 pm
gm:
I have a better question. How can women who show up dressed as vaginas expect to be taken seriously?
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
Kyle
Guess other bloggers and myself have gotten way off topic.
As I stated the other day, I do not watch either of the propagandized infomercials (convention speeches) from either party.
They both are feel good pep rallies that in my opinion are way way short on details.
The left will say that most of the speeches this week were bad and the right will do the same next week. Happened last election and will be the same next election.
I see them as rallying cries for the bases, which is understandable, but either offer enough substance to sway many people beyond emotional appeal. And that type of appeal let’s me know that the particular voter in question probably doesn’t do much homework regardless of whom they vote for in any given election; D or R or someone else for that matter.
Outside of something significant coming out of someone’s closet, the debates will close the deal for one or the other.
I still think Obama can take it with a split decision or a draw and Romney will need the knock out.
Jefferson
August 30th, 2012
1:12 pm
Bush III, it has a nice ring to it. Romney is Bush III.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 30th, 2012
1:15 pm
I slept with Scarlet Johannson last night!
ooops, I pulled a Ryan!
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
1:16 pm
Yep, if Republicans get their way, this will be an election about ideas, not about who is going to keep giving away the “free” candy. Republicans, and Americans, win that kind of election. Democrats won if its about hate and smears and distractions,
md
August 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
“And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. ””
I must be missing something…….”if” they get the assistance they would be there another 110 years……they got it and they are gone. I’m not too sure how one can interpret that any other way….
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. ”
There is a promise in there somewhere?
Facts smacks
August 30th, 2012
1:19 pm
I guess if you tell bold face straight lies and never mention your own voting record, that qualifies you for VP. I can only imagine the level of lies Mittens is going to drop tonight.
md
August 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
“There is a promise in there somewhere?”
More like a statement of fact……a fact that never happened after the statement was made………..
They BOTH suck
August 30th, 2012
1:21 pm
Barry @ 1:16
You mean “free candy” such as corporate welfare or just what you deem as a giveaway?
getalife
August 30th, 2012
1:26 pm
Looks like the key to not get banned is not use names in your posts.
Anyhoo, if you fact check ruin’s speech, you would know it was nothing but lies.
The robme ruin campaign is counting on American ignorance and not showing up to vote.
Worst campaign ever.
Kamchak - "Socialism" is just a code word for "fear," the monster under you bed ~ Kamchak
August 30th, 2012
1:27 pm
Kyle Wingfield
August 30th, 2012
12:38 pm
JamVet: You know the rules about using people’s names. See you next week.
On two separate occasions I have pointed out the exact same infractions by what I know to conclude are your “chosen”.
When will you be even handed in your punishments?
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
They BOTH suck: You mean “free candy” such as corporate welfare or just what you deem as a giveaway?
——–
Mainly the handout programs for those who don’t work for a living. Those are the big hitters in the budget. Corporate welfare, while objectionable and a worthy target for elimination, is relatively small potatoes.
zeke
August 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
is it ok with republicans to stretch the truth as much as romney ryan do? if answer is, so does obama. i thought 2 wrongs don’t make a right and these two upstanding honest men can rely on the truth of their arguments.
gm
August 30th, 2012
1:31 pm
The rep party are the buffet party, these right nuts like to pick and chose what part of gov that please them.
“”"I dont like gov but I need fed funds for my state, I hate gov I need corportate loop holes, to help my business, I hate gov please dont touch my medicare or SSI, Va checks, these people are a joke no wonder they love Paul Ryan””””’
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
Please try to stay on topic, Kamchak – “Socialism” is just a code word for “fear,” the monster under you bed ~ Kamchak
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 30th, 2012
1:34 pm
More like a statement of fact……a fact that never happened after the statement was made………..
oooooh. Good argument….md. You never cease to amaze me!