Well, it’s 9:30 and I’m watching the RNC on C-SPAN. First one I noticed, was former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who praised President Bush’s reactions to 9/11 and stuck in a few veiled cheap shots at Kerry. That was followed by a couple Bush union endorsements — one from firefighters, one by NYPD Sergeants. The unions have always been considered strong forces behind the Democrats, but there have always been a few, relatively powerless, unions that have sided with the GOP. Police and firefighters are among them. That those unions are endorsing Bush should come as no surprise to anyone.
First impression: the roving “correspondents” supplied by the RNC are trying to appear like journalists covering some major event. To me, at least, they’re coming across like 4:30 a.m. informercial shillers trying to imitate journalists — and doing poorly at that.
Robert Khuzami, former assistant U.S. attorney from New York, just spent a couple minutes praising the Patriot Act and lambasting some of the false perceptions behind it. Again, no great shakes, but way too much applause.
I’m starting to realize why nobody but C-SPAN is skipping the first couple of hours of the convention. It’s a lot like the halftime show of a college football game. If you’re there, you might as well watch it; nothing else is going on. If you’re watching on TV, why not go surfing for something else to watch until the game starts up again?
(Updates as they move me)
J.
(Updates moved to below the fold)
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In response to Question 1, no idea but I am disgusted that they allowed themselves to be used as billboards for some phone company. If they need a couple bucks, ask for it. Heck, I’d buy any MOH recipient a beer any time they were thirsty.
J are you live blogging McCain? Perhaps we should have had this discussion last week in email. lol
Paul, Kevin drafted US last week, and left no plans. I’m just firing away as it hits me. You wanna join in, don’t let me slow ya down.
“We don’t need no stinkin’ coordination!”
J.
“An actress and a football player?” Are you kidding me, Jay? That’s not “an actress.” That’s Angie Harmon, my girlfriend. She and Jason have a house just a few miles from here. I know where all the good places to hide are.
What’s that? Stalking is illegal? Shush. I’m just a fan.
My apologies to the MOH guys. Scanning the crowd I see many of those IDT things. Maybe they gave them out for security badges. Still if the “big shots” didn’t need them then the MOH recipients should didn’t.
ROTFLMAO!!!
Jews as canaries!
True and sad but very funny.
Cary
Jay,
As OLD as I am, and also from “cow Hampshire” (God I hate that expression!!) that was the BEST convention night I have ever seen. Hat tip to Frank Sinatra’s “I love NY” at the end. It was a really great night!!!
ps Don’t move too fast, you might hurt yourself!! 🙂
~Cindy
ALSO I watched it on CSPAN so I didn’t have to put up with any anchors or journalists and could analyze it myself, thank you. Gosh, they really know how to ruin an event. So I’ll stick with cspan, I actually get to see the entire event with no commercials, no journalists, no anchors and I don’t miss a thing!! Sure wish I was there blogging for you guys tho – it really was a great night. I hope David Rodriquez sings God Bless America at the end on Thursday night. His Amazing Grace gave me chills. My son, 20, was with me, not paying much attention to what’s actually going on in the world, actually watched it – and I turned around for one second and heard all this booing when John McCain was talking, so I asked him why and he answered “you know that ugly fat guy who made that true movie?” AH – TRUE?? Too funny. John McCain putting his hands down after mentioning that name and the place booing him..well not him, but the name of MOORE. Like if there was any MOORE of him, their wouldn’t be any room for the rest of us!! hehe Now I’m off to watch Jay Leno, have some laughs, so you have a good night, Jay!
~C
You forgot Ed Koch this afternoon when it actually did start and all the country singers. Koch was a riot for a staunch Democrat! So if you’re doing the nights, who’s doing the afternoons???
~C
Think of it this way Jay – the convention is in New York City – aka Ground Zero – and this was the defining moment that made Rudy Guiliana a hero and George Bush a president worth watching and I watched 24 hours a day! I am not kidding. There’s no way to avoid the issue; first of all they are in the city that got devastated, secondly it was the moment that made Pres Bush what and who he is after just being in office for 8 months!! Give the guy some credit. So of course they have to talk about that day and the following days because this is what defined George Bush as a leader. Hell, this country would have fallen apart if it were not for Bush, and Rudy and the people of New York, among the others who suffered horrendous losses and he kept it together. I cannot imagine anyone else doing what he did in keeping this country together and under control as President Bush did and I thank God for him every day of my life, even up here in “cow hampshire.” God Bless him, this had to be the worst 4 year administration of ANY president and he handled it with grace under fire. He deserved everything that was said tonight – for none of it was false. They just repeated what he’s said himself and what he has done as a true leader. We’d be in really bad shape if someone else were in office. I especially liked the nod to Dick Cheney, a dignified man of great skill and lots of experience who deserved that applause for doing what he did on 9/11. People might get sick of hearing about it, but it is what changed our world and our lives forever and how it was handled was what made such a catastrophe into something so heartbreakingly special. Who could have done it better? NO ONE.
This was an exciting fun and real night and my hat is off to those who put this convention together. I couldn’t handle more than five minutes of the DNC but this one had me glued to my seat since early this afternoon when it started. I’m so thrilled I watched it – on cspan no less. Funk music?? Dancing?? People were actually enjoying this – also some tears. It’s the best convention I have ever seen (again) and I’m sure glad I didn’t miss it. It was worth watching.
Now go to sleep and see you tomorrow.
~Cindy
Not to nitpick, Cindy (ever notice how that preface is unfailingly followed by a nitpick?), but 1861-65 was no walk in the park, either. In fact, in my humble estimation, it had to have been tougher than GWB’s first term by a factor of several, although Bush’s four years would definitely have to rate as one of the toughest in American history. Oddly, there are many similarities between GWB’s first term and Lincoln’s experience with respect to the challenges he faced, the enemies he made, the criticism and ridicule he received, and the way in which many (most?) of his contemporaries failed to recognize his value as a leader. Anyone who truly tries to lead and make policy based on a higher set of values will always be a polarizing figure in their own time. Time and distance lends a much better perspective when viewing the big picture, and I firmly believe Bush will be judged, like Lincoln, as the right man at the right time. However, let’s hope GWB’s second term goes much better than AL’s…
B2vet: I’m not THAT old! 1861 to 1865 – don’t think even my parents were a gleam in anyone’s eyes! 🙂 so can’t compare to Abe Lincoln – it was quite a different war time then. But it is amazing how far this country has come in such a short time.
Did Al Jazeera show up at the convention, Kevin? (They were in Boston for the DNC).
~C
Greetings from another Cow Hampshire-ite… I never minded it, since it’s mostly TRUE. And now I’m grown up and have horses, goats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits. And that’s just outside the house!
That’s all I wanted to say. Enjoyed McCain and Giuliani last night – wrote about it here.
dd
http://www.jadbury.com/