Gov. Christie: Shut up, idiots, I’m talking. (Image by Bob Jagendorf.)
- Deval Patrick delivered the speech everyone expected Chris Christie to deliver at the RNC: tough, confident, challenging to his own party as well as the rival one and announcing his own arrival on a national stage, while never taking the spotlight off the top of the ticket.
- Keynote Speaker Julian Castro made a great impression, but I don’t agree with the talk that his speech will propel him into national prominence the way that Obama’s 2004 convention address did. It’s not his fault–he’s just too young at 37 for any parallel to occur. If Texas demographics continue, as expected, to trend Hispanic, he will likely run for governor of that state at some point.
- The large number of references to gay marriage don’t only speak to a new plank of the DNC, but also seem to suggest that Dems are worried about an enthusiasm gap between this Presidential election and the last one. You know, fire up the part of the base that has a chance for real progress in the near future.
- Michelle Obama uses the usual rhetorical affectations any orator employs, but she still manages to communicate genuine feelings and emotions incredibly well. Pretty much all Republicans did the smart thing, speaking glowingly of her, realizing that’s the best way to minimize her effect. Only Ari Fleischer, an unrepentant jerk, was not able to contain himself.