Make My Day: Republicans Ecstatic at Convention Finale

Clint Eastwood talks to the empty chair at the RNC

I'm sick of reading all the left-leaning press' k'vetches about Clint Eastwood's surprise performance on the last night of the Republican National Convention in Tampa. I was there, and can vouch for the universally-delighted reception of the Harry Callahan-appreciative audience, and the pumped-up kicks generated by presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Eastwood was billed as the "mystery guest" for the RNC's last evening, though really the unidentified participant was the occupant of an empty chair placed next to Clint's podium, standing--er, sitting-- in for President Obama.  Eastwood then carried on a natural-sounding one-sided interview, in which Clint raised amused eyebrows by responding to the chair, "What's that? No, I couldn't do that to myself..."  Later in the talk he paused and asked, "What do you want me to tell Mitt Romney?" A beat. "No, I can't tell him that! I can't tell him to do that to himself!  You're absolutely crazy. You're getting as bad as Biden!"  The crowd went wild. He added, "Of course, we all know Biden is the intellect of the Democratic party. Not much more than a grin with a body behind it." The cheers continued.

Eastwood is a Hollywood icon, worthy of respect for his varied and extensive resume, but lib reporters didn't hesitate to skewer him. He's 82 and seems slightly frail, but his mind and mouth are fully functional. He challenged listeners to consider Obama's failures, including Guantanamo's not-quite-closure, the lack of jobs, spilling the target date for withdrawal from Afghanistan. Nobody expected stand-up comedy in the Convention, much less from Clint Eastwood, but coming right before Marco Rubio's introduction of Romney, Eastwood's humor relaxed the mood.

Media reactions by like-minded liberal reporters for the major TV networks, watching together in their aerie, reinforced each other. Sure, the 12 million viewing at home on their computers and TVs could form their own opinions, but the rest of the public, and that's the bulk of the population, was handed an opinion it had no way to dispute. Needless to say, Colbert and Stewart had a field day, (and they're the main source of news to college students) but that's to be expected. Jay Leno chimed in, calling the appearance "bizarre." Rachel Maddow called it "the weirdest thing I've ever seen at a political convention," and "a political disaster" for Republicans. Roger Ebert called it "sad and pathetic." By far the most common term for the sketch was "rambling." That's a pejorative when applied to an elderly person, btw.

Romneys and Ryans (right) applaud Marco Rubio

After Eastwood, Marco Rubio wow'd the crowd with his punchy, powerful delivery, introducing Mitt Romney who worked his way shaking hands down a side aisle to the stage. An earlier series of videos and testimonials by people helped or touched by Romney primed delegates and friends, who received him with near-reverence, though his humility disarmed that quickly. Mitt was personal and intimate, direct and dynamic, and by the time balloons dropped from overhead nets and confetti wafted onto participants, the jubilant group was positive their man would beat his failed opponent.

Balloon drop after Mitt Romney's speech a the RNC

My husband and I watched from seats on the side of the Tampa Times Forum good enough to see the nearly spring-loaded jumping to their feet thrilled audience members repeated. The vast disconnect between what appeared in newspapers and on websites and the reality of sitting among people who cared enough to attend was frustrating, gaping and again showed media to be far, far from objective.

But we partisans had a great time, because we realized that Romney got it. The "it" is not just the plight of thwarted citizens prevented from ease or encouragement in business, home-buying, tuition-paying or child-rearing. "It" is that Romney knows how to communicate his superiority as a candidate; he knows the questions to ask, and the insecurities to tap. Romney has clearly been a super-achiever, turning around companies and the Olympics and even public opinion after his 2008 primary losses. And his tenacity, commitment and record combine to fuel enormous relief and optimism that he can turn around our nation, and turn it away from the grim and dour "we need more time; we need more of your money" we keep hearing from the White House.

(All the photos in this post are mine, taken from my seat in the Tampa Times Forum during the convention proceedings.)

Building to the Republican Convention Finale

Danny Medved gives the youth view of the RNC

My son is hoarse, my hands tired from applauding. Speakers last night--notably Susanna Ramirez, Condoleeza Rice and Paul Ryan--at the Republican National Convention in Tampa were that good.

I admit that my hopes from the leadership of Pres. Obama were always tempered. But  he's America's first African-American President, and despite the languishing economy and few of his promises kept, inspires fierce loyalty. I'd assumed when he was inaugurated that he'd be installed for two terms, eight perilous years.

But as his term progressed and many of his former supporters became disgruntled, the landscape changed. With polls showing less enthusiasm across all groups, my husband analyzed history and discovered that the lower numbers portended an Obama loss, a main thrust of his new e-book, The Odds Against Obama (download here!)

Then, sitting in the Tampa Forum listening to Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan, I found myself echoing his theme: "We can do this!" Not just because he's a captivating, energetic speaker whose presentation was rife with zingers and inspiration, but because he represents an upcoming generation that is fully embraced. Ryan even joked about the divergence of iPod playlists between himself and his running mate. I don't see our President making room for many--except maybe Michelle--to follow in his path.

Paul Ryan with his mom, wife and children after RNC speech

What I do see is all sorts of desperate reaction against Ryan's speech in liberal media claiming it has "lies" throughout. If you read these accusations, whew, you see they're ridiculous distortions, potshots that'll play only to the Obama core. As I write this, sitting next to my husband who's doing The Michael Medved show on Radio Row in the Tampa Convention Center, wow, he's starting this hour rebutting the objections. The one I love the most says "Ryan hints that Obama is a socialist." Hints? Elaborating, the silly accusers call it a "dogwhistle," ie, a frequency undetectable by the human ear; something, wink, wink, that Republicans catch but the rest of the world doesn't.

But please, don't trust me or my husband on this. Listen to the speech. Anyone who does will cheer, and become infused with optimism for our economy.

Ryan focused on the economy, Pres. Obama's vulnerability, but also introduced himself to the American public. His mom, who beamed and joined the family on the stage at the conclusion of the 20-minute speech, raised him and three siblings in Janesville, Wisconsin, carrying on when her husband died at age 50, when Paul was 16.

I was just as impressed, frankly, by the words of New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, who described a meeting she'd resisted years ago, as a Democrat, with Republicans who wanted to take her to lunch. She and her husband planned to listen politely and leave. Instead of talking politics, they discussed issues and values, and on the way home in the car, she turned to her husband and exclaimed, "I'll be damned. We're Republicans!"

Gov. Martinez drew huge applause describing how her parents started a security guard business, their first assignment placing her, at age 18, guarding the parking lot for Catholic Church bingo nights. "Now, my dad made sure I could take care of myself," she noted. "I carried a Smith and Wesson 357 magnum."

Secretary Condoleeza Rice addresses the RNC in Tampa

Also memorable were the phrases of former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who focused on America's place in the global economy and internationally. You can't get away from the fact that our enormous national debt diminishes our power, and that we need a strong military commitment to maintain our security. "One of two things will happen if we don't lead," she said. "Either no one will lead and there will be chaos, or someone will fill the vacuum who does not share our values."

Mostly, Secretary Rice's theme was opportunity, upbeat memes on possibilities in education, energy resources, trade, and personal success.

What I noticed as the evening progressed was the building of enthusiasm, the electricity and excitement that reached crescendo with Paul Ryan. When he brought his wife Janna and their young children on stage, the room rocked. You expect this at the gathering of the nation's most devoted partisans, but the real excitement was over offering the nation an alternative to disappointment with Obama. That message fueled my 20-year-old son's cheers, his usually non-political Facebook post hailing Ryan, and his bounce with eagerness to take that thrill to his friends, most also voting for their first president.

Posing with Anne Coulter

This morning my husband addressed our own Washington delegation, a masterful analysis of the election. We drove an hour out to Clearwater, our first real view of the gorgeous green sea, on the first day that lacked dreary storm clouds. It seemed a fitting beginning for the final day of the Convention, climaxing later with the appearance of "mystery guest" Clint Eastwood and the nominee, Mitt Romney. Radio Row is jumping as politicos vie for the last segments behind microphones. Our son Danny even gave his opinion of the convention experience on-air, and I posed with the strolling celebrities.

Participants here that I've met are polite, upbeat, enthused. The candidates and speakers earnest and committed. I don't expect to see the truth portrayed in the media, but I suspect that the American people will look into their own lives, decide what they want for their futures, and decide on merit who is best equipped to offer that for them. 

Coverage of the Republican Convention Misses the Nuggets of Truth

Ann Romney speaking, from my seat at the RNC

Why are Obamaites eager to cry "Repression!" about Republicans' social policy platform planks? Because they know they'll lose if dialog focuses on the economy, but think they can stir up resentment about positions on abortion, same sex marriage and gun ownership. They'll do anything to imply that Romney and all Republicans want to force religiously-based, restrictive laws upon an easy-going, freedom-loving, live-and-let-live citizenry.

But it's baloney. This morning, we attended a massive meeting hosted by Americans for Tax Reform, held in the proverbial Republicans' Big Tent, where about thirty policymakers and organization reps presented their latest accomplishments.  My husband told the reasons why Obama's likely to lose, from his e-book, The Odds Against Obama. One of the other pundits who took the mike for a three-minute summary was the ever-active Phyllis Schlafly. I'll admit there have been times when I've disagreed with the personable, very conservative attorney and author, but today I respected the central role she's had in Republican politics for several decades. She said the GOP platform on all the issues the Dems want to protest--abortion and gay marriage in particular--stayed the same through the many years she's been involved in platform creation. She testified that there's no difference in the content, only that the platform is now better written.

This stuck in my mind as I then read the Washington Post front-page story to which I suspect she was responding. It painted the platform as more constrictive than ever before, misogynous, bigoted and intrusive.

First off, if you ever actually read the platform, you see in big letters at the very top, "Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee." It's signed by the chair and two co-chairs of the platform committee, and it's 62 pages long. It's irrelevant enough for Speaker John Boehner to have said, "Anybody read the party platform? I never met anybody."

Chris Christie tells nuggets of truth at the RNC Tuesday night

But it's fodder enough for the biased press to base a front-page story on it. The same prejudiced press, this time the New York Times, in their lead editorial, called the convention gathering last night in the Tampa Forum, "a blast of propaganda," suggesting outrageously that the entire event was a pack of lies: "Voters looking for a few nuggets of truth would not have found them in Tampa."

From our stadium seats in the last row on the side, our little group of five had a sweeping view of the excitement of the event. Nuggets of truth were liberally available, especially given that under the theme of "We Built It" most of the speakers told personal stories of their families' arrivals as immigrants and creating businesses that over several years of sacrifice eventually succeeded.

How about the autobiographical nuggets of truth expressed by, say, Mia Love, the vivacious African-American Mormon mayor and congressional candidate from Utah? Or the articulate ex-Obama supporter (who seconded his nomination at the Dem convention four years ago) now outspokenly for Romney, Artur Davis, the Harvard-graduate attorney and 4-term congressman from Alabama? Chris Christie described the pluck his mother instilled in him, and  the tough changes needed in our government. But most affecting was Ann Romney, who moved me to tears with nuggets of truth about her non-storybook marriage, and the steadfast devotion of her husband during early years living in a basement, and later, coping with her multiple sclerosis.

Americans don't need statistics to feel the disappointment after four years of Obama. The convention speakers last night expressed that frustration, but there was no "attack dog," despite expectations that Christie would fill the role. Instead, the mantra was about removing roadblocks, especially regulations for small business, to let the economy thrive. Most were irked by the shocking level of the deficit, saddling our children with debt. If I could summarize the gist of all the messages together, I'd say it was, "remove the fetters of taxes and regulations and do-gooding by big government and let US build." And of course, the conduit for accomplishing that increase of freedom is the ticket of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

But this morning, the coverage gap was apparent, when we turned on the TV in our little motel room. CNN was exclusively covering Tropical Storm Isaac. Fox News was covering the convention. By this morning, the raincoat-clad reporters relating Isaac's effects repeated some thankfully not-so-dire impact. You'd think the content of convention speakers would then take over, but no...again I remember how slanted the "objective" news media really are.

Rep. Michelle Bachmann & Gov. Hayley Barbour concerned about Hurricane Isaac

The Michael Medved Show today featured a series of top-notich guests, including Gov. Hayley Barbour, Rep. Michelle Bachmann and Ann Coulter. It's so exciting to sit here listening in on headphones on Radio Row, watching the constant activity of celebrity and activism. We're about to head over to tonight's convention speeches, headlined by Tim Pawlenty and Paul Ryan. Should be another energizing evening.

McCain Victory: More than a "Fighting" Chance

As I walked out after viewing John McCain's nomination acceptance speech into the balmy Northwestern evening, with the sun still illuminating the apricot clouds on the horizon, I looked up at the row of houses just across the street, and saw, through each of their front windows, eerily identical TVs showing the same giddy delegates and reporters and pundits at the Republican National Convention.

John McCain's speech was moving, smart and well-delivered for his television audience on streets just like this one across America.

The nominee punctuated his words with many wide smiles, grinning during a pause for disruptive protesters: "My dear friends, please don't be diverted by the ground noise and the static." (Only because I was with a veteran and an airline captain did I learn "ground noise and static" was a fighter pilot term.) His speech danced with highs and lows, allegro and andante, until a crescendo in which he urged listeners, "Fight with me...Fight with me...! Stand up...Stand up for each other, for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America! Stand up! Stand up and fight!..." By then the crowd was wild, jumping and waving placards and screaming, and my little group was whooping and pounding the table and applauding, all with approving laughter mixed with tears.

You felt after hearing his description of his Vietnam captivity that this was a real hero, one who admitted his early immaturity and through adversity became humble and devoted and strong, and committed to one over-riding loyalty, the freedom and goodness of the United States of America. The take-away message was that he did not and will not waver on that fundamental commitment, and by extension, in delivering on his promises. Very few political speeches convey this convincingly. Certainly Barack Obama's acceptance speech did not.

Sen. McCain made some promises with which I disagree. He said, "For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we'll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower-paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage." I blanched when I heard him offer this new type of handout, which will, of course require another federal bureaucracy to verify individuals' old salaries, enrollment in retraining, employment at "temporary, lower paid" jobs--as well as tax dollars to fund all of it. Distributing unemployment benefits is traditionally a state function, not a federal one. Administering this differential pay plan would be even more complicated, and tough to run from afar.

My other objection is to McCain's federally meddling with education down to "shaking up failed school bureaucracies" and "attracting and rewarding good teachers." School districts need to be local, responsive to their particular neighborhoods; what business does the United States government have deciding if a teacher in Kansas is as "good" as one in Maine? George Bush was wrong to insert the feds into classrooms with "No Child Left Behind," which simply imposed more paperwork and test-based curricula on teachers already struggling to tailor lessons to their students.

I understand that McCain had to address education, given the sweeping promises made by Obama--but I'd thought a Republican principle was to minimize government's reach into families' lives, not increase it.

But these are just two objections, small compared with at least fifty-two points I applaud: Thanking President Bush for keeping our nation safe. Acknowledging Obama's "achievement" without specifically mentioning race. Using Obama's "change" theme to highlight his own differences from the status quo, without dissing his opponent. Emphasizing his allegiance to citizens--"I work for you," a slogan suggesting his humility, in contrast to "The One" the Dems revere. Brilliantly reminding that he is a maverick, a reformer, one who stands on principles, and a military veteran--all with the single word, "fight." He's a fighter; he invites everyone to stand up and fight with him. He fought the bad guys, in Vietnam and in Washington: "I fight for Americans. I fight for you."

And finally, I liked John McCain's speech because he was not afraid to mention God and faith. I just re-read Obama's acceptance, and aside from the expected "God bless you and God bless America" closing, there was no reference to a power higher than himself. By contrast, in praising Obama, McCain chooses to quote the Gettysburg Address and Declaration of Independence, saying, "We're dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights." And later: "I don't mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I've had quite a few tough ones in my life." Several paragraphs further on, he describes opportunity for all to fulfill their "God-given potential," calling Americans "all God's children." He described the aggression of Russia, noting, "The brave people of Georgia need our solidarity and our prayers."

There's more: When Sen. McCain spoke of his dedication to this country, he added, "and I've never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege." He referred to being blessed, repeatedly; he urged service through entering the ministry. He pledged loyalty to our nation "as long as I draw breath, so help me God." And he vowed to work so that every American "has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him..." for opportunities that, with "hard work, strong faith, and a little courage" this nation affords.

Between McCain's solid experience and Palin's novelty and appeal, this is one energized, enthusiastic party. I'm eager to see the poll numbers; I think (and pray!) this campaign could be much easier to call than we might have expected. I guess we'll have to stay planted in front of our flat-screens to watch it play out.