Live Blog: Republican National Convention, 8/29/12
Welcome to the second night of our Republican National Convention live blog!
I’ll be critiquing the night’s biggest speeches in real time tonight from 8pm – 11pm eastern.
Tonight’s big speakers include Vice Presidential Nominee Paul Ryan, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. I’ll also live blog tomorrow’s speeches, and will do the same next week for the Democratic National Convention.
Please leave any thoughts in the comments section below – I’ll use a few of them for the main thread.
Finally, there’s no need to refresh your browser; new updates will automatically appear. Here we go!
[liveblog]
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Susana Martinez is the big wildcard tonight in my opinion. She has quite an impressive story and record and if you can hit one out of the park tonight she will move onto the national level quickly and be a contender for the Republican nomination in 2016 or 2020.
Pam is off her game tonight, her nerves are showing. As a Floridian I can tell you that. She usually is a happy warrior and that is not showing tonight.
Sen. Thune surely does look the part, he is one handsome dude. His speech was boring though. If you put the TV on mute though you can easily say to yourself this guy could be President and that counts for a lot.
And this is why Mitt Romney did not go with Portman.
On a different note, The convention stage is a really nice touch. The screens led to some awesome cut away shots.
Is reference to the RNC lacking heart, I think this is why some of the speakers are having issues. It is hard to perform when you crowd is as disengaged as these delegates seem to be at some points.
Gov. Fortuno, the Milhouse of American Politics!
Fortuno is key part of Republican outreach to Hispanics. Florida has a large Puerto Rican population and this is speaking directly to them. Also Puerto Rico will be having a number of votes on Statehood soon and this is Republicans playing the long game and trying to make sure Puerto Rico becomes a swing state if it enters the union.
Congress and President ratify Statehood not the States though and both parties have said they will support statehood if that is the will of the Puerto Rican people.
Tim Pawlenty needs to stop being a comedian. He’s like the stereotypical dad trying to be “cool” with the teenagers.
Pawlenty reminds me of that great Thatcher line “It was treachery with a smile” His speech isn’t treachery but he is certainly delivering some big punch with a joyful smile.
Huckabee is giving a great speech in my opinion. He isn’t entirely my cup of tea but he clearly knows how to convey his ideas in a way the reach out. His preaching days really helped him learn this art. He knows how to connect with the crowd in the hall and with the audience at home and that is no easy feat.
Condi is speaking from note cards and without a prompter. Truly speaking from her heart She is Amazing!
Condi sounds like she’s giving a foreign policy lecture to grad students. Not sure all of the crowd gets it. But credit for trying to elevate the rhetorical level above “Obama is an idiot”.
“We have never been jealous of each other, and never been envious of each others successes.” WOW! I think we have out first home run speech of this Convention.
As a PR professional for public schools, I disagree with what Ms. Rice says specifically re how to fix our schools. But the way she says it is so gosh darn convincing.
Not sure that i get thye whole notion that she and more speakers has made, that America is less liked abroad because of Obama. He is the best PR-stunt for America in Europe since Coca Cola.
One thing is clear so far. It is the women of this convention that have been the Stars. #RepublicanWarOnMen lol jk
Gov. Martinez gave a pretty good speech. Not a home run but I don’t know if that was possible after what Condi just did. I thought that the Spanish interludes were quite powerful though as well as the Democratic past story line. Certainly there was a narrative in that speech that can be built on and made into a national platform.
Ryan speech wasn’t bad. Overall I though he did the job he needed to do. I don’t think anyone could have matched what Palin did 4 years ago. Condi Rice stole the show though. She seemed liked the real leader and a real person of Presidential timber.
the convocation is a bit jarring, kind of addresses all the spite built up all evening. I didn’t see a standing ovation.
“Graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters. Wondering when they can move out” This was clearly in my opinion was the best line of the night though.
That line will work with not just independents but I think many young voters like myself. As a 23 year old college graduate working in retail instead of what my degree is in I am living that experience Ryan described. It connected with me and I think it will connect with many in my generation.
Brad,
Most of the commentary I have read today on the Paul Ryan speech centers on his disregard for facts. He plain lied and/or misrepresented the truth. Don’t you think that supercedes the technical aspect of his speech (which, I thought were fine but not nearly of the caliber of other national figures).
Best,
Deborah
Deborah,
That’s an entirely reasonable question, and I’m not sure we’ll know the answer immediately. I suppose the answer is this: “Whichever side spins Ryan’s speech more effectively wins.” I’m mindful that Americans don’t necessarily cast their votes for candidates who have a strict adherence for the facts, but rather the candidates they feel most comfortable with. By those metrics, Rep. Ryan did well last night. I’m curious to see whether or not the media begin to turn on Ryan. Given the mainstream media’s reluctance to be seen as ideologically biased, I’m not sure that will happen.
Best,
Brad
P.S. If your question is asking why I didn’t cover the question of whether or not his speech was fact-based, it’s for two reasons. One, I’m not sure most Americans are basing their vote on that; and two, I want to focus my reviews on actionable advice that other readers can use to advance their own public speaking skills.
Brad,
There are two parts to public speaking –the technique and the content. I am wondering if you have faulty content whether the mastery of technique is enough to compensate.
Sadly, I agree that Ryan did well last night. The party faithful were energized by his presentation. I hope the journalists out there ask the tough questions they are supposed to.
Thanks for your insight!