Tonight’s speech is the “big enchilada” for Mitt Romney. He has the unenviable task of convincing average Americans that he isn’t a constipated Ken Doll. He will also be tasked with finishing the long slog of persuading apprehensive conservatives that he is one of them — rather than an opportunistic flip-flopper who will say basically anything to get elected.
He was helped by Paul Ryan’s rousing speech last night, albeit very little of what the Vice Presidential nominee said was actually true. We need leaders, not liars and it was abundantly clear by the end of the evening Ryan was firmly ensconced in the latter category. America was told that he was a man of substance, but all we got were superficial slogans and an pathological aversion to specifics, particularly on Medicare. That Ryan is posing as a conservative Catholic while so fluidly bearing false witness and turning his back on the poor makes his earnest choirboy act even more remarkable.
Of course, the veracity vacuum was entirely predictable after Romney pollster Neil Newhouse telegraphed the GOP strategy by saying, “We’re not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers.”
Mission accomplished, I suppose.
Two of the biggest GOP convention stars so far have been Ann Romney and Paul Ryan. But instead of lifting Romney, they have inadvertently highlighted what a dud he truly is. In the pundit patter leading up to Ann’s talk, we kept hearing that she had to “humanize” her husband — meaning that he is viewed as some sort of campaign robot. And it was clear that Ryan was the front man in the arena’s most popular band, while Romney is relegated to opening act status. Only a breakout hit tonight will change this calculus.
So far, we have had a breakout performance by Ryan, who is now the leading voice of conservatives. Chris Christie gave a self-indulgent, ego-drenched speech that barely mentioned Romney. This leaves it to the presidential nominee to convince America that he isn’t a power-hungry, morally amorphous, policy pandering stiff.
Romney is wilting in the shadow of the bigger, more dynamic personalities that surround him. His goal is simple: Loosen up and look presidential, and don’t look so buttoned up and uptight that casual viewers will confuse him with the Secret Service officers by his side.
Romney is hot! mmmmmmmmmmmmm I would love to get me some of that good stuff! haha
“This leaves it to the presidential nominee to convince America that he isn’t a power-hungry, morally amorphous, policy pandering stiff.”
So, he has to lie through his teeth then?
Foxy said “Romney is hot! mmmmmmmmmmmmm I would love to get me some of that good stuff!”.
Oh dear.
Since all politicians lie, about most things, why is this a surprise with Romney? Or any politician? You seem to be of the idea that Democratic politicians don’t lie, which is odd. For instance, I recall being told repeatedly that Obama was “for” gay marriage, but had to “lie” to get elected, and we should be patient for the lie to be shelved. Indeed, I read sometimes that he’s still 100% for us, but has to lie on purpose to get elected, to lead us to the promised land.
Meanwhile, personally, I’d rather a dud of a president, one who didn’t do much, didn’t have his “vision” for America to impose on me — but actually started to clean up the mess, and perhaps let each American have his own vision for his own America.
Messianic though politicians are, truth tellers they are not, on either side of the aisle. And since gays need every American to not give a damn about us as a political pawn, I have always thought equal opportunity political bashing is the best way.
Jim, there’s an organization that keeps track of political lies and they’ve found the Democrats a great deal more truthful than Republicans.
Romney’s look overall creeps me out. Watching him speak is easily as irritating as watching “Dubya”. Besides, he walks like a girl. His wife should polish it up for him.
Mr Hlavac,
The theory of false equivalency – so excellently expressed by you “all politicians are…” needs to be, and increasingly is challenged. Mr. Ryan told 8 outright lies. Attempting to say “all politicians do that” is obfuscation, not consideration. All politicians do not do that. All politicians do not shade the truth, say nothing about lying. What you say is false equivalency and should thus be utterly discarded.
Thanks for playing.
Reyn
Hlavac–really? I don’t see it implied anywhere here that Democrats don’t lie. In fact, I don’t see Dems mentioned at all. Does the fact that most politicians lie mean we shouldn’t write about it when they do? That’s idiotic. And on gay issues Obama got rid of DADT and supports gay marriage. Romney has said he will reinstate DADT and supports a Constitutional ban on gay marriage. You really need to brush up on current events before you spout off. And what “vision” is Obama imposing on you. I find the “vision” imposed by the GOP platform much scarier than getting rid of the pre-existing conditions red tape in insurance companies.