Talk Elections

There isn't one yet, and the convention has started, so....

Can this be pinned please?

Sticky'd this thread; unsticky'd the other one.

John Sununu officially placing Romney's name into consideration right now.

Is there a live feed for the RNC?

STATE BY STATE ROLL CALL STARTING


check CSPAN maybe?

Today, we are all Ron Paul supporters.

77 ROMNEY
12 PAUL

Paul's going to win this.  The momentum is growing.

Ah yes, thanks.

367 ROMNEY
20 PAUL

(officially, 8 people from Colorado abstained, but I'm pretty sure they wanted to vote for Paul and got overruled by state chair so I'm counting em for Paul)

Live stream: http://www.youtube.com/user/gopconvention2012/

Oh cool they found a single black person to be part of the DC delegation.

I'm still hoping for a Ron Paul nomination. I felt so sorry watching his Convention Saturday.

GEORGIA GAVE THREE VOTES FOR RON PAUL, SOMEONE CUT THE MIKE

Running tally:

534 Romney
15 Paul
8 "abstain"
1 "Undecided"

Hawaii gives three votes to Congressman Ron Paul!

The undecided delegate is literally my hero. He must be so torn between Ron Paul and Mitt Romney, the poor guy.

Running tally: (up through Illinois)

652 Romney
18 Paul
8 "abstain"
1 "Undecided"

The Iowa announcement will be awesome :)

22 VOTES FOR RON PAUL!

One for Santorum.

CONGRATS PHIL!

Running tally: (up through Kentucky)

788 Romney
40 Paul
1 Santorum
8 "abstain"
1 "Undecided"

Santorum still got a delegate out of Kansas for some reason.

Here comes Maine...

And Louisiana.

Running tally: (up through Maryland)

871 Romney
62 Paul
3 Santorum
8 "abstain"
1 "Undecided"


SANTORUM SURGE

Ron Paul won Minnesota, which is coming up.

Romney's brother is an idiot.

Lol at Romney's brother.

Is Scott Romney crying, lol?

Edit: LOL at the Minnesota delegation trying to extol the virtues of their state party, haha.

GO MINNESOTA!

OMG I LOVE MINNESOTA!!! :D

Running tally:
(up through Minnesota)

942 Romney
99 Paul
4 Santorum
8 "abstain"
1 "undecided"

I'm a bit ashamed to admit this is the first time I heard Romney had a brother.

LOL Blonde looked pissed off.

Scott Romney's voice has completely cracked.

24-4

Running tally:
(up through Missouri)

1027 Romney
103 Paul
7 Santorum
8 "abstain"
1 "undecided"

Missouri provides votes for Santorum.

Nevada should go for Paul as well.

YES NEVADA!

Running tally:
(up through Nevada)

1086 Romney
120 Paul
7 Santorum
13 "abstain"
1 "undecided"

Haha, the Nevada dude was a Paulite.

CHAMPION OF THE CONSTITUTION!

New Jersey's next.  It's over, guys. :(

Running tally:
(up through New Jersey)

1150 Romney
123 Paul
7 Santorum
13 "abstain"
1 "undecided"

Romney officially has a majority now.

It's official, my fellow Democrats, let's go win this thing for the memory of Teddy Kennedy.

For anyone taking down individual state scores, is it possible the forum'll get a delegate map at some point? I know Mitt wins the vast majority of states, but shades might make it interesting.

()

FF!

MITT! MITT! MITT!

Running tally:
(up through North Carolina)

1316 Romney
130 Paul
7 Santorum
13 "abstain"
1 "undecided"

Lol, Kasich just mentioned former Democratic Senator

Come on Ron....

I love how Kasich is bragging about how Obama's helped them.

Also, love the Northern Marianas guy.

Running tally:
(up through Oregon)

1471 Romney
145 Paul
8 Santorum
13 "abstain"
1 "undecided"

Puerto Rico can seat delegates, but Maine pretty much can't. This is bull.

WE CASTA ARA VOTAS FOR AH MITTA ROMNEY!

Running tally:
(up through Rhode Island)

1576 Romney
154 Paul
8 Santorum
13 "abstain"
1 "undecided"

I'm assuming that those were supposed to be a few votes for Ron Paul from Pennsylvania, not Paul Ryan lololo

Running tally:
(up through Vermont)

1869 Mitt Romney
179 Ron Paul
9 Rick Santorum
1 Buddy Roemer
1 Jon Huntsman
1 Michelle Bachmann
13 "abstain"
1 "uncommitted"
1 "undecided"


<3 Texas

"Paul Ryan"

Wat

...

lol roemer

Lol, Buddy Roemer gets the last laugh today.

The West Virginians are wearing miner hats?

lol Huntsman and Bachmann too.

Was that lady supposed to be only repeating the vote number for the winner, or just pretending she didn't hear anyone else winning delegates?

Walker isn't very warm, is he?

CNN said this was the first time at any convention that the votes for all of the other candidates were not counted. She didn't even count the votes in states where Paul won the majority.

So why does the chairwoman always repeat the number of delegates for Romney but not the number of delegates for Paul???

Even if Paul won the majority of delegates in a state she only repeats the Romney numbers.

Now that Wyoming is done, final tally:

2061 Mitt Romney
190 Ron Paul
9 Rick Santorum
1 Buddy Roemer
1 Jon Huntsman
1 Michelle Bachmann
13 "abstain"
1 "uncommitted"
1 "undecided"


She's only supposed to count candidates who were officially nominated and seconded. That was only Mittens; Ron Paul didn't have a majority from enough states to get nominated by someone.

Really? Shout was the best song they could come up with?

I can see the crowd's exploding with excitement, too.

"Shout, put your hands up!".

lol.

Who else saw the woman with the Confederate hat holding a caped elephant?

I'm thinking it was probably picked to mask any riot the Paultards could have potentially made at the official declaration from the chair.

Why did the nice and kind woman only count votes for the friendly and jovial Mitt Romney? Does she want to dominate a planet as mormen says^{[citation needed?]}?

They are asking for a Paulites' reloveution.

LOL. Such an awkward crowd. At least they didn't pick a country song.

Stadium was empty.

Guess that a Romney candidature isn't very fun.

I saw two black people from the MS delegation (I'm pretty sure it was MS). Any others?

Lineup so far

1. Birther
2. Generic Republican
3. Tea Party-establishment candidate
4. Tea Party-anti-establishment candidate
5. Generic Republican
6. Generic Republican
7. Birther
8. Birther
9. Birther
10. Jeb
11. Token black guy

Virgin Islands speaker was kind of brown.

Tea party antiestablishment candidate= Jackie Walorski

Wow. An entire Black Republican population of Mississippi. Just wow.

There was a moment of hillbilly music but it stopped.

Chains are better than social security, I guess.

I wish Atlas has "like" buttons like Facebook. For moments like this.

I think I found something that is even BETTER than the Artur Davis speech. (http://chickenonaraft.com//)

Boehner's speech was delightfully and wonderfully snarky.

Didn't know that Corky was a speaker.

I've counted at least a dozen lies from Herr Priebus.

How many times more with the "you didn't build that"? It's like Joe the Plumber but months before.

This election stinks Dukakis.

Republicans failing to do an Obama.

This woman is embarrassing.

Who is this women? Name dropping that many states is just not doing it for me. ::)

She's forgotten that it was a Republican President who signed the PATRIOT Act into law.

Government didn't build it. God did ....wtf.

Oh God no....please please please NOOOOOOOO.

I BUILT IT

Now that that horror is over, the candidate for Lt. Governor of Delaware is speaking. Sure bringing out the heavyweights, aren't they? :P

Mia Love is quite something.

Using the term "experts" in the pejorative sense....

This woman is outstanding... what an inspiration. I can relate as a sole proprietor and a father. She needs to be in every ad this fall...

No. Christie isn't speaking till 10:30

This is a compelling speaker, but that was a distortion. She said "Nearly 50 percent of small businesses say they aren't hiring because of regulatory uncertainty."

Here's the Gallup poll in question:

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She didn't mention the issue she cited was #6 on the Gallup list. The top 4 all have to do with consumer demand.

Amazing Grace....they should have got Herman Cain to sing it.

This looks like a Christian Revival Show from the 1920s!

Yeah, Romney-McMorris Rodgers doesn't have much of a ring to it.

Are they seriously chanting "We built it"?

This convention is beginning to resemble a f**king broken record....ugh. Just put Christie on already.

It was nice to move folks from the DC, PR, Guam, etc. delegations up front instead of their usual locations in the way back.

This woman's voice is the worst thing in the world.

Ayotte has, quite literally, a cracking voice.

oh my f[inks]ing god

"Like most Americans, our lives changed after 9/11" - Kelly Ayotte

Thank God Senator Ayotte wasn't chosen as the VP!!!

I would be really concerned if a bunch of Libs weren't driven absolutely nuts by a GOP convention. :P

Agreed, she wouldn't have been a good match for Mittens, precisely because of this.

Maybe if the Herman Cain or Governor Rick Perry hadn't been so rudely snubbed.

What's wrong with Ayotte? She seems pretty good?

Kelly.... You're supposed to be saying Ron Paul not Mitt Romney.

Sweet Kelly has the mouth of a sailor. Who would've known?

So, a 10 year old girl who runs a lemonade stand is more qualified than Obama? :P

Also, singing 'Amazing Grace' is sure to drive in us Jewish voters Repubs.

She is, but as a speaker, she isn't good match for Mittens.

Perry I can see, Cain probably not for obvious reasons. :P

God if they had had Thehermancain sing amazing grace I would have stood up in my own house and cheered. There is still time though. I hope they do it.

2012's Joe the Plumber?

Mitt Lomney!

She is a Senator of the United States.....


shocking the kind of people who get elected in protest elections.


Embarassing for New Hampshire.

Another black woman!

Kasich is OTT.

He didn't just say "Taxachusetts" did he?

I saw something in the news about delegates shouting down the speaker from Puerto Rico with chants of "USA!" and "Go home!"

Please, for the sake of everyone's sanity, let that be just a rumor.....

Lol, Fallin is actually pronounced "Failin".

Just a small section of fascists, I think. Still disgusting though.

Is it me, or is Mary Fallin 100% plagiarizing Ann Richards speech?

Ayotte was such a boring speaker. Kasich was way better than I thought he would be.

I love Fallin, but this speech is too much about Oklahoma sayings, I...like most Americans...don't understand the references. Where is this going? Ah...foreign oil, there's the point.

Only a matter of time until she says "he was born with a silver foot in his mouth".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vr5kMguEqi8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vr5kMguEqi8)

Doesn't sound small to me (though it was a mix of "USA" and "Seat Them Now", so a mix of racists and Paulites protesting).

I thought they were all just stock speeches anyway.

oh god please kill this woman

+1

Anyone else think Scott Walker looks like an annoying gopher that just won't go away?

Scotty isn't very hotty....he's ice cold, in fact.

"Picking Ryan means Romney is qualified."

Oh god.

NOOOOOOO NOT AGAIN!!!!!111

I BUILTI IT
WE BUILT IT
WE BUITLIT IT

USA USA USA SUASUA USA


Thank god I'm skipping this.

America is exceptional because they care about their grandchildren and not politics?

I'm a fan of Scott Walker, but that line just made me wince.

P.S. Gotta love the little 'Freedom' ditty.

"THE CONSTITUTIONS ON OUR SIDEEE!".

What time is Ann Romney on?

Sandoval is about the most bearable speaker so far.

10:05

Thanks, I'll know when to tune in.

I like how all the Governor's are talking about their success in their states and are giving Romney two mentions at best.

Interesting fact: The RNC keynote speaker will not be talking about his successes as governor, because the unemployment rate in his state is currently almost 10%.

CONGRATULATIONS PHIL!

Santorum has been great, so far. So litterally, congrats ;)

His son goes to school in my city?!!? I had no idea I was so lucky!

Santorum's talking about his grandpa's hands again.

His thick large hands. I lol'd so hard at that.

Rick Santorum 2012=Pat Buchanan 1992?

More Hands! :P

No, he stopped short of that when talking about the family by mentioning and honoring the hard work of single mothers. I think this is a great speech. I think that if he kept focused on these themes and not gotten lost in the weeds on contraception and other controversial issues, he might be VP or even the nominee himself.

There should be a drinking game for the amount of times Rick says 'HANDS'.

And now he's talking about Bella's hands.

Do not insult my man Pat in such a way :P

Lol at the end it was like "by the way vote for Mitt Romney"

Ah yes. Santorum must have gripped many "hands". Many many thick and strong "hands". When you've seen as many hands as I have...

Though in all seriousness, this might have been the best speech I've heard all day.

Seemed good to me. :)

Conveniently Ted doesn't mention the astroturf movements in Colorado, Nevada, or Delaware.

Minus all the hands, it was a great speech in my opinion.


As my mom said, "Where was that Rick Santorum in the primary?"

Fantastic speech by Rick Santorum.

Some of the Governors speeches earlier today have been dire, Mary Fallin's in particular was so wooden and emotionless.

Well this is strange.

Apart from all the gay hands references, excellent speech on the part of Rick. This Santorum, the one that gave that speech the night of the Iowa Caucus, the one that gave the speech tonight, would've won Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. If he'd have skipped all the social issues, this would've been his nominating convention.

It definitly was, but that's not saying much when every other speech was mediocre at best. Good for him, I guess.

The Revolution was in 59 and he left in 57?

I thought it was good but I'm pleasantly surprised at how the rest of you seem to think it was fantastic. :D

He and Christie (might consider voting for him in 2016) only set the bar higher for Mitt on Thursday.

Guys, come on, Santorum wouldn't have won the nomination, even if he had talked about how much he loved hands instead of how much he hated JFK/condoms.

I wholeheartedly agree.

Restore the American love story. Vote Romney and Ryan! Awkward...

Artur Dvais...bleh.

Does anyone else think Artur Davis's hair looks like Curtis Wilkins?

Ah, this loon.

I may no like you on foreign policy Rick but well done. Sadly it's not enough to convince me to give mitt my vote.

Repression in Cuba didn't begin in 59. Just because the previous regime had US backing, didn't mean they were a Jeffersonian Democracy.

I love Artur Davis.

He is rocking it....awesome

"Obama is a radical leftist for passing the Heritage Foundation's healthcare plan!"

Yes, I know (I'm Cuban myself and no Batista fan), but it seems for a right-winger to have problems with a fellow right-wing leader. ;)

Governor John Kasich is a spellbinding speaker, and gave a fantastic speech.  He can really hold your attention.  

Artur Davis delivered a truly great speech, calling on America to vote for a bright future with Romney, not a repeat of failure with Obama.  

Well, Batista was an asshole too. And hardly a right-winger.

Also, Artur Davis gave a very good speech.

About Santorum, I wish there was a way for him to be like Santorum...but less aggressive with his social issues. Obviously, I want him to keep those values he holds, but if only there was a way he could be...more restrained with them.

Artus Davis' speech was surprisingly good.

Here's Ann.

This is perhaps the most awkward primetime speech I have ever seen. But it does what it needs to do.

She's an awful public speaker, but she does have some funny lines. Awkward chuckle funny, not laugh funny. I think Michelle Obama gave a better speech in 2008.

Well, this was ... possibly over-hyped.

"Mitt sees it as a privilege to help others..."

I wouldn't be so quick to use the word "privilege" if I were a Romney. :P

You guys are off on this one...she wasn't talking to you...this was all to moms....it was perfect.

This is actually better than I expected. Then again, my expectations weren't that high because I suspected Romney convinced everyone in his campaign to give his wife a high-profile speech simply out of that whole love for her thing.

Privileged moms, no doubt.

I actually think Ann Romney is a good speaker and is doing a pretty good job.

Yesssssss!!!!!! Thank you Ann romney

IT'S MITT!

His Rotundity has entered.

To anyone being honest, Ann Romney hit this one out of the park.

She delivered the speech of her life.  She delivered an inspiring speech, a motivating speech, a speech for the ages.

She made it very clear, Mitt will not fail.

The Media hyped it up as a speech where they'd attempt to "humanize" Romney. Instead she advertised him as a "Mr. Fix-It". Mrs. Romney succeeded in portraying herself as a human, but im not sure this helps Mitt much. Oh, here comes President, Governor Christie.

Time for the BIG speech.

LOL

Chris Christie praising the GI big government welfare program?

Oh was that a fat joke?

Of course not we are just talking about the well rounded speech...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X_Ot0k4XJc

No.  Why are you so fixated on peoples' weight?

Chris Christie is crushing this speech! Great job thus far.

I just find the entire idea of masses of people coming together to excitedly cheer for Mitt Romney, of all people, bizarre and unrealistic. Surely the writers have jumped the shark once and for all now.

!!!!

World's greatest healthcare system? The only western nation with millions uninsured...

Christie's speech is very good. Nice mix of base and indie appeal.

We're bigger than that (in many ways).

I'm looking forward to seeing a Christie presidential campaign down the road if Romney can't pull this off.

Good speech.

Best speech of the convention. Christie just accepted the nomination.
BREAKING NEWS

Say what you want about the guy, but it's hard to deny that was a very, very good speech. Not nearly as combative and attacking as I thought it would be, which is a good thing.

This guy has a future in national politics.

So, I WAS streaming Ann's speech on 3G from my campsite. Until a bear came and literally knocked the tree down right in front of me. So I missed the end. What I saw of it, though, was absolutely fantastic.

Wow

Governor Christie just delivered one of the greatest speeches in the history of U.S. political conventions.

The Republican Party is fired up.

Any American who wants to turn this economy around is going to find it much much easier to vote for Mitt Romney now.  

It was a good speech. Definitely not the on fire Christie, and those delegates, jeez, how many are asleep out there? If this is any indication of November well then...bye bye Romney, have fun with 100 electoral votes.

An exceptional speech; if only the ideas behind the speech and the actual words in the speech were remotely worthwhile.

What a train wreck of a convention. Two good speeches in a whole day? Oy.

Christie had a better speech, but Ann Romney's speech matters much much more. Excellent night.

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A good speech, not quite sure I would be that hyperbolic.

A very solid B+/A- IMHO.

Less anger than I expected (good)
Less "fire" than I expected (bad)

A rallying cry to the economic conservative wing rump of the party... they needed that.

Good last two speeches, but this night didn't help Romney at all. Out of all the speeches tonight, Mitt's name was barely mentioned. Isn't this convention supposed to be about Romney?

I will admit that Christie delivered a better speech than I imagined it would be.

The speech, according to Rachel Maddow, was 2600 words. Mitt Romney was not mentioned at all until 1800 words into the speech.I don't know what MSNBC was talking about. It was a good speech, not great but good. Still nowhere near as great as Obama's 2004 "Red States and Blue States" DNC Keynote. This night didn't help Romney much at all.

From what people has been saying and based on Anne's speech, I get the sense that Mitt is not going for the humanizing approach. I think Mitt is going to own his persona. He's a successful biz guy. His message will be, it's a complex world and things are tough, but dont worry I've got this.

Had to check in to say Christie=total disgrace. He's obviously going for a repeat of Obama's propulsion to superstardom through a convention speech. He didn't say a damn thing about Romney personally, it was all about introducing himself and his story officially on a national level. On and on and on about his record in NJ, didn't someone know this disgrace was coming? Since Romney is looking like a lost cause, I can't wait for Hillary to destroy this waste of space next time around.

Anyone with Christie-Ryan photoshopped together waving to a crowd wins a cookie.

Question:

It's been a long time since I've watched Barack Obama's keynote speech, but how often was Kerry mentioned in that speech?

So far, this has been the worst convention I've ever seen.

If anything, it was more like Cuomo's '84 keynote (though Cuomo's is one of the greatest speeches of all time, this is not). He barely mentioned the actual candidate, but instead threw in some red meat for the base to eat up. Chrisite did quite well. He's certainly on the path for 2016.

Found this somewhere
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It was nothing but more vague rhetoric, where were the specific attacks? Where was the substance? Where were the issues? We got some references to debt, and a bunch of self promotion about teachers.

13 times.  Compared to 8 for Romney in Christie's speech.  Note this is raw counts - might not be exactly equivalent.

So both had minimal mentions...Thanks :)

Then we must be doing something right! :) ;)

and in other news....

I just watched the Romney and Christie speeches.  Ann was good, but Christie did something great, he was forward looking.  If Mittens can articulate a forward looking vision, he succeeds.  

Ann did a great job, a perfect balance of personal and political. I think she went a long ways in portraying Romney as more of a 'regular' American rather than a soulless, corporate robot.

Christie however came across as self-serving. Also I am not sure if his repeated attacks against teachers was so wise (there are much easier and lucrative targets for Republicans). Plus nothing he said was particularly memorable.

Ann: A-
Christie: C+

I'm glad they took the woman out for throwing stuff at the camerawoman.  Bigotry isn't tolerated, regardless of the party.

I think Christie was more about branding the GOP as a party of tough-talking fixers who will say when things will bad and try to lead the country to solutions and better days, not run and hide from the problem. In that, I think it served its purpose. Today was dominated by Governors and small business people and the clear goal was to simultaneously criticize Obama (bleed in from Monday's cancelled stuff) and also showcase real people to do it. The Governors, Kasich, Walker, McDonnell, and Christie were meant to showcase how Republican leadership is different. 

As for Ann, I agree completely. And you have to keep in mind she was delving into their private lives in such fashion as they haven't done before on such a large stage. It is safe to say this a couple that prefers to remain private about their family, religion and such forth and thus this speech had a degree of added difficulty in that sense. I thought she did well.

While everyone is mad over the speech and thinks Christie is cynical. Ask yourselves...where were the Christie signs? Don't most keynoters have their names in banners, signs, plastic things full of air. Obama, Kennedy, (Bush didn't really speak like planned). I'm not sure about Miller, or Ford though.

There were a lot of signs.

Out of the 7 conventions I've seen, this was so far the best, although the keynote was probably 3/7 for me (though it was very good). Anyways, they hammered the small business (build that) angle relentlessly and pretty well. It's a far better executed message than say...2008, which definitely fell on deaf ears.

The entire small business angle is what completely fell flat. That plus Bob McDonnell's lies about Republican states having lower unemployment.

To be quite fair, it's very unlikely you were the target audience of the convention. Or really most political rhetoric.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/palin-backers-mock-romney_n_196884.html

Btw, I didn't watch the speech, but is Christie trying to do Obama's "terrorist fist bump" here?  ;)

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Since it was a Puerto Rico thing, I thought they were saying "Statehood Now."  But, yeah, it was Paulites saying "Seat Them Now,"  and the anti-Paulites started shouting "USA!USA!" because that's what jingos reflexively shout to drown out their opponents.

or anyone who has a sentimental pulse.

Was the bear easy to see? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpwdcmjBgNA&noredirect=1)

Just watching the Christie speech.

He's actually kidding right? How are these people even a party?

I can't believe anyone here was impressed by Ann Romney's performance -she reminds me of an elementary school teacher.  And about as fake as Mitt with her attempts to connect with the lives of ordinary Americans.  The only aristocratic family that managed this feat was the Roosevelts, and no one else has come close -most certainly not the Romneys of the current generation. 

Oh god, is this more Republican "outreach" to the African-American community?

wat

what did u guys think of Arturs Davi's speech?

It was brilliant.

It was as miserable as all the rest.

Artur Davis should have been our keynote speaker.

One thing you can say about Republicans: almost all of them don't think it's okay to pelt black people with peanuts and call them animals.

I didn't bother watching last night's stuff. However, I find it amusing that the consensus on this board seems to be that Christie did a great job and that Ann Romney was bad and/or nothing special.

Why? Because the consensus pretty much everywhere else is the exact opposite.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80362.html?hp=t1_3
http://swampland.time.com/2012/08/29/about-last-night-chris-christie-on-a-no-red-meat-diet/
http://riehlworldview.com/2012/08/chris-wallace-calls-chris-christies-speech-off-key-and-self-promoting.html

I think everyone here agrees he did a good job, however, it is laughable when some call it one of the greatest speeches in modern political history. It wasn't even close to that,

It was not the best every, but it sets up Romney and Ryan to be forward looking.

The speech barely mentioned Romney.

Yes, it was. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think he should run for Senate in Alabama if Sessions or Shelby doesn't run again.

Obama's in '04 barely mentioned Kerry too.

I highly doubt that Davis would have switched if he had won that gubernatorial primary.

How much do I have to wait? Lazy republicans...

McConnell's voice isn't unlike Ted Kennedy's actually.

Here's the racially-tinted lies about how Obama wants America to decline from Turtleman himself.

Now the No. 1 reprobate is speaking.

And he doesn't seem to be aware that John Adams was a supporter of mandates.

YES, Rand Paul! Rand Paul!

Is anyone else getting tired of the "Obama says you didn't build that" rhetoric?

That intro sound sounded suspiciously much like Tom Sawyer, very much not an American song.

Thune and Portman are going to back to back? Battle of the generic boring people, here we go!

The funny thing is that they accuse Obama of running a negative campaign at the same time.

How is it negative when Obama has embraced his statement as a belief In collectivism.  Its a genuine contrast between parties. The Dems will rally collectivism next week and you guys won't call that negative. And republicans should not either. Contrast does not necessarily equal negative.

wtf santorum trying to attack paul giving his interview at the same time....

Ooh, the Bushes.

It's not about collectivism. Most Republicans are social conservatives, and hence are inherently collectivist themselves. A single line has been misinterpreted and used as a major theme for an entire convention. That's negativity.

Santorum against Paul, what an asshole.

A very touching tribute to Bush 41/43.

Presidents with integrity, honesty and courage.

P.S. What's this about Santo attacking Paul?

Laura... So sweet.

Don't worry, the more the GOP dwells on it, the worse they lose.

To tell the truth about WMD and Iraq's terrorist links


To attack weak countries that poses no threat.

Yeah, it's incredibly petty and small. As numerous commentators have pointed out, it would be like if the Democrats based on their convention one of Mitt's many gaffes. Can you imagine if the theme of the first night of the DNC was "We don't like to fire people"?

I would love to see John McCain as Secretary of State in a Romney administration.

Great speech from the Maverick.

McCain doesn't seem to like the idea of cutting the national debt.

"WE NEED TO CUT SPENDING!"

"WE CAN'T AFFORD OBAMA'S HUGE MILITARY CUTS!"

Incredible.  Way to stay on message.

I missed the Bush video!?!?!?! I thought it wasn't till 9!

The only people that matter...the Rice-Martinez-Ryan consecutive speeches! C-SPAN said that Fortuno is speaking now and not just is wife. Is this true?!

That goes against polling and common sense...it's a little overboard but it's a very, very persuasive message.

Two words that don't go together

Republican and Rhythm

Portman is a lot better of a speaker than I thought.

Is Portman gonna start making chicken sounds again?

Are Republicans trying to rip off Obama '08 now?
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I saw an old Asian lady waving a sign that said "We Can Change It, Romney-Ryan". That's just plain sad.

Portman seemed to have sour grapes over not being picked for VP.

Not going to bother watching anything till 9:40 (which is when Huckabee is supposed to come on).

Did they really just play a clip of "We Built This City"? ::)

Last night's speakers were definitely better. :P

Who's getting sick of this class warfare garbage?

I'm in Canada now, and yesterday morning I listened to a CBC radio interview with one of the delegates in Tampa, who began with the "Obama believes in class warfare" rhetoric, but then started talking derisively about "the political class" and "the activist class."  So, I guess it's just about getting in on the right fight.  :P

I think that was just a Romneyesque joke. He seemed to give a strong endorsement. He was better than expected. I think we see why Romney chose Ryan though.

Agreed, so far. Mia love and Davis were much stronger early presenters. They were both excellent.

i think Pawlenty should try to live up to his movie trailer videos. He should drop into the stage on a wire ala Mission Impossible.

Did Tim Pawlenty hire 'Hee Haw' to write his jokes?

This speech would be bringing the house down if he had even an ounce of charisma.

Why no mention of "Obamneycare", Tim?

Well, Pawlenty is hardly a barn burner, that's for sure.

The PBS snippet of Huckabee speaking makes me wonder why he didn't run.

So far Huck is sticking to the party line. But I am betting he will make some mention of how the party needs to support ALL their senatorial candidates.

It's really quite something to hear Huckabee talk about liberty and fiscal responsibility.

Huck should be a teacher for an economics class.

Huckabee might have some crazy views but he's a great speaker.

not sure if trolling

Let's talk about social issues, now.

I love Huckabee's self depreciating humour.

What's with the random Biden targeting tonight?

Didn't Winfield predict Romney would use "We Built This City" as a campaign song?

Chances of Romney winning California 52-48 just skyrocketed.


Huck's too classy for that. I hope.


Had he ran, he would've been a successful anti-Romney.

Serious or sarcastic? What did he say?

Agreed.  He's making a play for any Evangelicals that are wavering about a Mormon.  Not to mention Bono fans.  

It thought both Portman and Pawlenty did well in the red meat department.  They are revving up the crowd.

They should get some different kind of music for the RNC, nothing against what they offer.  3 Doors Down was great.  They could try something different and use some smooth jazz or upbeat like Electronica.

Well Mike didnt go rogue, alas. Unless of course you consider accusing the President of infanticide as rogue, but most probably didn't notice that bit.

Wow, massive cheer for Condi!

I was gonna reply to this quote, but instead I'll just leave an empty space afterwards, to sort of represent "speechlessness" at how dumb it is.

I thought she was primetime?

Huckabee did use the "Obama is the Food Stamp president" card from Newt's playbook.

None of the 3  broadcast nets are covering Condi, ABC and NBC opening with Isaac, CBS has political roundtable.

nbc is now

I feel like Christie's, Pawlenty's, Huckabee's, and Rice's speeches are all 2016 sneak previews.

yes but NBC also noted that it was weird that she started speaking before primetime. ABC is now running the Bush video and CBS is still previewing Ryan

I am guessing they have something planned for after Ryan and moved things around. I bet Romney is going to come out

CBS is showing a Mitt interview and ABC cuts off Condi. What a joke.

It was sarcastic, dude. Something Winfield predicted had occurred, so I joked that some of Winfield's other, less realistic predictions, of which his most famous is his comment that Romney will win California, will also come true.

VP focused night?

Both Christie and Rice are both referencing the future, and doing it well.  I suspect Romney will outline a some sort of vision for the future type of thing.

Condi is so subtle about her future plans. :p

I think Condi has done better than Christie

Condi just smashed this speech! Best one of the Convention, thus far!

Also, a little 2016 hint possibly?

They are letting Martinez speak after she insulted the memory of Gen. Custer?

Condi gave a good speech.

Huckabee, now there 's a public speaker.

Agreed, definitely the best speech so far.

Condi, truly inspiring.

Gotta love her.

Her speech, a classic. 

Condi was a fantastic, wonderful, great, Secretary of State. Especially because she had to simultaneously fend off the nuttier elements of the neocon movement.

Also, I'm really amused by how all of Martinez's brief lines in Spanish get huge amounts of applause (presumably mostly from people who do not understand Spanish).

Somebody yelled "U.S.A.!" near the end of Martinez's speech when she gave some lines in Spanish!

Martinez is far from a good public speaker, but she has a "normal" person charm I find incredibly endearing. I was expecting boos when she said she used to be a Democrat.

As for Condi, she was great. I hope she chooses to stay in the spotlight. The GOP needs more of her and less Bachmann/Palin...

Well at least they didnt throw peanuts at her.

They are yelling "USA" because she so exemplifies America.

Ryan is doing a horrible job, he's looking as awkward as Romney...

He's not doing a horrible job, there's alot more people than just campaigning, plus nationwide.

But the approval for Solyndra began under Bush!

Yes, meaning Spanish is as American as english.  You probably see a sinister motive lurking behind every potted plant.

Someone probably should have made some kind of drinking game for Ryan's speech.

Feel the energy from Ryan's speech

Not a bad speech, but note to Ryan: if there is no applause, you don't need to pause.

I thought Ryan's speech was going to be the fire up the base speech. But so far seems a bit tepid in the hall. Anne Romney and Chris Christie got a better reaction

Ryan is hitting all the right notes exposing the horrible truth about the Obama mismanagement of the economy and healthcare.

Financial crisis to job crisis.

Housing crisis to housing crisis not corrected.

Triple A credit rating which still exists.

An administration adrift on yesterday's wind.

These past four years we have suffered no shortage of words in the White House.  

What is missing is leadership in the White House.

Perfect, absolutely perfect.

I like what he says on his mind, clear and to the point.

Only problem is that this not new information.  Everybody has heard this before, especially people involved enough to watch the GOP Convention.

Paul "Ideas" Ryan hasn't said a single idea the Romney/Ryan administration would do.

I think he, along with Ann Romney, Chris Christie, and Condi will outshine Romney's acceptance speech.

He makes highlights of what their agenda covers, don't have to go into specific details.  Campaigning is what that's all about.  He's just reiterating what others haven't seen.

But a lot of the population is tuning in only now so this may be the first time a lot of them have heard any of this.

He cited a GM plant that closed in 2008, under Bush. He's been called out on it before.

I am disappointing by the lack of cheese heads in the WI delegation

That's probably the driver for the speech. This is his national introduction and chance to define himself ahead of next week.

Not really, he's just saying what Obama hasn't done and talking about how much of a "Divider" Obama is and how he's out of ideas, while not giving any of theirs.After 4 years, everyone has heard the attacks. It's been going on since the Stimulus passed in Februrary 2009.

AC/DC and Zeppelin are from a younger generation?   I guess if you are from the Glen Miller Generation.

I'm disappointed they haven't whined about Occupy yet.

Spending at no more than 20% of GDP.  Don't expect charts and graphs at this point.  

Ryan is knocking it out of the park.


Closed in 2009.

There's no point in whining about something that no longer meaningfully exists, dude.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/08/29/ryan-misleads-on-gm-plant-closing-in-hometown/

Yeah this is a bad speech.  I don't actually dislike Paul Ryan.  I've heard him in smaller events and in Congress say things that I like.  This is an empty speech delivered dry.  He could have done much better.


That's not a plan.  That's a goal.  The same kind of goals that he criticized Obama for promising in 2008 earlier in this same speech.

Did Obama really promise it would be open for another 100 years if he was elected? If so, I think it is a legitimate critique not of "Obama being responsible for causing it", but instead "Obama failing to meet his promises to turn the situation around. Which does sum up the GOP argument concerning Obama's economic record.

Then I guess I should stop complaining about the Republican Party.

I hate the GOP phrase "our rights come from God." I don't remember "right to free religion, free press, etc" in the Book of Genesis.

I really dont like the 'our rights come from nature and god and not from government'....not only is it insulting to the non-religious, it is clearly not accurate. Our rights come from the constitution, the founding document of the government

Have you not heard of natural rights?

Also, "we will make the safety net safe again". Well thank God that someone finally says what this election is really about.

lol same post at same time. Hello new friend!

Paul nailed it out of the park near the end, good speech!

Jefferson, a Democrat, does not agree.  

What an inspiring moment. Paul Ryan - your next Vice President!!!

It's a bad example, but he's not lying and the point is a powerful one.


Control of the House of Representatives, most state legislatures, and most Governor's Mansions; 26% of the population identifies with the Republican Party, 41% when you include people who lean Republican (source: http://www.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx) is not meaningfully existing?

How much real support does the GOP still have?

This is 2012.

I mean, he spoke those words in February 2008. The most likely explanation is that he didn't realize how bad things were going to get a year later. "The situation" wasn't fully known at the time. It's basically criticizing him for failing to predict how badly things would get in Bush's final year.

He's running on the ticket again in 2016? Or is Biden leaving the administration and getting replaced with Ryan? That'd really be a bipartisan gesture on the part of the Prez.

I thought Ryan's speech was pretty dry at first, but it all came together at the end.

Now, LETS GET THIS DONE!

Ayn Rand does.

More than 41%. I would say their floor -- absolute worst case scenario in a presidential election -- would be a little worse than McCain did (2008 was a horrible year, but McCain was a moderate-to-good candidate) -- 43% or 44%.

Counting leaners? About half of the electorate. A bit less than that -- 46-47% -- of all adults.

Way, way more than Occupy ever did or (since you say it still exists) ever will.

!!!!!! Excellent speech. Pitch perfect.

If Romney loses, Ryan has an open field for 2016 if he so desires.

And it would take a miracle for the Dems to be competitive in 2016 if Obama wins another term. Eight years of misery will have been enough. It'll be 2008 in reverse.

MSNBC is shameless; I don't know how these people live with themselves. FOX on its worst day doesn't even come close...

Ryan's speech was beautiful and inspiring on so many levels. Really makes it clear which is the adult party and which is the one living in a fantasy land of unicorns and rainbows.

People should re-listen to or re-read Obama's acceptance speech from 2008. He's criticized a lot for running on lofty but empty rhetoric, but that was a very specific and detailed explanation of the policies he would pursue as president and why he would pursue them.

The past two days of this convention, meanwhile, have been right-wing platitudes and impossible promises, just like the rest of Romney's campaign.

Really though, usually they'll try to show some fairness. But the last 2 days they've just ripped apart every speech. Matthews is the only one who even shows a shred of fair coverage. I wish Joe Scarborough or Michael Steele were doing the coverage.

Watching MSNBC can by funny for a minute but it gets to be parody after a while. CNN and PBS have the best coverage

Yes, but 100 years referring to a specific plant? That is just asking for trouble based on the previous decades' experience, alone. 

Yeah, like closing Gitmo, and providing mortgage relief, and passing a healthcare plan that will cut premiums, and working across the aisle, and create 5 million new energy jobs, and cut the deficit, and lower poverty, and...

Romney is going to have to give the speech of his life to not get overshadowed by Ryan/Condi/Christie, as in, 'a thousand points of light' memorable. I'm not sure he can pull it off.

CNN is wowed over Ryan's speech.  They're stopping just short of game changer.  Even James Carville says the Democrats should be nervous.

http://www.examiner.com/article/racism-msnbc-cuts-convention-speeches-by-republican-minorities

...yeah. I used to kind of just equate MSNBC and Fox as being estranged twin versions of each other, but the RNC cover makes me doubt that now.

I thought that was weird too because who wouldn't list them under "L" for Led Zeppelin.

Pretty good speech though. He had some decent lines, like the one about people in their twenties staring up at faded Obama posters.

I think a problem for him is that he comes across as so young himself though. That will scare some people.

The entire Republican convention so far just screams desperation.

He made be nervous because people weren't scared of him. He seemed reasonable, and if he seemed like that to me, what did he seem like to indies? Then again, I'm more to the right of liberal Dems.
It doesn't make much of a difference, it just raises the stakes of the Romney speech. He has to do "A Thousand Points of Light". If he doesn't, muted bump.

Wiki says it closed, finally, in June of 2009, and the decision was made in December 2008.  Of course the plant still sits idle.  Well, if a week is an eternity in politics, Obama was right.

Ron Paul would beg to differ with you. Our rights come from Our Creator. Second only to the Holy Bible itself and inspired by The Bible, our Constuition or as I and many recgonize it as a covenant, is counted one of the greatest legal foundations known to man. Though the activists on the left would beg to differ history confirms this fact. Yes she has been amended 27 times but she has stood the test of time and the nations would behoove themselves to view how connected the two are.

Tonite's speeches were better than last nights. Rand Paul, Susan Martinez, Condi Rice, Mike Huckabee, and Paul Ryan painted sharp contrasts between an Obama administration and what Romney's may look like. Sorry Rick Santorum but Paul Ryan just put himself ahead of you for 2016 if Mitt fails. My ticket is Paul/Ryan 2012 as a write in. Sorry Huckabee but not all evangelicals are going to join in.

Dude, you're probably to the right of me (and I will never understand your party affiliation. :P)

I thought it was a good speech, but it didn't knock my socks off. I thought Christie's was much better (or more accurately - I thought it would have been a better speech if Christie was the actual nominee).

Lol MSNBC vs Scott walker right now.

Well, they are representative of America then.

Huckabee the evangelical, Ryan the Catholic, saying to America why Romney the Mormon should be President.

Doesn't get any better than this.

Is that all you guys do? Take things out of context like when Obama only said "you didn't build that" (as conservatives believe)

Jefferson was a Republican.

I'm kind of an enigma. I'm the kind of Democrat that could murder a Republicam in a General, but would have a hard time getting past the primary. I'm dead center, like I've previously repeated.
Ed and Al were hilarious when they were yelling. That's why I love their shows.

Equating the GOP founded in 1854 with the party founded by Jefferson in 1792 is very misleading as the GOP was far more Federalist/Whig, then anything else. On the other hand, Jackson's Democratic party had plenty in common with that of Jefferson in that it was agrarian and aimed far more at small farmers of the South and West.

And JCL the evangelical won't join them. It would take the totality of Sarah Palin, Tim Tebow, Lou Engle, Banning Liebshere, Billy Humphrey, my pastor, my district Superindendent (who was my pastor) to join team Romney and even that may not be enough. I have no problem voting for Paul Ryan. It's Mitt Romney whom I have the hard struggle over.

I actually disagree. Your abnormally strong performance among independents would probably be offset by weaker enthusiasm and turnout from the hard-left Democrats. It's why moderate Democrats often make slightly weaker (or at least not that much stronger) general election candidates than very leftist Democrats.

Ah, he's considered the founder of the Democratic Party, to the point that the Democratic fundraising dinners are called Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinners.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson-Jackson_Day

And today's Democrats would follow the small government policies of Jefferson and Jackson?

The Federalist and Whig parties were the parties in favor of a robust Federal government capable of taking action.

But in any case Jefferson called himself a Republican.

I'm guessing that AC/DC and Led Zeppelin are the most recent bands that the average GOP voter listens to.

The GOP of today is closer to the Democratic-Republican party that Jefferson was part of. Why don't the Dems have Wilson-Roosevelt dinners and  the GOP can have Coolidge and Reagan day dinners.

I don't consider Abe a Republican. He was the National Union Party

Actually, I don't think he ever did.  The Party was called Democratic-Republicans.

In some cases, both Jackson and Jefferson had instances of a strong federal government, the nullification crisis and McCulloch v. Maryland, respectively.

In the 1860 election, Lincoln was a Republican.

1864 he was national union. Thus we're both right.

Agreed, which is why I cited the date.  The Party temporarily became the National Union. 

The term Democratic-Republican is an invention of contemporary historians, not part of the historical record as far as I am aware. Mostly foor that reason it is falling out of use but also because, yes,  as the modern GOP resembles them more rhetorically, the need to emphasis the distinction has also declined.

Did you even read the Jefferson quote I gave earlier, or do you enjoy looking foolish?  The name Democratic-Republican is a largely ahistorical name given to them to distinguish them from the later National Republicans and the modern Republican Party.  Just like no one ever called himself the Byzantine Emperor, yet we refer to the Byzantine Empire when we wish to speak of the later Eastern Roman Empire of 395-1453.

Do you guys all realize how asinine this debate is? Trying to claim random historical figures for your party just because they were connected with entities that became your party hundreds of years later after going through dozens of total revamps and changes is ridiculous.

We almost all clearly draw upon the legacy of Jefferson and Lincoln, regardless of our party.

Almost all of us, at least.

I disagree entirely. When I think of the connection between Lincoln and the Republican Party, even of today, I think of it in these terms. Lincoln was opposing the party "of the people" and "of popular sovereignty", who were essentially arguing that it took only a 51% majority to deprive a man of his freedom and liberty. The founders, yes slaveholder Jefferson himself, never qualified "All men are created equal" with "except where a majority says otherwise". Therefore, Lincoln and the Republicans, by opposing the extention of slavery and desiring to contain it in the hopes of killing it, were struggling to restore the values of the Republic that were being corrupted by the continued existance of slavery, as well as the notion that the majority vote was the end all be all of a free system. The tyranny of direct democracy being relived in a representative system. Is that not the ultimate ideal of modern conservativism? A system where there are checks and balances, even on the excesses of the populace? Where freedom comes not from the gov't (even an elected one) but it is given by god? Where the intent of the founders is respected, even if they themselves fell short of their own noblest ideals?

The GOP shouldn't abandon Lincoln, it should re-embrace him and seek to maintain that link with him. The Democrats still claim to be the party of the people, even if those people are urban and liberal isntead of rural and agrarian. That is why they maintain their links to Jefferson and Jackson. Why shouldn't the GOP maintain its links with Lincoln?

Indeed, it was "basileus" or Emperor of the Romans.

That is because the commerical interests began to see gov't as a bigger threat to them than Daniel Shays or the Parisian mobs beheading people left and right, which is what motivated them in the first place to pursue a strong federal gov't in the 1780's and 1790's with the Federalists. We can probably debate the year that occured (somewhere between 1896 and 1932), but it isn't as if they change party's or their desires to have policies that favored business. The policies and ideological view of gov't deemed most likely to advance their interests changed in reaction to the "party of the people" deciding it was in their best interests to use gov't as a means of serving their interests.

Nope - she believed rights came from nature. As in, her view of human nature as consisting of autonomous individuality.  "Nature and Nature's God" is a claim that rights are intrinsic rather than extrinsic, but secular versions of this claim can exist as well.

Abraham Lincoln disagreed with you about what America's founding document was - subtract fourscore and seven years from 1863.  In some ways the debate over slavery in the US was between privileging the Declaration and its views of natural, inalienable rights, versus privileging the Constitution's acceptance of slavery. The Declaration identifies the source and character of our rights. If rights come from the government, the Declaration's entire argument for independence falls apart. The Constitution (in terms of the Bill of Rights) is more specific on what these rights are but isn't explicit on metaphysics.

Some local branches of Madison's party called themselves "Democratic-Republicans," perhaps as a way of distinguishing them from less democratically inclined members of a predominate party, but Republican was the name of the national party.

Damn, you started off with such promise and just crashed and burned with the concept that modern American politics have anything to do with Jefferson or Lincoln.

Yankee, they've (the democrats) have abandoned Jefferson and Jackson and embraced Wilson, Roosevelt and Obama. I'm a lifelong Republican and  I personally don't trace my idealogical roots through Lincolin. This is my republican root tree. Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Cleveland, Coolidge, Taft, Goldwater, Reagan, Paul. You do bring up a really strong point . Can't the GOP make an argument of claiming Jefferson and Madison as one of their own?

I guess my grandmas New Dealer roots have some side effects I need to get out of me without taking the positives out.

Really? The Hillary hack who still clearly hates Obama's guts says that Democrats should be nervous? Shocker.

Seriously, I love Obama kool-aid groupthink. It's hilarious. When dissent becomes treason.

I wonder if that's how people started to believe pushing through Obamacare was a good idea.

Umm, I don't like Obama. So yeah.

Oh. Fair enough. Sorry then.

The RNC genuinely has zero enthusiasm.

Is anyone else really annoyed how the media are acting like this is the Mitt Romney appreciation group convention and not the republican convention. It seems that any speech that doesn't fawn over him is treated like a failure because of it.

When is The Mittens going to speak exactly, so I can set my clock and wake up ?

C-SPAN gives it at 10:25pm (ET).

When does the "mystery speaker" come on?

I'm hoping that Clint comes out wearing dark robes with a hood, only to pull it back at the last dramatic moment....he will then rip off the robes revealing he is carrying not one but two Smith & Wesson revolvers which he will calmly place on the podium and make no mention of.

you got that punk?

I'm so excited and enthused for the convention tonight! :) Hopefully tonight will be as superb as last night was.

Nope.

Conventions in general suck, but one headlined by Mitt Romney sucks even more.

Might watch preseason football........

What are the odds that Romney's speech will be pre-empted by live footing of paint drying, since the latter has a better chance of captivating the audience enough to make them not change the channel?

At what time does live coverage begin?

Romney excerpts
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/08/romney-convention-speech-i-wish-president-obama-had-133881.html

So the press get the speech earlier....do Americans know the notion of being spontaneous and/or great speakers? In the rest of the world a teleprompter candidate would be the worst gaffe possible

As Governor of Massachusetts, I chose a woman Lt. Governor, a woman chief of staff, half of my cabinet and senior officials were women, and in business, I mentored and supported great women leaders who went on to run great companies.

Pandering hard, aren't we Mitt?

Fantastic...

At least Romney's pandering to women by saying things he's done, rather than Obama's pandering to women by saying things the other side would do.

And, honestly, 'pandering' is just 'campaigning' with a negative connotation.

Romney's is pandering on stuff that is irrelevant to women.

No one cares if you hired women in your businesses or put women in positions in your admin, since Obama has done that as well.

When watching Mitt's speech it is worth keeping in mind that his campaign has zeroed in on white women as the key demo to flip to his side, specifically uneducated white women and suburban married white women. They are the key to getting him to that magical number of 61% of total whites. They arleady have the white men and know they are losing single white women and educated white women.

Women like to have a paycheck just as much as men.

Well, it has just started on youtube.

Performing again "My Girl".....looking for female voters?

Dr. Cain on Fox.

Agreed.

Hence why Obama is leading among woman......

Of course you can make such an argument because the GOP has embraced many of their princples and views of Gov't in terms of the Constitution, size and scope of gov't, etc etc. The point I am making is you have to look at motivations and desired interests also, not just static ideologies and positions through time. Indeed in the 1830's, many former Jeffersonians were brought into the fold of the Whig party in opposition to Jackson, and many Jefferson-Jackson Democrats were brought into the GOP in the 1850's and 1860's. And throughout the subsequent decades in the 20th Century, millions of small gov't Democrats migrated to the GOP.

Anyway, Convention time. :)

they pray? lol wtf

Yes they pray. Will the Dems pray at theirs?

Yes convention time. And in honor of Clint Eastwood, "Go ahead, make my day."

"Blame America First crowd". Heh. Jean Kirkpatrick is smiling down from heaven.

Though I don't think this is actually a good speech.

Oh please, Eastwood is my favourite director. And I guess that the majority of republicans in that convention haven't seen Mystic River, Unforgiven or One Million Dollar Baby.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone sound as overrehearsed as the guy currently speaking.

Reagan again?

LOL It must be killing Newt to speak nice about Mitt.

This is so weird. Can we tell people to never do duet speeches ever again?

Can the GOP just replace the elephant with a photo of Reagan? Please?

reminds me of this

http://www.hulu.com/watch/1608

Not amazing. It was okay, but usually Gingrich is a much better speaker. You know, it's what he uses to gloss over his 500 other horrible vulnerabilities.

They should have put Gingrich alone.

Reagan was a horrible President even by his own proclaimed standards. Why do the Republicans love him so much? Because of his "charisma"?

You know, Latino and Hispanic aren't synonymous. But I guess there isn't a large Brazilian-American community to get annoyed...

I'll remember the hispanic video when Julian Castro gives the Dem keynote. :P

Juntos con Romney!

Good video of the coverage for Hispanics.

Great video - now Craig is doing just a fantastic job, as he always done. I believe he has a future in the Republican Party. :)

I am glad this ain't in primetime. Jesus this kid can't speak. ::)

I believe the Republican party will have more Hispanics in the future, especially future generations.  They'll appeal to their social conservative, family values.

romney jr. makes a funny tick when he talks

FRED THOMPSON! :)

I always love the Spanish-language stuff because it goes SPANISH SPANISH SPANISH SPANISH MITT ROMNEY (IN AMERICAN ACCENT) SPANISH SPANISH SPANISH.

It's better than me. Usually when I mention Romney to someone, it's RA-MU-NI MI-TEUH.

Jeb is on.

Slowly becoming less of a thing.

Boehner talks like Bane.

This guy should run for Congress so we get two Sean Duffies and push journalists and recordkeepers into depression.

Plus, he probably won't keep his job for much longer. Retaliation from the Teacher's Unions, etc. see: Jaime Escalante.

Geb Bush nailed it with the education address.

This is definitely the best speech of the night so far. Perhaps even the convention. I'm hoping Romney can top this, but I'm not sure.

School choice as a major part of the platform.... YEAH!!!!!

Jeb Bush for Secretary of Education...I can see it now.

My Man Mitch got a shoutout! Woot Woot! :)

Definately a great presentation overall, but especially Jeb Bush is doing wonderfull. They should have done this kind of thing on other key issues like Energy and Healthcare.

They already showed this video.

This video is getting me very excited.

Great job! :) They need to do a big ad buy and show this just a few days before the election.

Yes it is good, to be sure. Perhaps they planned to run it all three nights, but I only recall seeing it I think on Tuesday.

What time are we expecting Mitt to speak at? I need to know when to get the campsite-3G arrangement set up.

10:20 or so probably, which is absolutely horrible timing for me for reasons I shall not mention. :P

I'm going to take a break....but boy this has been outstanding so far

People are clapping at all the Mormon things. Even if Romney doesn't win, this is a huge step forward for Mormons everywhere.

They sure don't look or sound like a cult.  :)

Next on the list is accepting Atheists and Muslims.

One of the things that have hurt Romney on the "Humanization" front is that politics and the stupidity of bigots have dictated that he remain as quiet as possible about his faith, just speaking in general terms.

Is this a convention or a church service?

That was tremendous applause for firefighting.

Amen!!!

This is just extremely touching. Mitt Romney is many things, but being a "bad person" is not one of them. God Bless Mitt Romney.

Mrs Oparowski is an excellant teleprompter reader...9/10

Mr. Oparowski...nice try.

Mitt wrote this :)

God will only bless america if romney/ryan wins. great.

The audience is starting to tear up.

are they going to redress the stage at all for Romney?

Just marry him already

Say the words President Romney...say it again...then again....pause.....think

Nope America doesn't need Romney. Republicans don't even want him there already thinking about 2016.

Stay classy.


Another great story shared on the Romney's love and compassion. I've been very impressed by this convention.

It says a lot about the man that he has not run on touching displays of compassion such as this.... I believe that he is committed to service as a part of life. He is not my #1 choice for President and never has been- but he is a good man

I like how we have hordes of discussion. It is then thus extremely jarring when we see something that sounds like it came out a youtube comment. Yet amusing.

Probably was a Mitt's TelePrompTer on wheels which visited her.

Romney. A good and decent man. Very touching.

It is a bit too petty to be truly disgusting... but I hope those poking fun at the woman who just spoke consider what she has been thru these past few years, not to mention the decades she spent raising a special needds child.

I have learned that the cloak of party lables on here enables people to get away with the truly disgusting and most despicable behavior.

()


Romneybot downloading compassion.

Time for the true story of Bain Capital. :P

These real life experiences show Romney's heart.  He has lived a life of service to others, seeking nothing in return.

A party label. It doesn't go both ways.

Not to sound like I'm better then my fellow Democrats on here but, I'm watching SC-Vandy on  ESPN. Let the GOP have their party. Save the snark for the debates.

Aaaaand here come the lies.

And what do you think the lies are? Is this Staples man telling mistruths about his company's past?

This speech from the Staples guy isn't helping the Republican cause. At all.

This Staples speech might be the second best in the convention. Basically outlaid what all of us have been thinking. Plus, it's reminds me of Zell Miller's '92 keynote, which was excellent.

You must be mistaking this for the DNC's talking points. :P

Who is the condescending jerk who's speaking right now?

C-SPAN doesn't have a caption, and I just tuned in.

THEY JUST DON'T GET IT!

That is why they don't like it, because he is talking about them. ;)

Ah yes, what with the foreign-born, anti-colonialist, not Anglo-Saxon, Muslim, exotic worldview and whatnot.

Did this guy really say "a president who doesn't believe"?

You do know that the entire speech was about business, right? This is the perfect example of how preconceptions leading someone to an alternate reality.

WTF? Did they stop the speech?

This is rich coming from a Republican.

Yup, as soon as the Dem convention opens next week.

Was that Jan Brewer with those funky glasses in the crowd?

Remember what you thought of romney when he spoke garbage during the republican primaries and smeared republican challengers.

Maybe they'll do better than they have in appealing to the social conservatism of black voters.

Did you see the lack of context to the Obama clip, and Ryan's claim that a Jainesville factory closed under Obama when it closed under Bush?

I'm not scared of Romney himself. I'm scared of the stinking, animalistic, fascistic masses behind him.

They're awfully touchy, haha. :P

Also, someone just tweeted that Kerry Healey came out to the instrumental version of
Call Me Maybe. If so, that's quite funny.

Yes....and my candidates did the same to him, he prevailed, and he is our nominee- your point?

PBS just announced Romney raised over 100 million again this month. Not sure how much.

>Think Obama is a poor president. Believe in math. Naturally become a fascist to the Dems.

Oh Dems. Never change. Or else we'll start consistently losing elections again.

He didn't say it closed under Obama, he said Obama promised that wouldn't if he was elected and failed to deliver.

The "They Just Don't Get It!" guy reminds me of Mike Reed who spoke at the 2006 Republican Convention in The West Wing. His cheesy line was "Eight Is Enough!", and he also made fun of President Bartler's MS. Really pissed off Josh Lyman IIRC.

I'm a bit disappointed in you, Snowstalker....you always struck me as some one who could disagree without being disagreeable

Again....rich coming from a Republican.

Uh, if you're not familiar with it, "He just doesn't get it" was actually a chant from the Democratic National Convention in 1992. Keynote Speaker Zell Miller (D-GA) used it to excoriate George H.W. Bush. I think it worked.

Yeah, that was hyperbole. I apologize.

Romney has just arrived at the Arena according to the masses of twitter.

P.S. Is it me or is Jane Edmonds constantly awkwardly giggling?

A liberal Democrat who was in Romney's cabinet is now singing praises of Mitt. It seems that just about everyone who has worked close with Mitt Romney has high praises of him. I'm assuming she's endorsed him, but I guess we'll see.

For people watching youtube, it's better the live stream of fox news.

http://www.foxnews.com/

Well, looks like I have to watch his speech live - and it's 3.30 AM here ... :P

If I remember correctly, they tried for acceptance before but got snake-bit.

Sell out

No principles. You have to scape the barrel of loyalty to the party to support this phony.

Platitude central he says what he thinks you want to hear.

I'm using C-Span. Not a fan of Fox.

Anyways, I feel so bad for this woman. She's going to be crucified by the left for respecting people from across the aisle. Looks like someone is never going to get an invitation to future Democrat galas.

I never figured I'd be excited for Mitt's acceptance speech.... here I am, ready to see the next President of the United States!

Newt Gingrich is no longer running for President...you propose I vote for him via write-in come November?

Glad to see you so excited. :) It's a great time to be a Republican! This will be a great fall campaign and election for our party and for America.

You don't vote for the guy that trashed him.

:P

Hey, I was delighted for Romney going after Perry and Gingrich hard. Neither of those two should ever be President of the United States.

I'm really not even sure if I could have actually voted for any of the other Republicans had they won their primary. Maybe Santorum. MAAAAAAAAAAAAYBE.

lol you selfish son of a bitch.

put your country ahead of youself for once.

I propose that you launch a write-in campaign for him. ;)

Well see at least a slight bounce from this.

Romney comes off as a nice guy, and modest.

Ryan is the boy next door.  

Obama is, at best, your sociology professor.

Biden is you crazy step uncle.

I'm getting excited for the acceptance speech now, Romney better deliver!

Also, this Olympic excerpt is rather random isn't it?

Mitt Romney is a complete fraud.

Believing any word from mitt romney is like believing the world is flat.

Man, the captain of the Miracle on Ice team. Don't get bigger Olympic star-power than that.

Oh, this isn't about me. :) I don't need you, someone who know little of me, questioning my unwavering patriotism for my country. I'm excited and amped because I believe with a Republican victory this fall, policies will be implemented that'll better our country. You may disagree with that, but it's hardly a reason to label me unpatriotic.

Can you just imagine the Romney and Republican ads coming up with the resources they have to spend?

Yeah, this convention's getting kinda odd. :P

Time to watch something interesting.

let the gop listen to platitudes. night night

This may sound superficial... I am glad to see Mitt wearing a red tie for once. The man looks like a President!

If Clint Eastwood were twenty years younger, they'd now be a lot of hype about him as a future presidential contender.

"I am a 5'4 Mexican-American from Southern California."

Strong applause. I wonder which part got the most applause. I suspect 5'4. >_>

Is anybody except political junkies actually watching this garbage?

Diane Sawyer had a hart hitting interview with Paul Ryan, asking him what his mom said to him last night and then talked about family photos. Journalism!

Hey, at least it was probably better than Obama's interview with Entertainment Tonight.

lol, journalism.

The Olympic section is seriously being dragged out.

It looks like the RNC has banned small vendors from the convention site:

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/08/30/kcbs-exclusive-small-vendors-barred-from-republican-national-convention-by-romney-campaign/


I thought they liked small businesses.  :(

We should do away with the traditional red ties, a black tie is better in a black suit.

False equivalence at it's best.

One is ABC news, while the other is Entertainment Tonight.

Seriously, are you really this much of a hack?

Maybe they didn't want to have more foot traffic around the area? They should of let them sell stuff nearby.

Have I missed it? Wasn't there supposed to be some "huge" thing from Trump?

Didn't this used to be called racketeering?

Thank God no.

Apparently the Trump "surprise" was part of what was lost on Monday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/donald-trump-rnc-surprise_n_1833142.html

I think it was a video with Trump "firing" an Obama impersonator. Which would have been laughably lame, so they dodged a bullet with that one.

()

Hah.  Mitt's always had that awkward giggle.

I can never get over the 5 sons thing. I think my dad put it best -

"Whoa. Romney has 5 sons? He is a very successful man."

"Success? What about Bain and making millions of dollars."

"Oh. Yeah. That thing. Uh, sure I guess that too."

And here comes Clint.

Awesome intro for Clint Eastwood!

haha "even Oprah was crying" Clint Eastwood made the best joke!

What a photo... I was not a fan of his father but having never met my own father, I can only imagine the emotion of this moment-knowing his father is watching him now

()

I love Clint Eastwood, but this speech is bad and kinda sad.

Clint is having an awful speech marked by these occasional great lines. It's alright, but I hope Romney will be better. He's clearly not using a Teleprompter -- he's memorized his lines.

Poor Clint. Who's idea was this again?

Wait a minute, did Clint say that Romney is for an immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan?