(National Review/The Corner) Clint is a brilliant actor,
and a superb director of other actors (and I don’t just mean a
quarter-century ago: In the last five years, he’s made eight films).
He’s also, as Mr Gavin observed, a terrific jazz improviser at the piano
— and, in film and music documentaries, an extremely articulate
interviewee. So I wouldn’t assume that the general tenor of his
performance wasn’t exactly as he intended. The hair was a clue: No
Hollywood icon goes out on stage like that unless he means to.
The intended recipient was not Mitt Romney, the convention
delegates, or even Republican voters, but rather wavering independents.
Clint was there to tell them it’s OK to find Obama, his ugly campaign
operation, and his increasingly shrill band of die-hard defenders
ridiculous. It’s OK to laugh at them.
I’m not sure he could have pulled that off if he’d delivered a slick
telepromptered pitch. As Mr. Hayward suggests, the hard lines packed
more of a punch for being delivered in the midst of a Bob Newhart
empty-chair shtick from the Dean Martin show circa 1968. Indeed, they
were some of the hardest lines of the convention and may well prove the
take-home (“We own this country . . . Politicians are employees of ours .
. . And when somebody does not do the job, we’ve got to let them go”),
but they seemed more effective for appearing to emerge extemporaneously
from the general shambles.
The curse of political operatives is that they make everything the
same. A guy smoothly reading platitudinous codswallop while rotating his
head from the left-hand teleprompter to the right-hand teleprompter
like clockwork as if he’s at Centre Court watching the world’s slowest
Wimbledon rally is a very reductive idea of “professionalism.” Even
politicians you’re well disposed to come across as slick bores in that
format. Which is by way of saying Clint is too sharp and too crafty not
to have known what he was doing...
Hollywood may be bashing Clint
Eastwood's performance at the GOP convention, but Rush Limbaugh said
Friday the reason is that he touched a nerve with leftist celebrities —
and with the president himself.
Pointing to the photo the Obama
camp tweeted after midnight showing the back of the president's head
above the office chair in the Oval Office, Mr. Limbaugh said that proves
the White House was worried. And he wondered whether it was Mr. Obama
himself.
"It must have gotten to him because he tweeted at 12:30," Mr. Limbaugh said Friday on his radio program.
He
also said the reason Hollywood types have panned the speech is because
they couldn't find anything to shoot at in Mitt Romney's acceptance
address, so they fired at whatever target they could find.
In his
appearance just before Mr. Romney's formal acceptance speech Thursday
night in Tampa, Mr. Eastwood held a mock conversation with the
president, represented by an empty chair.
Link:
(Catholic News Herald) CHARLOTTE — Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, the head of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has accepted an invitation to
deliver the closing prayer at next week's Democratic National
Convention, according to a statement from Archdiocese of New York
spokesman Joseph Zwilling.
He will give the concluding benediction prayer on Thursday, the final night of the GOP convention, where Mitt Romney is slated to accept the presidential nomination for his party.
It was made clear to the Democratic National Convention organizers,
as it was to the Republicans, that the cardinal was coming solely as a
pastor, only to pray, not to endorse any party, platform, or candidate.
The cardinal consulted Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of
Charlotte, who gave the cardinal his consent to take part in the
convention within his diocese. It is customary among brother bishops to
extend this courtesy...
The controversial super PAC Special Operations for America, led by
former Navy SEALs, is set to release a blistering new ad against
President Obama Tuesday at the Republican National Convention.
(Breitbart) The ad, titled “Bow to Nobody,” depicts Navy SEALs in combat
situations; it then proclaims that they fight so that America will not
have to bow to anybody.
Then the punch line: the infamous photo of Obama bowing to the Saudi king.
The ad is sure to provoke massive consternation on the left, which
has been in a frenzy ever since Special Operations for America launched.
The event at which the ad launches, “Defending Our Defenders: A Salute
to the United States Military,” will feature a tribute by Congressman
Louie Gohmert, former members of SEAL Team Six, Army Rangers, Gold Star
parents, and a few surprise guests.
Ryan Zinke, the former Navy SEAL who started the super PAC, spoke
exclusively with Breitbart News today. “The ad itself accurately
portrays where this President is,” said Zinke. “It accurately portrays
his core belief that America should not lead. This president is shaping
America to be one of the followers, to relinquish our role as a world
leader. I didn’t fight 23 years as a Navy SEAL to watch America bow to
anybody.”
He continued, “It’s not just the king of Saudi Arabia. My friends
from WWII that fought in the Pacific theater -- when they see the
president bow to the emperor of Japan, I’ve seen veterans cry. This is
about the fundamental belief in American exceptionalism, the notion that
America should reign supreme. We are a country of values, and we fought
hard to be exceptional, and we are.”
When asked whether it was inappropriate for former SEALs to speak
out, as some on the left have alleged, Zinke answered, “If the veterans
can’t speak out, who can? I think it’s a duty of every veteran and every
citizen to be actively involved in our political process, especially
when the president sets out to negotiate away our rights under the
Constitution. There have been other veterans -- TR, Eisenhower, JFK --
they’ve been active in speaking out and shaping the policy and politics
of our country. I’m going to stand for what I believe in, and I’m
encouraging every veteran and every citizen to do the same. Our country
is at a crossroads, and this election is certainly the most important in
my lifetime.”
Last week, Breitbart News reported
that President Obama had placed Special Operations for America on his
so-called “enemies list.” Zinke responded, “I see that my name is on the
‘enemies list’ in the Obama campaign. This administration rules through
intimidation and fear and misinformation as a form of distraction to
what’s really important. And what’s really important is the values of
our country -- and a strong economy creates a strong military.
“I’ve been trained hard to fight and not give up, and I’m not going to give in.”
The fight truly begins tomorrow evening. Get ready for fireworks.
WASHINGTON — President Obama turned down a chance to have Timothy
Cardinal Dolan deliver a prayer at the Democratic National Convention
after Dolan told Democrats he would be “grateful” to deliver a blessing
in Charlotte.
Dolan — considered the top Catholic official in the
nation, as head of the Archdiocese of New York and president of the
Conference of Catholic Bishops — tipped off Democrats a few weeks ago
that he had agreed to deliver the prime-time benediction at the
Republican convention in Tampa next week, Dolan’s spokesman Joseph
Zwilling told The Post.
“He wanted to make sure that they knew that this was not a partisan
act on his part and that he would be just as happy and grateful to
accept an invitation from the Democrats as he would to have received one
from the Republicans,” said Zwilling.
“He has not been contacted by them” since, he added.
A
senior Obama campaign official said yesterday that the Democrats would
have a “high-ranking” Catholic at the convention, but indicated the
arrangements weren’t yet final.
“I can’t announce it because the person hasn’t got their plane ticket,” said the official.
Obama
campaign spokesman Adam Fetcher would say only, “The Catholic clergy
will be an important part of a diverse community of interfaith leaders
represented in Charlotte.”
Obama and Dolan have clashed publicly over a health-care law requiring employers to provide abortion coverage.
Dolan and other groups filed suit against the rule, claiming it forces church-related groups to act against their conscience.
Still, Dolan invited both Obama and Mitt Romney to his annual Alfred E. Smith dinner in New York City in October.
“The
Republicans are smart enough to get the ‘pope of America,’ and the
Democrats are stupid enough not to invite him,” said Bill Donohue, of
the Catholic League, who said he spoke with Dolan yesterday.
“The
Catholic vote is the most critical vote. They’re the wild card,” Donohue
told The Post. “So, why wouldn’t you ingratiate yourself to the pope of
America and send a wink and a nod to Catholics? That’s just good
politics.”
Former Mayor Ed Koch, an Obama supporter who said he likes Dolan, said, “The Republicans are very smart to ask him.”
Romney,
a Mormon, is playing for Catholic votes in other ways, even including
an image of the late Pope John Paul II in a campaign ad and making
references on the stump to running mate Paul Ryan’s Catholic faith.
“That
kind of narrow play isn’t gonna get them very far,” said another senior
Democratic campaign official. Obama, who split the Catholic vote with
John McCain in 2008, will need to limit defections to hold on to states
like Wisconsin, where the polls are tightening.
Although Dolan
pledges that his prayers won’t be “partisan,” he is praying that
Hurricane Isaac — now steaming through the Caribbean — won’t spoil the
festivities in Tampa. “I’m sure yes that he would keep that in mind as
part of his regular daily prayers,” said Zwilling.
Today she is the most talked-about woman in the world. And with good reason.
Sarah Palin's sensational performance at the Republican Party Convention may turn out to be the tipping point of this rollercoaster American election.
Obama fans hoping she would fluff her big night were in for a nasty shock.
This speech has turned the election upside down. It was simply stunning.
Democrats and their Lefty media backers had been sneering that she was a small town nobody, a hick from the Alaskan sticks put into a job way beyond an inexperienced woman.
Believe me, you will not be hearing that again.
Palin turned out to be an electrifying mix of intelligence, passion, energy, optimism and plain speaking.
Full of self-assurance and aggression, she popped Barack's balloon big-time.
From the moment she walked on stage in this cavernous bear pit, bandbox smart in cream jacket, trim black skirt and black heels, she proved that John McCain knew exactly what he was doing when he picked her as running mate.
Hair piled into a slight beehive – more Sarah White House than Amy Winehouse – she blinked and smiled behind her geeky spectacles as the vast crowd went ballistic.
For an unpopular party divided over Iraq and struggling to compete with Obama's Messianic glamour, the choice of Palin looks absolutely inspired.
Main Street America will have loved her performance.
And it was seen by 30million voters – the greatest number ever to watch a candidate for the much-derided VP post.
She is popular with voters for the very reason America's snooty political establishment despises her: She isn't one of the Washington gang.
She's a moose-hunting mum of five with a sledge-load of problems behind her own front door that workaday Americans can relate to.
A child with special needs. A daughter of 17 pregnant. A constant juggle between family and career.
As she said, her family has had its ups and downs like any other.
Last night her first task was to introduce herself and her family to an American public incredulous that the unknown Alaska governor could within weeks be a heartbeat away from being their commander in chief.
Compared to the journeyman career politicians dominating both parties here she seemed fresh, natural, one of us and not one of them.
She spoke to America as one mum to another. She cracked good jokes.
What's the difference between a hockey mum and a pit bull?, she asked.
Answer: One wears lipstick.
What will have scared the enemy camp most is the devastating series of prime-time punches she landed on the jutting Obama jaw.
Showing steel beneath her magnolia jacket, she slaughtered his lack of experience, his vanity, his emptiness beneath the windy waffle.
It was the most powerful demolition of the Democrat hero I have heard in two weeks on the US election trail.
The St Paul audience adored her.
When she duffed up the Lefty media commentators for their sexist sneers, the vast crowd roared approval and pointed in anger at the titans of the American press aloof in their special enclosure.
And quite right too: who ever asked whether Obama could still be a good dad if he became president?
The irony, as Palin pointed out, is that liberal media sniping has only succeeded in uniting Republicans behind her.
The wagons have been drawn up and the Republicans are ready for battle.
The McCain-Palin ticket now looks in exciting shape.
A war hero and a heroic mum. Experience and optimism. A man and a woman.
And when McCain joined the Palin gang – babies and boyfriends and all – on stage after her speech there was a sense of cheeky fun absent from last week's solemn Obama coronation.
How the Democrats must be regretting Hillary isn't running with Obama. Barack's sidekick Joe Biden looks a dull old dog compared with the ball of fire that is Palin.
But most fascinating of all, consider this: If Obama loses, Hillary Clinton will run in 2012. Opposing her is sure to be Sarah Palin.
That would guarantee America its first woman president.
And my fistful of dollars, having seen both in action here, would be on Palin.
Is there still an enthusiasm gap? September 4, 2008 1:05 a.m.
St. Paul
Twenty years after Ronald Reagan left office, Republicans who have long missed him may have found a future Margaret Thatcher. If John McCain wins, conservatives may find one of the most enduring accomplishments of his term will have been what he did before it started: helping to fill the Republican Party's future talent bench with such a fresh and compelling figure.
Sarah Palin is a conviction politician, a naturally compelling speaker and someone who can relate to her audience on very human terms. America has just learned why Mrs. Palin enjoys the highest approval ratings of any governor in America.
Liberal commentators glumly noted the thunderous applause in the convention hall last night. But they could do precious little to attack. Even Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's official attack dog, could muster only this as commentary on Mrs. Palin's performance: "People who like this sort of thing will find this ... the sort of thing they like."
Mrs. Palin accomplished several things last night. First, she introduced herself and her story to the American people in a compelling and warm manner, complete with effective pictures of her proud family. Secondly, she praised John McCain's leadership, service to country and independence in a way that made him come alive. Thirdly, she effectively deflected the media and liberal criticism of her by saying they really represented an attack on the small-town and suburban values she grew up with. Lastly, she skewered Barack Obama with gusto but without meanness. Her line about her job as a small-town mayor being "sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities" brought the hall to its feet in a frenzy.
Some hard-bitten political observers I know were uncharacteristically impressed with the Palin speech. Hal Stratton, a former Attorney General of New Mexico, wrote to me as follows: "That's what we out west call openin' a whole can of whip a— on your opponents."
Other observers were more restrained, but still impressed. "She passed her first major test, and if the reaction of the crowd in the hall is any indication, with flying colors," says Peter Brown, the deputy director of the Quinnipiac Poll. "So much for the comparisons with Dan Quayle, who couldn't have given that speech if his life depended on it. Obviously, Sarah Palin probably went down better in Warren, Michigan than she did in Washington, D.C. -- but that was the whole point of her speech and her candidacy." Indeed, while Mrs. Palin certainly won't swing any deeply blue states in John McCain's direction, she may have an impact in swaying independent voters as well as boosting GOP turnout in swing states such as Colorado, Nevada and Michigan.
One of the standard operating theories this Election Year is that Barack Obama and the Democrats are much more energized, excited and willing to work hard for victory in November.
After Sarah Palin's remarkably effective speech, I don't think any pundits or politicians will be able to count on a decisive Democratic enthusiasm edge. Sarah Palin electrified the hall, and from what I can tell from my e-mail inbox that excitement is being replicated in living rooms across the country.
See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, onOpinion Journal.
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The Speech What Palin wrought. by William Kristol 09/04/2008 2:00:00 AM
NOW WE SEE why the liberal establishment has been trying for the last few days to destroy Sarah Palin. She is a threat to their hopes to take the White House this year, a threat to their broader claims to speak for youth, for women, and for the future, and a threat to their attempt to control the high ground in the culture war. After her stunning success last night, some in the liberal media may retire from the ring for a while. Others, with the threat now even more evident, may redouble their assaults and become even more desperate and vicious. Surely they'll fail.
A star was born last night--but I won't belabor that fact, especially since it was the title of my New York Times column Monday. Nor will I analyze the whole speech, which I'm sure will be ably done by others. I'll just make three points.
1. I've heard one or two Palin skeptics acknowledge that it was a good speech, but then say--well, another nominee could have given a similarly good speech. Actually, no. The speech was so effective because it was given by someone who is, at once: a relative unknown, an executive not a legislator, a real reformer, a middle American who made it on her own, an outsider who was greeted with hostility by the D.C. establishment--and, yes, a woman. Obviously, another nominee could have given a good if different speech. But what made last night's speech special--what may have made last night an inflection point in this campaign, and even in American politics beyond Nov. 4--depended on the peculiar combination of qualities Sarah Palin brought to the table. Her speech was as far as a speech could be from being a generic one. Only Sarah Palin could have given it. The fact that she had the help of an excellent speechwriter, Matthew Scully, doesn't change the fact that this was in a precise way, and I'd almost say a profound way, Sarah Palin's speech.
3. Don't underestimate the power of this statement: "To the families of special needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House." The McCain campaign should flesh this out in policy terms, should not get worried by the inevitable attacks on McCain for voting (as he must have) for some budget resolution or other that would have cut (or not increased as much as some wanted) some special-needs programs, and just keep on emphasizing that Palin will take the lead on these issues, and McCain will see to it she gets the support, budgetary and otherwise, she needs. This would be real compassionate conservatism, and would be good both for conservatism and for the country.
How's Palin Playing in Alaska? Well, Funny You Should Ask ...
Andrew Romano
ANCHORAGE, Alaska--Here at the Peanut Farm restaurant in Anchorage they are eating up Sarah Palin's words with more gusto than the huge steaks they sling.
When they cut away to a shot of little Piper, Palin's 6-year-old, stroking the head of her napping baby brother Trig, people here laughed so hard, the guy at the bar next to me wheezed in his burrito and started crying. That's when Palin was talking about the political power of PTA presidents.
The crowd here at the bar, including her sister Heather, who is in the custody of a CNN crew, are riveted. When she makes a crack about the only difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom being lipstick (same joke she told me a year ago) some women at the bar nodded in agreement. "It's the truth!" another howled.
Having spent much time covering Palin over the past year, she seemed like the longest of long shots. Tonight, though, she's all pitch-perfect timing and delivery. A populist star is born.
UPDATE, 11:13 p.m.: The Peanut Farm has erupted with shouts of "Sarah, Sarah, Sarah!!!" as Palin raises her arms in triumph and her family fills the stage. They're gonna be talking about this one for a long time here. The rapture over Palin, with McCain standing awkwardly by, reminds me of the first time Prince Charles took Lady Di for a walkabout.
UPDATE, 11:16 p.m.: Here at the Peanut Farm my fellow diners are putting their hands over their hearts and singing along with the National Anthem.
A couple of hours before Sarah Palin rocked the house in St. Paul last night, I caught a few minutes of Bill O'Reilly's interview with Sally Quinn, who is front and center among the female media elites chastising Sarah Palin for her supposed inability to manage the demands of the Vice Presidency with the role of nurturer in chief among her own brood.
We women are not known for our capacity to mind our own business.
As soon as I saw Sarah Palin take to the podium, though, Quinn and her minions' disdain for the tough-as-nails-smooth-as-satin Alaskan governor became crystal clear.
They cannot stand her because she easily makes 4 or 5 of them. Palin is able to accomplish, with one arm seemingly tied behind her back, more real work with less complaint than nearly all the working liberal women in America. From liberal women, one hears nothing but complaint and woe-is-me tales of how unbearably hard their lives as women have been.
Sarah Palin doesn't wallow; she doesn't entertain pity for her lot.
She loves being a woman. She loves being a mother. She loves her husband. She loves America. And she certainly does not shy from hard work on the people's behalf.
On those down-to-earth, solid-gold issues Sarah Palin made her speech last night to an all-American embrace that will not be soon forgotten.
Palin rules; Libs drool.
When Barack Obama's campaign unleashed their first stab at Palin's candidacy last Friday, by condescendingly mocking her experience as mayor of a town of 9,000, they opened the door to this Palin zinger:
"I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."
This line was delivered by Sarah Palin with such amazing aplomb that I wondered how many would be brave enough to point out how far this woman has surpassed the hyped-up charisma of Barack Obama. Not only does she best him on the experience issue, but she easily outflanks him on stage appeal. Not bad for one night's work.
Palin rules; Libs drool.
On what is shaping up to be one of the most important issues of this presidential campaign, Governor Palin, artfully reminded Americans that she has presided over the government of one of our Nation's most important energy suppliers -- Alaska. And she addressed the drilling issue head on with an intro that should have shamed Nancy Pelosi into hiding under a desk somewhere. Governor Palin reminded Americans that "our opponents say again and again that drilling won't solve all of our energy problems - as if we didn't know that already."
No-nonsense Palin then proceeded to lay it out for the voters plain and simple, reminding us all that we must begin somewhere soon or saddle our children with an even worse energy situation:
"...the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines...build more nuclear plants...create jobs with clean coal...and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources. We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers."
With impeccable timing and grace, Sarah Palin wowed Americans from coast to coast, injecting a sense of humor and small-town authenticity that even caused somewhat reserved Republicans to herald her with hearty applause and raucous cheers of "U.S.A! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!"
Palin rules all right, and if Libs aren't drooling, it might be because they haven't even figured out yet what has hit them.
As the mother of a son, who is profoundly deaf, I was brought to grateful tears myself when Governor Palin took a moment to mention our special-needs population. Acknowledging the difficulties that special-needs kids and their families face in "making America a more welcome place," Mrs. Palin promised that when she becomes Vice President, all of us "special" families will have "a friend and advocate in the White House." My own heart did swell at that and nearly burst, simply for that moment of recognition, as I have learned from our son that citizens with extra challenges show us all facets of the human spirit that we would otherwise never see.
Democrats may talk a good game when it comes to love; Sarah Palin lives a life of love.
Big difference. Talk is cheap; real love ain't.
For 40 minutes, Sarah Palin delivered one perfectly-timed zinger after another, especially at Barack Obama. The crowd seemed to be wrapped around her little finger every minute.
Pow. Pow. Pow. Without so much as breaking a nail.
My favorite lines of the speech, however, had to do with Senator Obama's two faces, the one he shows you when he's with you vs. the one he shows when he's not. Capitalizing once again on her humble, small-town upbringing, Mrs. Palin wowed the crowd thusly:
"...in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening."
"We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco."
We may rest assured of this, my conservative friends. Wherever Barack Obama was listening to Sarah Palin, he got this message loud and clear. That joke going around in Alaska about the difference between a hockey mom and a pit-bull being only in the lipstick, certainly rang true last night in Minnesota. And Barack Obama has now felt her teeth. He knows the lady bites.
She smiles while she's doing it, wearing a pencil skirt and heels.
And I'm thinking that by the time November rolls around, citified Barack may want to invest in Johnson's Band-Aid stock.
Kyle-Anne Shiver is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. She is blogging daily at kyleanneshiver.com
Twenty years after Ronald Reagan left office, Republicans who have long missed him may have found a future Margaret Thatcher. If John McCain wins, conservatives may find one of the most enduring accomplishments of his term will have been what he did before it started: helping to fill the Republican Party's future talent bench with such a fresh and compelling figure.