Les Jones

I listened to it over a radio at a fire station, The audience , being fireman, had quite a different impression.

I think Ron Silver was far more moving, but I dont think the men I watched it with tonight would feel the same way. Rudy reminded us all of what it means to be a citizen of democracy and not a subject of a government.

I will always remember where I was tonight and I will always remember what he said.

Interesting that you and the firemen heard it on the radio and liked it. That could have been a whole other experience. Like I said, someone reading the transcript may have extracted something different. I can't comment on someone else's subjective impressions. But watching it on TV, I thought it was very weak, particularly after McCain's rouser.

McCain's speech was measured and was frequently interrupted by applause. I wonder if Giuliani's more rapid-fire approach worked better on the radio?

This is just good evidence why you line up a variety of speakers. The message may vary little, but each person brings their own style to the podium. I think it was Bill Kristol last night who said it was the strongest speech he'd ever heard at a convention - and then other panelists thought it as lackluster as our Les did.

McCain's speech was more in the line of a statesman. Giuliani's speech had his extroverted New Yorker imprimatur stamped on it with steel. A major focus was towards the significant minority of conservative Democrats, liberal Republicans and independents who form the swing vote. And the swing vote, estimated at only about 7% of voters, is critical in this election in the North East.

With tight margins in national elections every last vote you can squeeze out counts. A speech like Giuliani's is designed to inform a New York City construction worker and teamster that George Bush represents his interests better than the AFL/CIO.

Dangit - typically I forgot the whole reason I was commenting.

I wanted to give the example of Lincoln's Gettysburg address. At the time it was given the newspapers panned it saying it was really boring, aweful etc. They praised the speech of the "other guy" whose name we don't remember. I'm even too lazy to Google the "other guy"'s name.

Nobody gave a Gettysburg address last night. My view is that given 1 speaker and an audience of 2, 3 speeches will be heard.

I have to say that it was much more compelling over the radio than it was on TV. Ron Silver was by far the best speech of the evening. Short,direct and to the point. I was never more proud to see a liberal at a Republican convention. He was the walking example of the Lileks Doctrine of "We can debate the parameters of western civilization after we are sure it will survive" When will we see a conservative at the Democratic Convention? Where is the Democrats who once said "This country shall pay any price bear any burden in defense of liberty".

I did find the TV coverage more than annoying. MSNBC has decided that Ron Reagan is a commentator, I just want scream. At one point the panel was Dee Dee Myers, Joe Trippi, Ron Reagan and Ron Silver.

Bias? nahhhhhhhh.

I did get a kick out of Dee Dee talking about how the Republicans were "making her feel unpatriotic". Did the Republicans do that Dee Dee? , or a lifetime toking on the cheap dope that is liberalism. At one other point when the pundits were poo-pooing the idea that this was going to sell to middle America , Mike Barnicle chimed in to tell the panel that he was with a group at a queens restaurant and he said " dont kid yourselves, this was electric, I think your missing the story here"

Note to reporters - Get out of the office more often, you'll be surprised what you find out.