Multiple Choice
Peter Robinson ·
August 31, 2012 at 5:32am
Shall we share our overall impressions? To get us started:
In his acceptance speech tonight, Mitt
a) Did what he needed to do. Adequate, which isn't nothing.
b) Did what he needed to do, and did it well. More than adequate.
c) Did what he needed to do, and did so skillfully and movingly. A great speech--surprisingly, wonderfully great.
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Comments:
May '11
Re: Multiple Choice
I would say B.
I thought the saber rattling at the end was oddly out of place and not really necessary.
Jun '12
Re: Multiple Choice
part b, part c, surprisingly :-)
Dec '10
Re: Multiple Choice
A. I've been a tough sell for him the whole way. He didn't move me, but he assured me that my vote for him is a step up from my vote for McCain. My prayer tonight is that he listens to Ryan and Rubio. Mitt is a "what" guy. Those two are "why" guys.
Re: Multiple Choice
"What" vs. "why." Nicely put.
Jun '10
Re: Multiple Choice
Some b), but more c). And, in contrast to Mr. Bilbo, I liked the end (we needed some passion, and I learned that he can do "passion" pretty darn well). Best speech I've heard him give. It was mostly a vision speech, but the five policy points made it clear that he's serious and knows what needs to be done: we need real policies, not the "hopey-changey" bilge.
We have a ticket that can win, and I believe will win.
Edited on August 31, 2012 at 5:45amJun '12
Re: Multiple Choice
b
But it was a little difficult to focus on Rubio and Romney after the fog Clint Eastwood left behind. Clint was bizarre but made some effective jokes few times. He probably shouldn't have been allowed to speak at that time, though it was kind of fun.
Even with the air cleared out, Romney was b. That's good.
Dec '11
Re: Multiple Choice
d) Did what he needed to do, and did so skillfully and movingly. A great speech-- not surprisingly...
Oct '10
Re: Multiple Choice
Agree with TR above. Never thought I'd like Mitt Romney, merely vote for him.
I'm picking up my yard sign in the morning.
Aug '12
Re: Multiple Choice
My overall impression — I came away thinking for the first time I BELIEVE THIS MAN. After watching the entire line-up so far, ending with Romney, I would bet all I had that Romney is deeply authentic (and good), has the critical skills to create jobs and cut waste and attack the deficit, and I have hope—and I normally tend heavily toward pessimism. So I guess I would pick (c).
Jun '10
Re: Multiple Choice
B
Mr. Romney did well but did not soar. For those of us who prefer responsible adult expectations, that was good. I don't know about those who expect the perfect candidate, barring the perfect man, they'll take on the soaring speaker.
Nov '10
Re: Multiple Choice
I'd say B. For me the high point was when he took a shot at the "oceans receding" nonsense and simply said that he promises to do a god job.
And that, bolstered by Eastwood, Ryan, and a few other moments, was the theme I took away from the convention as a whole. The GOP wants us to think of the President as our employee, and to tell Barack Obama, "You're fired."
Edited on August 31, 2012 at 5:58amRe: Multiple Choice
tabula rasa:
We have a ticket that can win, and I believe will win. · 7 minutes ago
Edited 6 minutes ago
Me too.
Aug '12
Re: Multiple Choice
Showed us that to vote for an alternative to Obama means more than a vote against the last four years. It is a vote to shore up the next forty.
Jul '10
Re: Multiple Choice
I dunno. I keep hearing Romney sounding like an older father. It's the young turks that are impressive.
I'm not sure Romney has the ability to stand up and fire up a group/nation. His performances in Massachusetts simply shows that he is flexible enough to get a job done. But he isn't necessarily convinced. Or perhaps the right term is engaged. It's as if there is something else that captures his soul.
But I'm more comfortable voting FOR him as opposed to several months ago, when I would have voted AGAINST Obama.
Aug '12
Re: Multiple Choice
Since most people will only see the soundbites, I think he did great. I just watched the local news and all of his soundbite lines were shown and it came off very well.
I thought the speech was good enough. In a way he suffered from all the great speeches that came last night and tonight. He had a bigger job than those speakers, though. He had a lot of ground to cover – give his biography, explain why he was running, explain why he deserved to be president, explain why Obama shouldn't be president, give a glimpse about what he'd do and how he'd govern, and inspire people that he can pull it off.
It's a tall order for a speech, and really most nominee speeches are pretty lackluster, even Obama's last election. So I think he was more than adequate.
May '10
Re: Multiple Choice
It's great to see the ambivalent and undecideds among us coming around. May it portend the landslide Prof. Rahe predicts!
(Personally, I would give the speech less than a B.)
Edited on August 31, 2012 at 6:06amApr '12
Re: Multiple Choice
Both Ryan's and Romney's speeches were nice combinations of red meat and appeals to people regretting their vote for Obama. The testimonial from the neighbor with the disabled child was incredibly moving.
Feb '11
Re: Multiple Choice
(c) - could not have been better - I've been a Romney skeptic but his selection of Ryan and this wonderful speech tonight have me very optimistic about him now.
Apr '11
Re: Multiple Choice
He exceeded my expectations. By some distance. But it's not just about the flagship but the armada. My overall sense from RNC2012, with Ryan, Rubio, Martinez, Rice and others giving excellent speeches was that the whole exercise ought to be a solid net positive for the ticket. If it's not, then Americans simply have their heads in the sand and deserve another four years of Obama slough and despond. Speaking of, I suppose next week we'll get to hear him talk about spending money we don't have on plans that don't work that Americans don't want.
Nov '10
Re: Multiple Choice
Ricochet is causing me grief...I just posted:
D. I really felt inspired by Rubio and Romney's speeches. I felt a call to work harder, to be a better father, a better husband, a better american. I was very, very surprised by Romney's performance. I'm no speechwriter for great presidents, so I'm not qualified to judge the speech on it's technical merits. But as an American, nervous about the economy, about the election, about my own personal finances and my kids future, I was inspired.