I should state up front that I’m not easily influenced by speechifying. I never got what people thought was so great about Bill Clinton’s speeches–I had trouble stomaching them myself, because they always seemed so fake and disingenuous. And I never understood why Reagan was called “the Great Communicator.” Most of his speeches left me pretty cold as well. I mean, I was fine with the content, but I just never got the all the adulation.
Same thing with Governor Palin. She gave a good speech, had a lot of nice swipes at The One, and I liked most of what she said, as far as it goes. It’s probably too much to expect a lot of policy, given that she’d just come through several days of one of the most vicious media assaults in history, and had to just get the audience to know her. Her voice doesn’t seem as strong as I’d like, but I think that for most people, it must increase her likability factor. It’s also impressive that she managed to give it with teleprompter problems, with no obvious flubs. She either had good notes as a backup, or she really knew that speech. Had Obama been in a similar situation it could have been disastrous (which makes one think of the potential for a very dirty campaign trick if one could breach the security and get control of his prompter during a big speech).
I think that she’s going to be a very good debater, and show people that she’s much more knowledgable than the stereotype so far.
It’s also impressive that she managed to give it with teleprompter problems, with no obvious flubs.
Her teleprompter broke during the speech? Damn, that woman can survive a crisis! Was it also on the blink during rehearsals?
Well, it’s a great story from “sources close to the McCain campaign” that the teleprompter broke. It would be even better if it were true.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/The_teleprompter_did_not_break.html
I didn’t say the teleprompter broke, you illiterate.
Well, maybe The Speech wasn’t that great after all:
Michigan Independents Cold to Alaska Governor
September 04, 2008 9:42 AM
The Detroit Free Press invited a panel of Michigan voters to weigh in on Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech last night. Their reactions run the gamut, but the independents didn’t seem to care for her very much.
Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent: “Her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. � I am not convinced that Palin’s experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.�
Mike Kosh, 38, West Bloomfield independent: �The way it looks to me, she’s the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: Because Hillary wasn’t selected.�
George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent: �I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.�
Diane Murphy, 42, Sterling Heights independent: �It appears that once she makes up her mind, that is the end of it. We live in a gray world, not every answer is black and white.�
Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent: �Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarks and distortions to be a major turnoff. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.
Sounds bad Simberg. Real bad. My question is why didn’t Jan Wheelock refer to her as a dog? I mean she was wearing a skirt.
As I wrote earlier, I just read the transcript. I’ve heard a few cuts of the speech on the radio, and to me, she sounds like Hillary. Indeed, I don’t think I would easily tell them apart. Their tempo in delivery seems the same to me. I’m not sure if it was her ability to speak as much as what she said, and certainly she had a favorable audience.
I didn’t say the teleprompter broke, you illiterate.
Geezuz beezuz you like to split hairs. You didn’t use the word “broke”, but Erick Erickson quoted exactly the words “broken” and “winged” from the McCain campaign. So that the teleprompter broke is indeed the manufactured story.
http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/sep/04/breaking-sarah-palin-winged-her-speech-bec/
But let’s take your curved version of events instead, that the teleprompter merely had “problems”. Problems that were resolved by the end of the speech, if they existed at all. Not only had she rehearsed this speech, she had typed notes in her hands. Is that what you call “impressive”, that she temporarily switched from the teleprompter to paper in a rehearsed speech? Maybe that’s a high hurdle in 6th grade, but not for a grown woman who worked as a reporter.
That is pathetic praise for a politician who is only a pseudo-libertarian anyway. The really crazy part is why you are bending the yardstick for such a fake figure of limited government. After all, as mayor she turned her town into Earmarkville. If she ever makes it to Washington — which she might one way or another — where will she pull the money from then, the UN?
Geezuz beezuz you like to split hairs.
No, I like to preempt straw-man arguments from trolls.
Not everybody can speak in public. She did well. I expect she will get better. I frankly don’t find that focus group to be representative.
I think Bill Clinton was made to be a candidate. Only a Ronald Reagan could have taken him and there only seems to have been one.
When Reagan spoke he was understood. That’s what made him the great communicator. “…and we start bombing in 5 minutes!”
Yeah Ken,
It’s fabulous to note that she can speak in public.
I expect she will get better in the next two months, provided McCain doesn’t dump her.
To help her out with her speaking skills, when is she going to have her first press conference, you know, so she can speak without notes? I bet the press would like to ask a few questions you know….
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2008/09/about_those_independets.html
“About Those Independents
Posted by TOM BEVAN – ST. PAUL – Reader MB points out that the “Independent” voter I quoted in the last post, George Lentz of Southfield, Michigan, who was part of the Detroit Free Press panel may be registered as an Independent, but he certainly doesn’t appear to be undecided.
Here is what he told the Free Press after Barack Obama’s speech last week:
“It was the right speech for this point in the campaign. The oratory soared, challenges were defined, and specific changes outlined. I liked his firmness of resolve, especially his challenge to John Mc Cain to debate his readiness to be commander-in-chief. A truly inspiring speech which climaxed a very successful convention.”– George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent
And here is what he had to say about Michelle Obama’s speech:
“She articulated the hopes and dreams that should resonate with those who yearn for change. Her presentation presents a wonderful tone for the convention and the campaign.”– George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent
So George probably isn’t the best barometer to look to for reaction on Palin’s speech.
On a related note, here is one email I received in response to the question of whether Palin appealed to Independents:
Sarah Palin’s speech sure fired up this independent voter. I just…
*Made a donation to the Obama campaign
*Had my wife fill out the voter registration card that’s been sitting on our kitchen table for two weeks
*Volunteered to make calls and register voters for Obama
*Took election day off to help GOTV
Way to go Sarah!!
And here is another:
I live in New Hampshire, a battleground state whose 4 electoral votes look small on paper but often weigh heavy in elections. As I’m sure you know, we have a lot of independents up here. I think Sarah Palin is going to help McCain take New Hampshire. It doesn’t matter that she’s a social conservative — the state is filled to the brim with Catholics who are always convoluted about the social issues, and have been for years. I think her appeal is to our brand of libertarian — smaller (no) government, lower (no) taxes, and absolute belief in the individual… As my family listened to the speech last night, we all came away believing that this put NH back into McCain’s pocket.
Fyi, I’m a Clinton supporter (the only Democrats I trust to be competent enough to rein in Nancy Pelosi’s Congress) and I had been planning on writing in PUMA. I will now be voting for the McCain ticket. So will my combat vet husband. So will my 85-year-old mom.
Both of these emails are representative of how McCain’s choice of Palin has thrown this race into chaos. She has energized the Republican base, but has almost certainly motivated Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents as well.
On the other hand, her brand of Western, libertarian-style conservatism will almost certainly appeal to Independents in places like Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and New Hampshire.
More voter panel/focus group reaction on Palin here and here.
UPDATE: Egad. It turns out one of the other “Independents” on the Free Press panel, Ilene Bennison, fasted once a week for a while in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan. ”
Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent: “Her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. � I am not convinced that Palin’s experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.
Ilene Beninson is an activist for Code Pink.
George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent: �I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.
Is this the same George Lentz that very active in United for Peace & Justice
Hardly unbiased sources unless you’re a left wing reporter too ignorant to use Google.
Palins Speech got 37 million viewers, almost as many as Ocarter.
All the retards did with their stupid attacks was is drum up interest. They are impalin themsleves on their own spears.
I’ve never understood the fetish for charisma in politicians. Why would I want to vote into power someone who is skilled in getting me to do what he wants, rather than someone who will do what I want? I admire someone who speaks well and has a good argument, but modern oratory has seemingly nothing to do with that anymore. Modern speechifying is for the most part vulgar, juvenile and dim-witted.
In defence of Reagan as an orator, his earlier speeches, those from the 60’s were much better – well thought out arguments put forth in a refreshingly non touch-feely way.
Both of these emails are representative of how McCain’s choice of Palin has thrown this race into chaos.
Now the post I quoted this from was a bit mangled, so I don’t know who said this or why. My take though is that the difference between “chaos” and “change”, even “change” that you might happen to believe in, is a matter of semantics and self-interest. It’s a pretty weak spin as far as I can see.
Update:
It was over 40 million. Even more than Obama, saw Palin speak.