Watching the post-speech media coverage of the GOP convention, I came away from it convinced it was a net negative for the GOP ticket. Romney went into it the underdog and needed to gain some serious momentum. He left it fending off bad press and ridicule, with even the best speeches being analyzed not for how they'll help Romney, but how they'll play into the 2016 election. … [Read more...] about Romney Entered the GOP Convention the Underdog and Left the Convention the Underdog
Leave It to the Irish…
Say or think what you will about the Tea Party, say or think what you will about Barack Obama, say or think what you will about a foreigner involving himself in U.S. politics, a 2010 interview between outspoken human rights activist -- now Irish President -- Michael D. Higgins and Boston conservative radio show host Michael Graham has gone viral. The website Upworthy … [Read more...] about Leave It to the Irish…
Dirty Harry Does Mel Brooks
The GOP convention’s surprise act turns out to be Clint Eastwood, partnering with an empty chair to do an X-rated version of a Mel Brooks routine, Dirty Harry as a potty-mouthed comic. Who knew? The formerly dignified icon engages an imaginary Barack Obama with such banter as “What do you want me to tell Mr. Romney? I can’t tell him that. He can’t do that to himself. You’re … [Read more...] about Dirty Harry Does Mel Brooks
Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch Moment
TAMPA, Fla. -- Finally, Mitt Romney shook the Etch A Sketch. Having given conservatives everything they had asked for -- from switching his positions on abortion and immigration to picking their favorite as his running mate -- Romney turned Thursday night to his essential task: converting some President Obama's 2008 supporters into Republican voters. At a … [Read more...] about Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch Moment
A Test In Real Time In Pennsylvania Of The Ryan Budget
Pennsylvania is in the midst of a real time test of Republican vice presidential candidate and U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan's budget, a budget the right loves so very much and plan on instituting nationally if they win big in the 2012 elections. The Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett seems to be giving this everything to the rich and the heck with the other guy approach a real … [Read more...] about A Test In Real Time In Pennsylvania Of The Ryan Budget
Did the Republican Convention Meet Its Goals? (UPDATED)
Did the Republican convention meet its goals? The internet, cable, and radio airwaves are now filled with tons of takes on this issue, many of them coming from pre-conceived partisan or ideological preference points (I get emails from news sources and people and can now tell exactly what people on both sides will say before I open them up). Time's Mark Halperin has two items … [Read more...] about Did the Republican Convention Meet Its Goals? (UPDATED)
Does Ryan REALLY Think Romney Can Win?
If the above seems like an odd question, consider this: Rep. Paul Ryan has been the Republican congressman from District I in Wisconsin for the past 14 years. He is now running for Vice-President on a Republican Party ticket topped by Mitt Romney. So you might think that since he naturally believes this ticket will win in November, he is giving up his congressman's job to take … [Read more...] about Does Ryan REALLY Think Romney Can Win?
RNC Storm Aftermath
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about RNC Storm Aftermath
Decisions, Decision (Guest Voice)
Decisions, Decisions by Peter Funt Our guest today is John J. Smith of Carson City, Nevada, who is certified by the Gallup Organization as an "undecided voter." Q: Mr. Smith, what does the "J" stand for? A: Joan. My parents weren't sure if they wanted a boy or girl. Q: Even after you were born? A: To this day, actually. Q: OK. It's said that you and the other … [Read more...] about Decisions, Decision (Guest Voice)
Let Me Introduce You To President Romney
I have to say that on nights like last night, I love twitter! It was like watching the GOP convention with a few hundred of your closest friends! I love the interaction and the jokes. You should hop on if you haven't already. Follow me @KatMcKinley. Anyway, let's get to it. Let me start by saying that whoever decided that Clint Eastwood should speak should be dragged to the … [Read more...] about Let Me Introduce You To President Romney
Facebook: Co-Founder Sells 450,000 Shares
When you’ve got enough shares of one of the most successful and richest companies in the world, why not sell them after a while? Looks like one person is following exactly that strategy. According to AP, Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook, has just sold another whopping 450,000 company shares and made some $8.7 million. Not bad! The internet and the world have been … [Read more...] about Facebook: Co-Founder Sells 450,000 Shares
On a More Serious Note, Eastwood Was Rambling and Confused
Clint Eastwood broke a cardinal rule of speech making: never ever ever upstage the person you have been asked to introduce. Ostensibly Eastwood, 82, was to introduce Mitt Romney so that he could give his acceptance speech. But in between his opening "Save some for Mitt" (in response to the ovation greeting him on stage) to his closing as choir leader (as the crowd chants … [Read more...] about On a More Serious Note, Eastwood Was Rambling and Confused
Twitter Goes Wild After Eastwood Speech
Clint Eastwood took the stage at the RNC on August 30 and gave a short, rambling talk to an empty chair. The not-in-Miami crowd went wild. I don't think this is what he meant by that closing "Make my day" refrain. See the story at Storify if the embed isn't working! [View the story "Twitter goes wild after Eastwood speech" on Storify] … [Read more...] about Twitter Goes Wild After Eastwood Speech
Ryan’s Diet of Whoppers
TAMPA, Fla. -- Has there ever been a more dishonest presidential campaign than the one Republicans are waging right now? That's a serious question, and it adds poignancy to the tragicomic spectacle of this frankly ridiculous gathering. The one indisputable truth we hear from speaker after speaker at the Republican National Convention is that this is a consequential … [Read more...] about Ryan’s Diet of Whoppers
Obama and Romney’s Dueling August 30 Fundraising Emails
August 30 was an important day: the day when former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney achieved his long sought prize and accepted the Republican Presidential nomination -- definitively stepping into the role with his major acceptance speech. And it therefore stands to reason it was a a day of fundraising emails. Both Romney and President Barack Obama sent them to their … [Read more...] about Obama and Romney’s Dueling August 30 Fundraising Emails
Romney Makes It Official With Upbeat Speech
Mitt Romney tonight formally accepted the Republican nomination for President with a speech that included everything from the deep emotion that one has to feel in such a situation to an upbeat vision of the future. The address covered a wide range of topics, starting with a look back and the hope of the 2008 election and the areas in which he feels President Obama has … [Read more...] about Romney Makes It Official With Upbeat Speech
Democrats Respond to Paul Ryan
WASHINGTON - What do you want to bet that Chris Christie is begging for a do over? Whatever role he might have played before Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan, he'll have to regroup. It's a lesson in grabbing your moment while it's nigh, because you can miss it and watch your chance slide by. That's how good Paul Ryan was received last night by Republicans. That he filleted Pres. … [Read more...] about Democrats Respond to Paul Ryan
Romney’s Daring Right Turn Gives America a Clear Choice (Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsacé, France)
Do Americans have a political memory deficit when compared to people in other nations? For France's Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, columnist Pascal Coquis writes that this capacity to forget has given Mitt Romney a chance to reinvent himself, and gives America a very stark choice to make in November. For the Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace, columnist Pascal Coquis starts off … [Read more...] about Romney’s Daring Right Turn Gives America a Clear Choice (Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsacé, France)
In This World II
U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Andrew Thomasson is splashed by water as he fulfills his promise to his family and lays his grandfather's ashes to rest on Iwo Jima's Invasion Beach in Iwo Jima (now named Iwo To), Japan, Aug. 28, 2012. During the Battle for Iwo Jima, Thomasson's grandfather, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Oscar Thomasson, was aboard a landing craft that was … [Read more...] about In This World II
Edward Topol: ‘America on the Verge of a Civil War’ (Argumenty i Facty, Russia)
Is President Obama a closet communist, on the cusp of undermining the very makeup of the country he governs? In this interview with Russia's Argumenty i Facty, Edward Topol, acclaimed novelist, U.S. resident, former Communist Party member and Soviet journalist, asserts that Americans don't know what it's like to live under socialism - and forecasts 'civil war' in America if … [Read more...] about Edward Topol: ‘America on the Verge of a Civil War’ (Argumenty i Facty, Russia)