9.02.2004
Day 3 at the RNC
CONVENTION
We weren't prepared for Zell Miller. I knew his sentiments were conservative. I knew he was disaffected with the Democratic Party. I knew he'd written a book on the subject. But we had no idea. Miller brought the house THUNDERING down. He lit into Kerry like leopard into a wounded antelope.
And, no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often than the two Senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Together, Kennedy/Kerry have opposed the very weapons system that won the Cold War and that is now winning the War on Terror. Listing all the weapon systems that Senator Kerry tried his best to shut down sounds like an auctioneer selling off our national security but Americans need to know the facts.
The B-1 bomber, that Senator Kerry opposed, dropped 40 percent of the bombs in the first six months of Operation Enduring Freedom. The B-2 bomber, that Senator Kerry opposed, delivered air strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Hussein's command post in Iraq. The F-14A Tomcats, that Senator Kerry opposed, shot down Khadifi's Libyan MIGs over the Gulf of Sidra. The modernized F-14D, that Senator Kerry opposed, delivered missile strikes against Tora Bora. The Apache helicopter, that Senator Kerry opposed, took out those Republican Guard tanks in Kuwait in the Gulf War . The F-15 Eagles, that Senator Kerry opposed, flew cover over our Nation's Capital and this very city after 9/11.
I could go on and on and on: against the Patriot Missile that shot down Saddam Hussein 's scud missiles over Israel; against the Aegis air-defense cruiser; against the Strategic Defense Initiative; against the Trident missile; against, against, against.
This is the man who wants to be the Commander in Chief of our U.S. Armed Forces?
U.S. forces armed with what? Spitballs?
Miller was devastatingly effective. He gave an old-fashioned, hard-hitting stump speech which shone the light of truth on Kerry's senate tenure. Dick Cheney followed after a brief introduction from his wife Lynne. Cheney's speech was also attack-oriented, but much softer - more "masterfully dry". The VP came away looking "kinder, gentler". He uttered some fabulous quotes:
"John Kerry sees two Americas. It is mutual. America sees two John Kerrys."
Bush has a "moral seriousness that calls evil by its name."
"A senator can be wrong for 20 years without consequence for the nation, but a president always casts the deciding vote."
ADDENDUM: James Lileks also got it right, especially with the excellent take on Zell Miller. Lileks, the "recovering Democrat" has an edge on easy prose. He says it sweetly right. Mr Lileks has an 'in' on effective prose. I read him with glee. Mr Lileks is tantalizingly close in stature to my favorite, Mark Steyn.
We weren't prepared for Zell Miller. I knew his sentiments were conservative. I knew he was disaffected with the Democratic Party. I knew he'd written a book on the subject. But we had no idea. Miller brought the house THUNDERING down. He lit into Kerry like leopard into a wounded antelope.
And, no pair has been more wrong, more loudly, more often than the two Senators from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Together, Kennedy/Kerry have opposed the very weapons system that won the Cold War and that is now winning the War on Terror. Listing all the weapon systems that Senator Kerry tried his best to shut down sounds like an auctioneer selling off our national security but Americans need to know the facts.
The B-1 bomber, that Senator Kerry opposed, dropped 40 percent of the bombs in the first six months of Operation Enduring Freedom. The B-2 bomber, that Senator Kerry opposed, delivered air strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Hussein's command post in Iraq. The F-14A Tomcats, that Senator Kerry opposed, shot down Khadifi's Libyan MIGs over the Gulf of Sidra. The modernized F-14D, that Senator Kerry opposed, delivered missile strikes against Tora Bora. The Apache helicopter, that Senator Kerry opposed, took out those Republican Guard tanks in Kuwait in the Gulf War . The F-15 Eagles, that Senator Kerry opposed, flew cover over our Nation's Capital and this very city after 9/11.
I could go on and on and on: against the Patriot Missile that shot down Saddam Hussein 's scud missiles over Israel; against the Aegis air-defense cruiser; against the Strategic Defense Initiative; against the Trident missile; against, against, against.
This is the man who wants to be the Commander in Chief of our U.S. Armed Forces?
U.S. forces armed with what? Spitballs?
Miller was devastatingly effective. He gave an old-fashioned, hard-hitting stump speech which shone the light of truth on Kerry's senate tenure. Dick Cheney followed after a brief introduction from his wife Lynne. Cheney's speech was also attack-oriented, but much softer - more "masterfully dry". The VP came away looking "kinder, gentler". He uttered some fabulous quotes:
"John Kerry sees two Americas. It is mutual. America sees two John Kerrys."
Bush has a "moral seriousness that calls evil by its name."
"A senator can be wrong for 20 years without consequence for the nation, but a president always casts the deciding vote."
ADDENDUM: James Lileks also got it right, especially with the excellent take on Zell Miller. Lileks, the "recovering Democrat" has an edge on easy prose. He says it sweetly right. Mr Lileks has an 'in' on effective prose. I read him with glee. Mr Lileks is tantalizingly close in stature to my favorite, Mark Steyn.
// posted by HunterByrd @ 3:27 AM 
