A Grand Old Convention in the Big Ol’ Apple
Thinking back on this busy week, what worked and what didn’t at the GOP Convention? The Good The convention itself appeared better thought out and executed than the Boston conclave for the Democrats. Even the physical set was far more imposing, especially the final-night presidential platform and the Fred Thompson-narrated introductory video. The convention speakers mixed positive and negative messages well, for the most part; by contrast, the Democrats were oddly obsessed with muting the Bush-bashing that would have thrilled the activists and most of the people watching at home. Governor Arnold and Mayor Rudy gave superb addresses, and President Bush–not always a dependable public speaker–rose to the challenge, especially in the final quarter of his talk. The party also impressively communicated its central theme for Bush’s reelection: Bush is the leader for the war on terror and Kerry is not. Sept. 11 and the New York location provided overt and subconscious reinforcement. The Bad The protestors were a ready-made diversion for the news media, providing as they did a more immediate counterpoint to yet another scripted convention. While some demonstrators would have shown up anywhere, five-to-one Democratic New York was a nurturing environment for anti-Bush sentiments–and the Republicans asked