Thursday, September 04, 2008

The Speech   [Jonah Goldberg]

Ehhhhh...maybe I'm missing some grand strategy or tactics, but I think it was a missed opportunity. Good that he did some policy. I liked that he championed free trade — something he didn't have to do. I liked the fight, fight, fight stuff. Good that he was specific. I can come up with specific compliments about this or that. But it was flat, forced and basically a free pass for Obama. Again, maybe strategically that was the plan and maybe there was a good reason. Maybe Palin will be the pitbull and he'll be the statesman for the general election. And maybe that will work. But politically and substantively I think there should have been more oomph, more fun, more energy and more contrast. Civics value: B. Political value: Gentlemen's C.

One more thing: All of that said, I think there was nothing to the speech that actually hurt him. He reinforced his stature as a man of honor, integrity and commitment. He's a father-figure. And, in this election that may be more valuable than zingers. The Obama campaign certainly can't claim that this was "more of the same" partisanship.

09/04 11:33 PMShare