Republican Convention

Republican strategists fear the pairing of storm damage, and convention revelry

“I believe that electing John McCain and Sarah Palin will spark a return to God’s Word and a spiritual revival that will bring our nation together. God bless you, and God bless America!” — Joe Gibbs, Hall of Fame American football coach and NASCAR Championship team owner.

Yesterday, Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin delivered what has been called by most of the political observers a “home run, out of the park” speech. She was forceful, articulate and she delivered a well structured speech. It had a family touch, it said the right things about the nominee and she was able to brand herself in a way that corresponds with the new positioning of the McCain campaign. The McCain-Palin ticket is now the maverick, outside Washington, and reform alternative to the Obama-Biden campaign of change. To be fair, Palin energized the room and surpassed expectations.

Must-reads: Lawrence Martin on the Canadian election; Rosie DiManno and Margaret Wente on Sarah Palin; Christie Blatchford on getting our act together in Afghanistan.

It was that good. No, she’s not qualified, and the substance was thin, but my God — that was perhaps the greatest bit of political theatre I have ever witnessed. Her critics in the media and in the opposition may regret having piled on quite so enthusiastically, and with so little heed for who they hurt — or angered. Watching the tumultuous, ecstatic reaction in the hall, I was reminded of the famous words of the Admiral Yamamoto after Pearl Harbour: “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant, and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

She was combative and she was funny — sometimes snarky — and the crowd here clung to every single word. I can’t help but think she’s a plus on the ticket. And I can’t get over how much she looks like Tina Fey.

Giuliani can’t stop chuckling and cackling. He is obviously having a blast laying into Obama. Interestingly, the Secret Service is jamming wireless signals while he speaks. They did this for Bill Clinton in Denver too.

Mike Huckabee, the quirky guitar-playing belly-shrinking former governor of Arkansas, who also ran for president.

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and former presidential candidate, starts out attacking the Washington Post and the New York Times, then he goes on a tear against “Liberal Washington.”

“..And drill now!”

Mike Murphy is a Republican political consultant. Peggy Noonan is a former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan. They don’t share the enthusiasm for the Sarah Palin pick. A live mike picked up the details of a conversation they thought was private.