Bite-Size Toast: A Supplement to this week’s Toast-o-meter

BITE-SIZE TOAST FOR TUESDAY

September 11, 2024 was the focus last night (as the NYT noted: First Night, Single Theme for Double Term: Sept. 11 and USAT 9/11 both touchstone and test for party). On the one hand, the potential for being seen as being exploitative was present. On the other hand, there is no denying the centrality of 911 to this president and as a centerpiece for understanding his policies. Further, no doubt the issue of national security will be the issue that turns this election. I have thought that for over a year, and I continue to be convinced of that fact. Yes, many Democrats will be angry/offended by what they will see as exploitation–however, those voters will be voting for Kerry regardless of what the GOP does. The real question will be the effect on those on the fence. I predict it will play well with enough of them to give Bush a small but appreciable bump out of this convention.

As I argued in this week’s Toast-O-Meter, the conditions are right for the Bush campaign to use the convention to build a moderate lead–I think that the first night was a good start.

ROUND-UPS (mainstream press and Blogospheric):

• The NYT: The Overview: Procession of Speakers Invoke Bush’s Leadership After 9/11.
• The LAT: Bush Is Praised as War Leader.
• USAT: Giuliani, McCain build case for Bush.
• RNCBloggers – Bloggers Cover The Republican National Convention.
• The Politicker: Blog-o-sphere Reacts
  
• WaPo’s full coverage is here, including links to video feeds, if you missed any of the speeches.

SPECIFIC SPEECHES

Ron Silver

• It was interesting to see a failry liberal pro-Clinton actor come on so strongly for Bush.
• The full text is here.

McCain

• The Transcript.
• The Moore slam will likely be one of the most-played bites of the night.
• Chris Matthews apparently didn’t like McCain’s Moore line–referenciong three distinct times after the speech–including defending Moore to McCain during an interview. Matthews pointed out that one of the points of the film dealt with the burden of the soldiers. However, he ignored McCain’s point, which was accurate, that the film does have a scene in depicting the peace and tranquility of Iraq pre-invasion. He adopted the same tone with McCain over Moore than he has been adopting with anyone who take the Swiftees seriously.
• James Joyner wasn’t impressed.
• Amy Sullivan, guest-blogging atThe Washington Monthly’s Political Animal thinks that McCain reputatin took a “bruising” as a result of the speech.
• Joe Gandelman think the speech might have been a home run.

Rudy

• The Transcript.
• He had the line of the night.
• The Once and Future Rudy Giuliani (washingtonpost.com).
• Right on Red has a round-up of live blogging responses to Giuliani.
• James Joyner liked this one, but thought that the Mayor have skirted a bit close to the line of overly politicizing 911.