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

BITE-SIZE TOAST FOR NIGHT TWO

Given that last night was a network TV night, the GOP probably couldn’t have asked for better than Schwarzenegger’s passionate and well-delivered speech. Not only did he tell a compelling story about his own life, but his appeal to immigrants and undecided voters was well crafted and helped to highlight the core principles of the Republican Party.

Indeed, on a night in which it seems that the Kerry camp was in disarray, this was another good night for the Bush team.

OVERVIEW

• The NYT: The Upbeat Republicans Revive Bush Theme of Compassion.
• Text and Video of Speeches at the Republican National Convention.
• WaPo: Bush’s Leadership Against Terror Hailed.
• Right on Red: Convention Reaction Roundup Day 2.
• Jay Tea at Wizbang: RNC, Night Two — the view from Cow Hampshire.
• Pejman Yousefzadeh has some lengthy and interesting comments on Night Two.

ARNOLD

• Jonah Goldberg at The Corner:
  

  I really think Schwarzenegger’s speech was brilliant. And for reasons that most pundits and reporters won’t appreciate. In the past, moderates did their schtick about how the Right was too obsessed about abortion or how it was wrong about affirmative action. What Arnold did tonight was not only reach out to moderates but he reached out to conservatives and reminded them that we still have a lot in common with the moderates.

• Robert Tagorda was personally moved by the speech and also has some insightful commentary.
• Kevin Drum echoes my passing comment on Nixon from last night.
  

• While amusing, and employing some good lines (loved the hamster ref, and the “young and irresponsible” line wasn’t bad either), they did come across as a tad goofy, and bit younger than than college grads. Barabara is clearly the more ongoing of the two. James Joyner had a similar reaction:
  

  The Bush Twins were fine for 22-year-olds and would certainly have come across better with the benefit of the visuals. Leaving aside their age and beauty, they were a bit silly as by the standards of convention speakers. And the juxtaposition of “Sex and the City,” Grandma Bush, and 22-year-old twin hotties is more than I needed.

• Michael Graham at The Corner
  

  Jenna and Barbara aren’t talking to us. They’re talking to younger, relatively uninformed voters who were roped into watching the convention by their poli-sci professor or their parents. Admittedly the “I think Tom Green is funny and I’m voting for Bush” bloc is a small one, but as we learned in 2024, ever vote counts.

• Amy Sullivan, blogging at The Washington Monthly’s Political Animal wasn’t impressed, and quotes some others, including Fox folks, who weren’t either.
• WaPo: The Bush Twins, Ready to Party.

LAURA

• the text.

• I missed this one, but from what I read, the reviews were mixed. Following Arnold had to be tough.
• USAT: First lady praises Bush’s ’strength and conviction’
• CNN: Laura Bush urges nation to trust president
• Lorie Byrd at PoliPundit comments (she liked the speech and didn’t like Tom Brokaw).