Timothy Birdnow

Quick thoughts on the GOP Convention last night.

First came Nikki Haley, who largely bragged about her own accomplishments. I am not a fan. Haley is an Establishment Republican and a fence straddler. She caved on the Civil War statues, for instance, and she is almost always squishy where Trump is concerned and her speech was pretty much the same.

She did speak up for the President, but she never came at any of the cultural issues, preferring to speak about how the economy was going to rise again (like the South, which never did.) Mostly she spoke about her own accomplishments as South Carolina Governor. She was clearly trying to set herself up for 2024. And her style of speech reminded me of a character on Sesame Street. No fire, just a gentle kind of child-like enthusiasm.

She would be a return to the old Republicanism, the kind that wasn't about winning or standing for our culture. Haley is primarily an economic conservative (or to use the old phrase "neocon"). If she's a rising star (as the reality stars on t.v. who call themselves anchors called her) the GOP has no future. She's why they are where they are.

Then came last nights star, Donald Trump Jr. The talking heads called his speech "angry" and "dark" but it was Reaganesque; people forget that Reagan really took it to the Democrats. In a nice way, but he was brutal. Trump Jr. came out smoking, going after social issues like illegal immigration, rioting, and the other things that have marred America in 2020. And he was right to do so; America's problems stem from a failing morality and a subsequent loss in faith in American exceptionalism. The economic problems are real and cause for concern, but they ultimately are a failure of America as a moral entity. High taxes, deficit spending, etc. stem from a fundamental lack of belief in the concept of private property. People want what they can grab, not what they are entitled to possess. It's a violation of the Judeo-Christian Commandment "thou shalt not steal". Further, it enshrines covetousness, also forbidden in the Ten Commandments. All of our problems with tax and spend stem from the basic idea that the government can simply seize your money and property and give it to those who they wish. Moral restoration would eventually lead to fiscal responsibility.

Lastly, Tim Scott gets a mixed review from me. Scott was definitely better than Haley, but he still lacked the fire that we need. We are not in normal times and these are not normal politcal battles. We are at war, not in a gentleman's disagreement. I  thought Scott talked a pretty good game, but he seemed too affable, too willing to compromise. The time for compromise by our side is past. We've compromised our way to the graveyard. This is a last stand.

Scott certainly has a fine future in the GOP, but I don't think he's a guy who can win the Presidency - or should. He's going to be a great Secretary of HHS or whatnot, but not at the top level.

Todd Herman, filling in for Rush Limbaugh, spoke of how Scott's speech was so amazing "power coupled with humility". I saw the humility, but not the power. Maybe I'm wrong. But I just don't see him having the fire in the belly.

Of course, of the three Donald Trump Jr. has the least prospect of being President, simply because of his name. I fear Haley has the best chances just because she's a minority and a woman. I really don't want her; it would be like electing another Bush, or Mitt Romney. And I'm not certain about how firm Scott will be ideologically.

Time will tell.

Naturally, there was nary a kind word from any of the media. I flipped around - from PBS to NBC and CBS (Fox wasn't running it and I never watch ABC since half pint Stephanopoulis runs the division.)

I wish there had been spectators, too. These "conventions" are really just commercials without the partisan people cheering.

We'll see what tonight brings.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 10:59 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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