What did we think of Arnold last night?

[cowtown]

That guy can light up a room. I'm starting to think of him as an actual politician (in the good way).

I'm especially curious what non-Californians think of him. We are exposed to him every day on the news and in the paper, but I guess that stream doesn't run all the way to Ohio.

[Tim Hancock]

I did not expect much from him. I was pleasantly suprised by his speech. I had never really heard about his background before and I think it was good to hear from someone with his immigrant background.

[84porsche]

Arnold for President (I know its not possible but I think he could clean up Washington).

[jm951]

It was the best speech of the night. I liked they way he outlined his background and related it to the American Dream.

[dd74]

The problem with Arnold is he does not represent true party lines. Bush and the others represent extreme conservatism, while Arnold is very much a liberal Republican. He's pro choice, he's not anti-gay marriage and he supports some of the social programs conservatives want to cut back. Conservatives, in fact, are fooling themselves (and us) by having Arnold speak at the convention. They're trying to put a nice centralized feeling on their platform by having Arnold up there along with Guliani and other moderates. Nationwide, conservatives love the "Governator," but wait until they catch wind of how "liberal" he is. If his political career advances under the conservative Republican platform, he might well fracture the party.

As for his speech, it was good, well rehearsed, etc. He's an actor after all.

Now the Bush daughters' speech? It/they was/were cute, but also annoying in an Olsen twins sort of way.

[trj911]

I thought he did a nice job and gave a great speach. I'm not much into politics and didn't wach more that a few moments of the DNC but as I clicked around last night I stopped to hear Arnold. I quickly changed after his speach but I thought it hit the spot.

[tabs]

Such negative waves DD..There are a lot of Moderate Repblicans out there...and to win elections the Repblicans have to appeal to the moderates in America.

My first impression after watching McCain and Guillani was how low key they were...Gullani was personal in his speech...inclusive as it were...nothing stridentl.

[Burnin' oil]

Arnold's point was that a person does not have to agree with every Republican position to be a Republican and he is the epitome of that idea. His was a great speech.

[84porsche]

I think he speaks on issues that most American people want to hear and expect of government. I am not an extreme conservatism nor an extreme liberal and many people are stuck in the middle on an issue by issue basis and thats the way we all should be and not on party wagons.

[techweenie]

All show.

But it was kind of funny to see Republicans celebrating an immigrant.

Arnold is a punchline and he seems unaware that he is perpetuating that impression by repeating lines from SNL sketches lampooning him.

He's politically a stealth Democrat, and I think ultimately the conservative wing of the Republican party will turn on him.

[dd74]

I agree, Tech. All show, no substance, typical GOP B.S. And Tabs, Arnold can say what he wants, but the party's stance is cemented. It will not budge in the next four years if Bush is re-elected. Hardline tactics with countries suspected of harboring terrorists will remain, as will hardline approaches to abortion and gay marriage. After all, we are talking about a president who in the last three days has had to reestablish his resolve in the war on terror, right?

This centrist idealism was Bush's stance in 2000. Have you forgotten the "compassionate conservative" stuff he spewed? How long did that last after he was elected? Three months?

[lendaddy]

Too funny, that is all

[dd74]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Too funny, that is all

Yup, it is too funny. At least we agree on that.

[Burnin' oil]

I have this mental image of Tech and dd urinating on everything around them, even their own food . . .

[cowtown]

Originally posted by dd74
The problem with Arnold is he does not represent true party lines. Bush and the others represent extreme conservatism, while Arnold is very much a liberal Republican. He's pro choice, he's not anti-gay marriage and he supports some of the social programs conservatives want to cut back. Conservatives, in fact, are fooling themselves (and us) by having Arnold speak at the convention.

I agree with you to a certain point dd. That's what makes Arnold so attractive to me (besides being a badass) - he's moderate, and that's a tough thing to get in a politico these days.

But as to the "bait and switch" angle, there are two ways to look at it. One is that the Dems did exactly the same thing w/ Barack Obama's and even Kerry's speeches (tax cuts, no troop pullout, educational accountability), so there's no harm, no foul.

Or, and I hope this is really it, maybe the GOP moderates will light up the crowd, change minds, and make the GOP realize that it's OK not to be a hardliner on every social issue. I'd like to see a new GOP modeled after Arnold's belief system. And I would think that getting him into the spotlight might make some liberals happy as well, if he pulls some rightists toward the center. At least he knows what "compromise" means.

[VenezianBlau 87]

Ich bin ein...Republican!

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by dd74
Hardline tactics with countries suspected of harboring terrorists will remain

You say that like it's a bad thing... it's one of the few W stances I agree with and a key reason why I'll approve another 4 years.

[Neilk]

Interesting article in the NYTimes about the real Republicans. Check it out here.

If it weren't for Bush and the religious right, I would consider myself a Republican. I liked Arnold's speech, but like others have mentioned, he doesn't represent the true Republican party.

[cmccuist]

The next time there is a Pro-life and/or pro-tax cut speaker at a Democrat convention will be the first.

Kerry is the stealth candidate. He's a liberal who's running as a... come to think of it, I don't know wtf he stands for.

W and the GOP aren't afraid of letting moderates and Log cabin Republicans speak. Why not hear them? If the GOP didn't include minorities, gays and pro-life speakers, the Dems would be screaming "see! extremists!" When they do speak they're just window dressing and the cheers are hollow and meaningless (sarcasm).

Let a conservative or a Republican or Pro-lifer speak at the DNC. Are you kidding me! - you'll never see that.

Can't wait to hear Zell Miller btw.

[jm951]

I'm waiting for Tommy Franks on Thursday.