2008 Woodie Awards
Reviving passion, Nixon
Gregory Pratt
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Opinions
The 2004 National Republican Convention which re-nominated George W. Bush was remarkable for a variety of reasons, and I have been thinking about that election and RNC as I think of this year's race. It was the first Republican convention since 9/11, was held in NYC and was the first "war-time" convention to re-nominate a President in three decades. That wasn't what I found most noteworthy, however: I thought the speeches, and what they signaled, to be the most interesting happening in a campaign since Harry Truman promised to "win this election and make the Republicans like it!" Why was the GOP gathering so fascinating?
Three speeches stood out because of their historical and political significance. The first was Giuliani's, a masterfully crafted political hatchet-job of John Kerry and attempt to position himself as a candidate in 2008. I remember being amazed that this little fascist, with his comb-over and lisp, was speaking with the heart of history's great zealots, and the crowd responded accordingly. Giuliani terrified me then, at the thought of his campaign, and while I suspected that he would lose because Republicans don't nominate "Liberal Republicans" anymore he scared me all the same. That he has lost so convincingly in this year's bid for the Presidency has been a relief, and has also shown me that Americans don't enjoy one-dimensional candidates for President, with slight track records.
The second significant speech was Zell Miller's keynote address. In a stunning reversal of his keynote hailing Bill Clinton and the Democrats in 1992, Miller destroyed Kerry. Miller's was a perfect, old-time barnburner, and it amazed me to see in this new century a politician use passion and vinegar as if it were the 1940s or the 1840s. Contrasted with John Edwards' and Jimmy Carters' at the DNC, these speeches showed me that candidates for President must be enthusiastic about seeking the Presidency, along with their party; that, as much as anything, is why Bush defeated Kerry: the GOP simply wanted it more.
Three speeches stood out because of their historical and political significance. The first was Giuliani's, a masterfully crafted political hatchet-job of John Kerry and attempt to position himself as a candidate in 2008. I remember being amazed that this little fascist, with his comb-over and lisp, was speaking with the heart of history's great zealots, and the crowd responded accordingly. Giuliani terrified me then, at the thought of his campaign, and while I suspected that he would lose because Republicans don't nominate "Liberal Republicans" anymore he scared me all the same. That he has lost so convincingly in this year's bid for the Presidency has been a relief, and has also shown me that Americans don't enjoy one-dimensional candidates for President, with slight track records.
The second significant speech was Zell Miller's keynote address. In a stunning reversal of his keynote hailing Bill Clinton and the Democrats in 1992, Miller destroyed Kerry. Miller's was a perfect, old-time barnburner, and it amazed me to see in this new century a politician use passion and vinegar as if it were the 1940s or the 1840s. Contrasted with John Edwards' and Jimmy Carters' at the DNC, these speeches showed me that candidates for President must be enthusiastic about seeking the Presidency, along with their party; that, as much as anything, is why Bush defeated Kerry: the GOP simply wanted it more.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Michael
posted 2/04/08 @ 8:41 PM CST
This is an interesting, well-written article; I only wish you would have spent more time on Nixon's non-Watergate-related actions. He did preside over half of a disastrous war, illegally bombed Cambodia and Laos, and assisted the coup against the democratically elected leader of Chile--Salvador Allende--in 1973. (Continued…)
Gregory Pratt
posted 2/04/08 @ 9:18 PM CST
Thank you Michael, for the kind words. As to why I didn't spend more time on Nixon? Word count. I'm happy with what I have, but I would've loved to have written more. (Continued…)
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