Long-time readers may recall that I'm a Fred Thompson fan, and I was looking forward to hearing his RNC speech tonight. It took a bit of looking to find a broadcast. The local PBS station carried it live. During applause breaks, I channel-flipped a bit, and ABC carried at least part of it delayed a bit.
I don't think CBS and NBC aired any of it. They were too busy offering their "analyses" and asking random delegates what they thought of the "troubling revelations" about Sarah Palin. Apparently, the text was available in advance (the Financial Times of London has it), so I suspect that they decided it wouldn't help the campaign for which they're in the tank to let the TV audience hear great red-meat stuff like this:
To deal with these challenges the Democrats present a history making nominee for president.
History making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for President. Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it’s the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation’s history.
Or this bit, which I especially enjoyed (quotes in original and used to show emphasis):
We need a President who understands that you don’t make citizens prosperous by making Washington richer, and you don’t lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history.
Now our opponents tell you not to worry about their tax increases.
They tell you they are not going to tax your family.
No, they’re just going to tax ”businesses”! So unless you buy something from a ”business”, like groceries or clothes or gasoline … or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small ”business”, don’t worry … it’s not going to affect you.
They say they are not going to take any water out of your side of the bucket, just the ”other” side of the bucket! That’s their idea of tax reform.
Go read the whole thing, and just imagine his gruff, folksy delivery in your mind.
Yeah, I like Fred.