Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 7:47:17 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Bizarre Speech Gets Low Marks

Posted Sep 3, 08 11:40 AM CDT in Politics,  Opinion 

(Newser) – Joe Lieberman’s speech was certainly noteworthy, but not necessarily in a good way. Here’s what pundits are saying:

  • Lieberman “muddled through” his speech “like a reluctant accomplice,” writes Adam Kushner of Newsweek. Whereas Zell Miller had Republicans whooping, Lieberman gave a languid, golf-clap-worthy address.
  • The Connecticut senator probably “has too many parties to make a coherent argument,” theorizes Mark Halperin of Time. Praise of Bill Clinton particularly confused the crowd.

  • But it was that very understated manner that appealed to Kyle-Anne Shiver of the American Thinker. “He does not need to rely on theatrics,” Shiver raves. Instead, he seemed genuine, endorsing McCain out of “heartfelt belief."
  • Dana Goldstein of the American Prospect thinks Lieberman’s “country matters more than party” line got to the core of the GOP message, but still found his appearance “surreal and a bit sad." 

Sources Time, Newsweek, American Prospect, American Thinker Blog

3 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Klein: McCain More Valedictory Than Inspiring

    Sep 5, 08 9:44 AM CDT
    John McCain’s acceptance speech was remarkable, honorable, and sometimes moving, but also sounded like a valedictory, “more the end of a career than the beginning of a presidency,” writes Joe Klein of Time. McCain was short on new ideas—the policy section "was a half-hearted and unadventurous slog through the world of policy." But who but McCain would so comprehensively admit his party’s failures? More »

  • 'Vicious' Speech Bodes Well

    Sep 4, 08 10:29 AM CDT
    'Vicious' Speech Bodes Well How’d Sarah Palin do in her convention debut? Commentators agree that she showed impressive speaking skills, but part ways on whether she was convincing as a potential VP.

    • The speech was “great” but “vicious,” Dahlia Lithwick writes at Slate. Palin, uses what Lithwick calls a risky tactic: “If your opponent is larger than life, strive to be smaller than life.”
    More »

  • Palin's Speech a Roaring Success

    Sep 4, 08 8:19 AM CDT
    Palin's Speech a Roaring Success Sarah Palin "lit up the Republican National Convention last night,” writes Nancy Gibbs in Time. "The hall that felt like a tomb on Monday might as well have seen the Second Coming of Ronald Reagan, so ecstatic was the crowd." As the Alaskan governor spoke amid dancing, chanting delegates, “it was clear a new star had been born, one who could go places John McCain may not even know exist and say things he could never confess.”

    More »

  • Strong-to-Mixed Reviews for Thompson's Keynote

    Sep 3, 08 1:03 PM CDT
    Strong-to-Mixed Reviews for Thompson's Keynote Pundits from across the political spectrum were moved by Fred Thompson’s tribute to John McCain’s heroic military service. They differ, though, on how well Thompson sold McCain as the next president:

    • Thompson couldn’t have done better, Peter Wehner at the National Review writes: “Fred Thompson did his close friend and former colleague proud. He made the case for John McCain as well as it can be made.”
    More »

  • McCain Camp Preps Palin for Convention

    Sep 3, 08 9:31 AM CDT
    McCain Camp Preps Palin for Convention Instead of basking in the limelight as co-star of the RNC, Sarah Palin has been hunkered down in a Minneapolis hotel since Sunday, painstakingly working with John McCain's staff to hone the message she will present as she steps onto the national stage tonight. Her public appearances have been canceled as advisers give her a thorough briefing on McCain’s policies, the Wall Street Journal notes, while a prewritten, “masculine” speech is getting a rewrite in light of the surprise nominee, reports the Washington Post. More »

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., speaks during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., points into the crowd during his speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The spectacle of Lieberman ... speaking here tonight is, frankly, surreal and a bit sad. - Dana Goldstein, American Prospect

Lieberman’s tone was pleading, not indignant—placid, not animated. - Adam Kushner, Newsweek

It was an odd, disjointed speech from a man with perhaps too many parties to make a coherent argument. - Mark Halperin, Time

He is himself.  He is genuine.  He is understated eloquence, with conviction, not embellished flourish. - Kyle-Anne Shiver, American Thinker

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 1)

Tags

Republican National Convention • Joe Lieberman • speech • Mark Halperin


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Opinion Stories