Conventional Christie

So, I just finished watching the convention speeches. First...the women were on fire tonight. Mia Love, Nikki Haley, Ann Romney--they were highlights this evening.

Second... I liked Christie's speech, but I didn't love it. I don't want to nit-pic. But it's a political blog--so I will.

His tone was great. He's a commanding public speaker who is obviously passionate about politics and is fired up. He had a lot of good points and strong statements. But I was left feeling a little "meh" about the whole thing. Here's why:

1) Never, never use the term "shared sacrifice" or anything like it as a positive thing. It makes people think of Obama. And Marx. And Commies in general. Even if you mean that we'll all have to join together to cut government freebies and wasteful spending. It's not a "shared sacrifice"--it's an American success. It's the power of a united people, striving together, working together, moving together for a stronger future. It's not a "shared sacrifice"--Christie used that term twice.

2) "It doesn't matter how we got here." Excuse me? It damn well does matter how we got here and who took us here. That's what the election's about! There's not "enough blame to go around." It rests squarely on Obama and the Democrats who shoved through legislation, shouted down dissent, and shamelessly sold the future of the nation to the tune of $5 trillion. If it doesn't matter how we got here, then what's the point of all of this?

3) Several lines were set up to be knock-outs but just turned out to be glancing blows. They were like Don Corleone saying, "I'm gonna make him an offer he can take or leave." Just doesn't have that heat. Like Christie saying, "You see, Mr. President, real leaders don't follow polls--real leaders change polls." Does that mean they change the views? They lead and the people come around? Or Christie saying, "Their plan:  whistle a happy tune while driving us off the fiscal cliff, as long as they are behind the wheel of power." The visual imagery just doesn't compute. They're going to drive themselves off the cliff? Meh.

However, there were a few lines that did strike bada-bing--all over their nice, Ivy League suits.
"They believe in teachers unions. We believe in teachers."
"We have never been victims of destiny. We have always been masters of our own."
"I know this simple truth and I'm not afraid to say it:  our ideas are right for America and their ideas have failed America."

Overall, I'd give it a B. What did you think?

Here's the text, courtesy of Drudge.