|
Michael McLeod
JD Vance getting rave reviews
this from a summary in the nytimes re: the republican convention
(his roots are in middletown -- I remember the area; my first newspaper job was as the police reporter with the middletown journal)
Michelle Cottle, political writer for Opinion J.D. Vance brought what Team Trump needed: a fresh face who can deliver even tough hits smoothly, with a charming smile and a sprinkling of humor. The political parts of his speech were nothing special. But the biographical bits were kinda glorious. The story from his youth about how his mamaw threatened to run over a local drug dealer was pure gold. And when Vance introduced his mother, who was in the crowd, “10 years clean and sober”? Chef’s kiss.
Ross Douthat, Times columnist Vance’s mother, 10 years sober, edging out the cuteness of Donald Trump’s granddaughter. Overall, an effective buildup with the Gold Star families and the 98-year-old World War II vet that squandered some momentum with Donald Trump Jr. and finished with Vance delivering a speech that was solid on charm and anecdote and likability but shorter on narrative and rhetorical sweep.
David Firestone, deputy editor, the Times editorial board The emotional gathering of family members of the 13 service members killed in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. They were assembled by convention planners to capitalize on a particularly dumb debate gaffe made by Biden, who said he was the only president in the decade who didn’t have any troops die on his watch. Trump was the president who ridiculed military sacrifice, and Biden’s mistake gave the G.O.P. an important way to neutralize that weakness.
David French, Times columnist Vance’s personal story is genuinely inspiring. Any time he can focus on what he’s overcome and how he’s helped his family members improve their lives, the more people will respond to him.
Dan McCarthy, editor of the periodical Modern Age Vance’s speech was masterly and more than a moment. The night’s most powerful individual moment, however, was hearing the Gold Star father Herman Lopez, whose son Hunter died in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, credit Trump with “a proven record of keeping the peace and honoring those in uniform,” in contrast to Biden’s forgetfulness about sacrifices like his son’s.
Megan K. Stack, contributing Opinion writer Vance’s polished and populist pitch landed like a cleaner and more heartfelt version of Trump’s guttural monologues. He skipped deftly from trade agreements to “cheap Chinese goods” to forgotten, drug-soaked communities like his hometown. He extolled the working man, “union and nonunion alike,” while disparaging Wall Street, the ruling class and undocumented immigrants.
Zeynep Tufekci, Times columnist The best moment for the Trump campaign came when families that had lost loved ones in the American withdrawal from Afghanistan took the stage to vouch for Trump — he’d apparently reached out to them and clearly left a positive impression — and to condemn Biden for not mentioning the names of their loved ones publicly. When Biden interacted with them, they found him uncaring.
Peter Wehner, contributing Opinion writer The extremely moving video recounting Biden’s greatest failure, the botched American withdrawal from Afghanistan, and especially the comments by the Gold Star families. The grief etched on their faces and the anger in their voices were painful and entirely justified.
|
