from:

The politics junkie: The Republican (Old) Guard

(TIME.com) -- NYT, WP, USAT and WSJ all love Dick Cheney's red meat almost as much as the delegates did. NYT almost triumphant at the approach of news with hed: "Bush-Cheney Ticket Nominated, and the Attacks on Gore Begin." Richard Berke calls speech "the most stinging and unabashedly partisan assault of the convention." WP says he "immediately took aim at Vice President Gore."

USAT is shy, finally springing it on us in the 11th paragraph that "for all the talk in the first three nights of the convention about a positive campaign, he could get down in the dirt if need be." Only straight-arrow USAT would put Cheney's "re-entry" into politics, Ford's stroke -- he's doing fine -- and the rolling roll call before the red meat that had the rest of political journalism salivating again. Even WSJ leads with "scolded," though it's neatly in the context of possible "payback" for Gore camp's ongoing attacks on Cheney's record. They tell us again -- same poll as last time -- that the attacks aren't working, in case we forgot.

Sidekick stories are all looking at the little Bush's big moment.

Quoth the (regal as ever with a "Man in the News" header for W.): "Mr. Bush is almost an accidental candidate, a cocky and cheerful fellow who drifted through much of his life and who was largely unknown in the United States until he assumed his first political office five and a half years ago. Yet he now leads the polls and will have, if elected, one of the thinnest resumes in public service of any president in the last century." And that's pretty much the story right there.

WP is still the cocky fellow and his aides a chance to "demonstrate to the American people that he is presidential" in a coronation speech "they have labored on ... for months." They make the rounds of Republican bigs -- Tommy Thompson, Gingrich and "a Republican senator" -- and work harder than they need to building the suspense.

For USAT, as ever, the analysis is tacit. "38-minute speech is 'ready to go,'" goes the , and lets Bush himself get GOP fans worrying with "the first thing I'm going to do is share with Americans how much I love my parents." Well, at least it'll be "what aides say will be the shortest acceptance speech in recent history: 38 minutes, applause included." Um, good luck.

WSJ prefers the angle -- "as of Wednesday afternoon, there had been at least 16 revisions" -- and speaks with characteristic mischief of past disasters: Goldwater, Humphrey, Bush's "no new taxes." Not to mention Mondale's pledge to raise them. "It was an interesting, but in the end not a very successful, ploy. Mr. Mondale lost to President Reagan in the fall." Classic understatement.

"Why am I here? I wanted to observe this thing in action. This is the most spectacular display of cash-register politics in the history of our country." (NYT) --, "charged onto the convention floor, plopped himself in front of the Florida delegation and began tearing into the Republican party and George W. Bush" in the middle of the roll call.

(WP)

"It's important, I know. I should be more interested. But, like, it's -- well, it's George Bush, right? And he is the Republican nominee for president, and I don't know what else there is to see." -- of abysmal net ratings for the dilly in Philly.

USAT , whatever happened to the religious right?

"Everybody's so anxious to win, they don't want to have any hassles." --Former House Republican leader

"It was not so much that they wanted to give the new philosophy a try... What they were willing to do was give the candidate a pass because they saw it as the only route to victory." --DLC cheese remembering Clinton in '92.

"Eight years is a long time." --

"Bush might as well have nominated Charlton Heston." -- on how the gun lobby loves Cheney. (Incidentally, their sketch of Cheney must be about 20 years old. He looks like Conrad Bain.)

"Has there ever been a more milquetoast meeting, a more treacly trade show, than this Republican National Convention of 2000?" --in

"There's something weird going on here." ---WP's

"Rep. Ernest Fletcher (Ky.) was sitting poolside this morning, sunning himself and reading a book on Colin Powell just a stone's throw from the First Union Center, where the Republicans are meeting for their quadrennial convention." --WP's .

sums up McCain 2004

wonders about the colorful new GOP

disses the GOP's "non-political political convention."

Copyright © 2000 Time Inc.

Thursday, August 3, 2000

• At GOP convention, Bush nephew appeals to younger voters, Hispanics
  
• GOP convention ends with Bush pledge to 'seize the moment of American promise'
  
• Philadelphia police on standby for last-day convention protests
  
• Bush acceptance speech tonight
  
• Bush: 'They had their chance'
  
• Media creates critical mass at convention
  
• Human Rights Campaign chastises GOP 'facade'
  
• Stuart Rothenberg: Understanding the convention 'bounce' not always simple
  
• What to look for at Thursday's convention
  
• At last, GOP faithful get what they came for
  
• Gore close to making choice on running mate, aides say
  
• The politics junkie: The Republican (Old) Guard
  
• Reno urges caution, more research, after Brady Law study
  
• Letterman lashes out at Bush camp over debate
  
• Ford's condition improves, but swollen tongue stumps doctors
  
• Elder Bush provoked by Clinton 'fun' -- Lockhart
  
• Cheney blisters Clinton-Gore administration in acceptance speech
  
• Cheney breaks GOP convention's nonpartisan tone with acceptance speech
  

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