The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : McDonnell was Great

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Okay, I never wrote this in advance, but I had thought it was a bad idea to have Gov. McDonnell give the SOTU response. Well, I was wrong. That was by far the most effective SOTU response I have EVER heard in 30 years of listening to these things. I am too tired right now to break down that analysis into more specifics, but I really thought that McDonnell did an incredibly hard job (ALL SOTU responses are incredibly difficult) in a very, very impressive manner. The substance was solid, and the delivery was quite good. He seemed approachable, likeable, serious, upbeat, affable, thoughtful.... and, on substance, very much in tune with the general leanings of the majority of the American public. I entered tonight a moderate fan of McDonnell's. Now count me a solid fan, and very interested in watching him serve in office.

View all comments (17) | Leave a comment

Liberal Reader| 1.27.10 @ 10:57PM

While Virginia's governor seems a decent fellow, and while he gave a pretty good boilerplate Republican speech, that phony simulacrum of the State of the Union, packed with supporters and even government staffers, was ridiculous.

It can't be easy for people in either party to stand in a room facing a camera and follow the President of the United States, but that's just what the opposition has always had to do. I think they ought to go back to it.

The State of the Union is more than just a speech the president gives. Keeping its form special is important for our country.

Mark Martin| 1.28.10 @ 10:51AM

BOO HOO BOO, you can whine all you want, but having Gov. McDonnell speak in front of the Virginia legislature was a brillant move.

Margie| 1.27.10 @ 10:59PM

Quin,
I certainly agree with your assessment! I was happy to also see him for the first time in person (online). Now I see why the people of VA elected him overwhelmingly! And I truly believe that along with his election plus the wins we had in NJ and MA, the Republicans are on their way to winning BIG in November!
Oh Happy Day!

NavyBrat| 1.27.10 @ 11:11PM

"The State of the Union is more than just a speech the president gives. Keeping its form special is important for our country."

Nothing about the "form" of this speech was "special." Not when it was basically a re-hashed campaign speech. Go pitch your fart-in-a-wind sock assertions where people are actually BUYING that flavor of BS.

Franklin| 1.27.10 @ 11:44PM

"that's just what the opposition has always had to do"

For real? "We should do it that way because we've always done it that way".

Seriously??

Liberal Reader| 1.28.10 @ 12:11AM

Yes. Seriously. Tradition means something, and when it's not in the way of serious improvements, I see no reason to abandon it -- especially with cheesy theatre like we saw in Virginia tonight.

Reilly| 1.28.10 @ 8:08AM

I agree that the state capitol setting was cheesy theatre. I think it would have been more appropriate for McDonnell to have constructed a gaudy, phony, greek forum type setting.

Sotarr_the_Wizard| 1.28.10 @ 9:22AM

Well, if we want TRADITION in the Virginia House of Delegates Chamber, McDonnell COULD have worn a bubble helmet and carried a ray-gun.

Lee| 1.28.10 @ 11:08AM

Tradition? Like when the President attacks the Scotus and a decision they made durning the SOTU
address?

Rick| 1.28.10 @ 12:20AM

"especially with cheesy theatre like we saw in Virgina tonight"

A comment like that after Obama basically gave a State of the Union speech blaming everything on everybody but his administration? Between that and the unending succession of references to himself, anyone terming the response to that abortive blame game whine as "cheesy" is dreaming in technicolor.

Yosemeti Sam| 1.28.10 @ 12:37AM

Hmmmmmmm.

BHOs' voluble SOTU spiel speech - invoking squeals from his fellow trough progressives
in the Peoples' HR chamber.

McDonnells' counterpoint presentation to BHOs'highfalutin speech: a study in Jack Webbisms: just the facts ma'am.

Come 2010 elections, there will be a Dragnet like never before to haul in the Democrat socialists and give em time ....

Margie| 1.28.10 @ 12:36PM

Well said.
The Cheesy one's speech was just plain cheesy. While McDonell's speech was REAL. He represents REAL Americans who actually LOVE this country.
The Cheesy one's Socialistic self continues on.
So does the time for the 2010 elections.. and WE are winning!

Spicy Joker| 1.28.10 @ 12:59AM

McDonnell should run against Dim Webb or Dork Warner.

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Sfacheem| 1.28.10 @ 7:12AM

"Tradition means something..."

Talk about preaching to the choir, Mr. Liberal. Tell that to your friends who are systematically blowing up traditional families, traditional jobs, traditional spiritual/moral values, traditional holidays, traditional education, and traditional work ethic.

You can't know how silly it sounds when a liberal speaks of the value of tradition, especially when he's lecturing conservatives, whose world view is based upon the preservation of worthwhile tradition.

mickeymat| 1.28.10 @ 7:14AM

George Allen yesterday said he will not rule out running against Jim Webb again. Maybe McDonnell can run against that loser Warner.

Ocarterma| 1.28.10 @ 10:08AM

I don't usually stick around to see the opposition responses but it was the official chamber setting that made McDonnel's speech interesting enough for me to watch it all the way thru---his substance far outweighed the presidents.