Former Democratic congressman Artur Davis, who was an Obama co-chair in 2008, came on to play the now-standard role of rueful turncoat who knows better than anybody else how problematic his own party’s choice and conduct is. What came out was the first really fun speech of the convention, a lively and punchy sing-song that began by making fun of the Greek columns at the 2008 convention and ends with Obamacare as a betrayal of the bipartisan spirit of JFK and Bill Clinton. Of the convention next week in Charlotte, he said, “The theme song should be this year’s hit, ‘Now you’re just somebody that I used to know.’”
“This is no dark hour,” he said. “This is the dawn before we remember who we are.” Now that’s how you give a stemwinder.
Artur Davis' switch to the Republicans has made the talent gap between the two parties, already yawning, still wider.
Of all the speeches I thought his was the best.
Davis' speech has been the highlight of a quite lackluster convention. His money line about the dawn, though, was unfortunately mangled and could have been a lot more powerful. This is the dawning of us remembering who we are as a nation. n nThe other pleasurable speech was by Mia Love, the Utah mayor who has her eyes set on higher office. She was truly genuine. n nAnd that's more than I can say for most of the rest. Santorum and Ann were dreadful, I'm sorry to say. Christie was ok. Walker was very good. n nThe Pubs are doing such great work around the country, in the face of obama's unprecedented assault on our core governing values. It's a shame they are not being more effective in communicating what they're doing, and the critical need for what they're doing, to their audience.