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1.) Condi killed it — The second night of the Republican convention had some spectacular spectacles. Tim Pawlenty played comedian. Mike Huckabee lobbed some zingers. Paul Ryan hit it out of the park in accepting the vice-presidential nomination. But no one could top Condoleezza Rice, who set the bar for speeches at the RNC this year, TheDC’s Caroline May reports:
“Rice spoke of American exceptionalism asserting that there is no barrier to success, not race, religion or nationality. ‘That it does not matter where you came from, it matters where you are going,’ she said to deafening cheers. She took on class warfare and entitlement, noting that Americans are not people of jealousy and distress, but a people of opportunity. ‘Ours has never been a narrative of grievance and entitlement. We have not believed that I am doing poorly because you are doing well. We have not been jealous of one another and never been envious of each other’s success,’ she said to more cheers. ‘Ours has been a belief in opportunity.’”’
Stunning. Simply stunning.
2.) Sensitive State — TheDC’s Will Rahn reports on the ongoings of the State Department’s inanity:
“John M. Robinson, the Chief Diversity Officer at the U.S. Department of State, wants America’s diplomats to know that common phrases and idioms like ‘holding down the fort’ are, in fact, deeply racist. Robinson, who also serves as director of the Department’s Office of Civil Rights, used his ‘Diversity Notes’ feature in the July/August issue of the official ‘Slate Magazine’ to examine the hateful roots of everyday sayings … And in case you’re wondering how he could have done all the etymological detective work necessary to conclude that these phrases came from where he says they came from, and still have time to perform his Chief Diversity Officer duties at the State Department, wonder no more: Robinson doesn’t really know if any of this is true.”
3.) President Obama, Golfer-in-Chief? — Elections often bring out the dumbest arguments. Mitch McConnell trotted one out in the form of an attack Wednesday. TheDC’s Caroline May:
“Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell slammed President Obama for his lack of leadership during a speech at the Republican National Convention, Wednesday evening … ‘For four years, Barack Obama has been running from the nation’s problems,’ the Kentucky senator said, going on to take a jab at Obama’s proclivity for taking time out to golf. ‘He hasn’t been working to earn reelection. He’s been working to earn a spot on the PGA tour.'”
You can fault Obama for many things, but the problems with his leadership have nothing to do with his golf outings. It is eminently possible to walk and choose gum — just as it is possible to run the country competently and play a round of golf on Sundays.
4.) Steele sticks it to MSNBC — MSNBC contributor and former chair of the Republican National Committee says his colleagues at the liberal network annoyed him with their GOP racism charges, reports TheDC’s Caroline May:
“Michael Steele, an MSNBC contributor and former chairman of the RNC, told The Daily Caller on Wednesday that the frequent allegations of Republican racism by his MSNBC colleagues are ‘annoying.’ ‘It’s annoying sometimes, because I don’t think it’s true,’ Steele said of the racism charge that his sometimes leveled by MSNBC hosts like Chris Matthews. ‘Everybody looks at these things through a different set of lenses.'”
MSNBC hosts look through a completely opaque lens, otherwise known as a blindfold.
5.) Poll of the Day: America likes Ann Romney — USA Today/Gallup Poll polls adults nationwide on Ann Romney’s favorability: 42% have a favorable impression of her, 24% have an unfavorable impression, 25% are unsure, while 9% never heard of her.
6.) Tweet of Yesterday — Jonah Goldberg: Classic GOP racism: stereptyping the black woman as an expert on foreign policy.#dogwhistle cc Christ Matthews
VIDEO: Puerto Rico gov says Romney “looked me in the eye” and promised statehood