But as the speech reached its conclusion, McCain found his comfort zone and delivered. He'll never give a speech with the oratory skills of Barack Obama, or even Sarah Palin, but he delivered specific policy proposals and crossover talking points that neither of his more vocally gifted counterparts offered. Like many of McCain's speeches, there was much to like here, but it comes filtered through his awkward delivery and a not always receptive audience.
1. Daily Kos diarist BarbinMD:
Holy cow, they've brought back the cottage cheese in the lime green jello look! Grimace, John, grimace! And did you notice...he couldn't even bring himself to say the words, George W. Bush.
2. Onetime vocal McCain opponent Hugh Hewitt:
In a strong speech that crescendoed to a stirring close, Senator McCain laid out a classically conservative series of policy objectives, with a large emphasis on education reform --a very smart priority fore the fall campaign. And his pledge to shake the spending culture of Washington to its roots is as sincere as it is overdue.
3. The increasingly-excitable Andrew Sullivan is feeling more reserved:
It made me realize how much I am still fond of this guy. And also clearer about why this is not his moment. The specifics were very vague, and the entire presentation based on biography, nostalgia and a kind of strained, exhausted mildness. His performance at Saddleback was much, much better. He seemed very tired to me.
4. Reason's Tim Cavanaugh has probably the kindest words you'll hear for McCain coming from the apparently Obama-leaning, but certainly anti-McCain publication:
I think. McCain's speech was good, very gracious, moving in parts, and generally serviceable. The roof was blown off the dump last night, I guess. Maybe this was good enough.
5. And finally, from the conventional in convention wisdom, Swampland's Jay Carney:
A mixed performance. The ending worked, though in the hall I doubt anyone could hear him very well as he spoke through the crowd's applause. The final peroration -- "We're Americans. We don't hide from history. We make history" -- was strong stuff.
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