ARNOLD: Excellent Optimistic Speech, I hope you guys are listening

[GWB]

"Nixon was a breath of fresh air"
Someone not afraid to talk about Nixon on National TV.

Good speech by Arnold, I am duly impressed. How many people are seeing this?

He has the same optimistic Republican speaking style as Reagan did.

"If you believe that this country, not the United Nations is the best hope for democracy, than you are a Republican."

The transcript will be a great read, but you got to watch or listen to it to really appreciate this speech.

[ThaSaltCracka]

I liked it too, seemed like a good speech.

[wacki]

Arnold for Pres. 2008!
Too bad it would take an amendment for it to happen.

[GWB]

Arnold's speech is definitely worth reading:

Thank you.

What a greeting! This is like winning an Oscar! ... As if I would know!

Speaking of acting, one of my movies was called "True Lies." It's what the Democrats should have called their convention.

My fellow Americans, this is an amazing moment for me. To think that a once-scrawny boy from Austria could grow up to become Governor of California and stand in Madison Square Garden to speak on behalf of the President of the United States that is an immigrant's dream. It is the American dream.

I was born in Europe ... and I've traveled all over the world. I can tell you that there is no place, no country, more compassionate -- more generous -- more accepting -- and more welcoming than the United States of America.

As long as I live, I will never forget that day 21 years ago -- when I raised my hand and took the oath of citizenship.

Do you know how proud I was? I was so proud that I walked around with an American flag around my shoulders all day long.

Tonight, I want to talk about why I'm even more proud to be an American -- why I'm proud to be a Republican -- and why I believe this country is in good hands.

When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria. I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw communism with my own eyes. I remember the fear we had when we had to cross into the Soviet sector. Growing up, we were told, "Don't look the soldiers in the eye. Look straight ahead." It was a common belief that Soviet soldiers could take a man out of his own car and ship him off to the Soviet Union as slave labor.

My family didn't have a car -- but one day we were in my uncle's car. It was near dark as we came to a Soviet checkpoint. I was a little boy, I wasn't an action hero back then, and I remember how scared I was that the soldiers would pull my father or my uncle out of the car, and I'd never see him again. My family and so many others lived in fear of the Soviet boot. Today, the world no longer fears the Soviet Union -- and it is because of the United States of America!

As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. I love Austria and I love the Austrian people -- but I always knew America was the place for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would sit for hours watching American movies -- transfixed by my heroes like John Wayne. Everything about America seemed so big to me -- so open, so possible.

I finally arrived here in 1968.I had empty pockets, but I was full of dreams. The presidential campaign was in full swing. I remember watching the Nixon and Humphrey presidential race on TV. A friend who spoke German and English, translated for me. I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism -- which is what I had just left. But then I heard Nixon speak. He was talking about free enterprise, getting government off your back, lowering taxes, and strengthening the military. Listening to Nixon speak sounded more like a breath of fresh air.

I said to my friend, "What party is he?" My friend said, "He's a Republican." I said, "Then I am a Republican!" And I've been a Republican ever since! And trust me, in my wife's family, that's no small achievement! I'm proud to belong to the party of Abraham Lincoln, the party of Teddy Roosevelt, the party of Ronald Reagan -- and the party of George W. Bush.

To my fellow immigrants listening tonight, I want you to know how welcome you are in this party. We Republicans admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future. One thing I learned about America is that if you work hard and play by the rules, this country is truly open to you. You can achieve anything.

Everything I have -- my career -- my success -- my family -- I owe to America. In this country, it doesn't make any difference where you were born. It doesn't make any difference who your parents were. It doesn't make any difference if, like me, you couldn't even speak English until you were in your twenties.

America gave me opportunities, and my immigrant dreams came true. I want other people to get the same chances I did, the same opportunities. And I believe they can. That's why I believe in this country, that's why I believe in this party -- and that's why I believe in this President.

Now, many of you out there tonight are "Republican" like me in your hearts and in your beliefs. Maybe you're from Guatemala. Maybe you're from the Philippines. Maybe Europe or the Ivory Coast. Maybe you live in Ohio -- Pennsylvania -- or New Mexico. And maybe -- just maybe -- you don't agree with this party on every single issue. I say to you tonight I believe that's not only OK -- that's what's great about this country. Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic -- still be American -- and still be good Republicans.

My fellow immigrants, my fellow Americans, how do you know if you are a Republican? I'll tell you how.

If you believe that government should be accountable to the people, not the people to the government... then you are a Republican! If you believe a person should be treated as an individual, not as a member of an interest group... then you are a Republican! If you believe your family knows how to spend your money better than the government does... then you are a Republican! If you believe our educational system should be held accountable for the progress of our children ... then you are a Republican!

If you believe this country, not the United Nations, is the best hope of democracy in the world ... then you are a Republican! And, ladies and gentlemen ... if you believe we must be fierce and relentless and terminate terrorism ... then you are a Republican!

There is another way you can tell you're a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people ... and faith in the U.S. economy. To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie men!

The U.S. economy remains the envy of the world. We have the highest economic growth of any of the world's major industrialized nations. Don't you remember the pessimism of twenty years ago -- when the critics said Japan and Germany were overtaking the U.S.? Ridiculous!

Now they say India and China are overtaking us. Don't you believe it! We may hit a few BUMPS -- but America always moves ahead! That's what Americans do!

We move prosperity ahead. We move freedom ahead. We move people ahead. Under President Bush, and Vice President Cheney, America's economy is moving ahead in spite of a recession they inherited and in spite of the attack on our homeland.

Now, the other party says there are two Americas. Don't believe that either. I've visited our troops in Iraq, Kuwait, Bosnia, Germany, and all over the world. I've visited our troops in California, where they train before they go overseas. And I've visited our military hospitals. And I can tell you this: Our young men and women in uniform do not believe there are two Americas!

They believe we are one America - and they are fighting for it! We are one America -- and President Bush is defending it with all his heart and soul!

That's what I admire most about the President. He's a man of perseverance. He's a man of inner strength. He is a leader who doesn't flinch, doesn't waiver, does not back down. My fellow Americans, make no mistake about it -- terrorism is more insidious than communism, because it yearns to destroy not just the individual but the entire international order.

The President didn't go into Iraq because the polls told him it was popular. As a matter of fact, the polls said just the opposite. But leadership isn't about polls. It's about making decisions you think are right and then standing behind those decisions. That's why America is safer with George W. Bush as President.

He knows you don't reason with terrorists. You defeat them. He knows you can't reason with people blinded by hate. They hate the power of the individual. They hate the progress of women. They hate the religious freedom of others. They hate the liberating breeze of democracy. But, ladies and gentlemen, their hate is no match for America's decency.

We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children.

We're the America that sends out missionaries and doctors to raise up the poor and the sick. We're the America that gives more than any other country, to fight aids in Africa and the developing world. And we're the America that fights not for imperialism but for human rights and democracy.

You know, when the Germans brought down the Berlin Wall -- America's determination helped wield the sledgehammers. When that lone, young Chinese man stood in front of those tanks in Tiananmen Square -- America's hopes stood with him. And when Nelson Mandela smiled in election victory after all those years in prison America celebrated, too.

We are still the lamp lighting the world -- especially for those who struggle. No matter in what labor camp they slave -- no matter in what injustice they're trapped -- they hear our call ... they see our light ... and they feel the pull of our freedom. They come here -- as I did -- because they believe. They believe in US.

They come because their hearts say to them, as mine did, "If only I can get to America." Someone once wrote -- "There are those who say that freedom is nothing but a dream." They are right. It's the American dream.

No matter the nationality, no matter the religion, no matter the ethnic background, America brings out the best in people. And as Governor of the great state of California -- I see the best in Americans every day ... our police, our firefighters -- our nurses, doctors and teachers -- our parents.

And what about the extraordinary men and women who have volunteered to fight -- for the United States of America! I have such great respect for them and their heroic families.

Let me tell you about the sacrifice and commitment I've seen firsthand. In one of the military hospitals I visited, I met a young guy who was in bad shape. He'd lost a leg -- had a hole in his stomach ... his shoulder had been shot through.

I could tell there was no way he could ever return to combat. But when I asked him, "When do you think you'll get out of the hospital?" He said, "Sir, in three weeks." And do you know what he said to me then? He said he was going to get a new leg ... and get some therapy ... and then he was going back to Iraq to serve alongside his buddies! He grinned at me and said, "Arnold ... I'll be back!"

Ladies and gentlemen, America is back! -- back from the attack on our homeland- back from the attack on our economy -- back from the attack on our way of life. We're back because of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd President of the United States -- George W. Bush.

My fellow Americans ... I want you to know that I believe with all my heart that America remains "the great idea" that inspires the world. It's a privilege to be born here. It's an honor to become a citizen here. It's a gift to raise your family here -- to vote here -- and to live here.

Our president George W. Bush has worked hard to protect and preserve the American dream for all of us. That's why I say ... send - him - back to Washington for four more years!

Thank you, America -- and God bless you all!


source (http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=22899994&brk=1)

[eLROY]

I think the Schwarzenegger content was good, but the wording and delivery wasn't that good. I think yesterday, Monday, at the Republican convention was better than any day at the Democrat convention. But today at the Republican convention was about as bad as the second-worst day at the Democrat convention.

Steele was the best speaker tonight, followed by Elizabeth Dole, followed by a tie between Schwarzenegger and Laura Bush. The Bush daughters were terrible, and have obviously been surrounded by people who humor them. If they want to come over to my place, I'll be a yes-man and laugh at their dumb jokes too.

The best moment of the night, was a smiling W with the softball game in the background. But I think people forget some of the standards of good convention speeches, such as JC Watts, or Ronald Reagan in 1992. I think Giuliani's speech was the most memorable of the first two days.

[ThaSaltCracka]

I thought Arnold was the best, Rudy G's sucked IMO. I also hated those two dumb broads.

[nothumb]

Imagining Arnold giving it, I bet it was a really good speech. Too bad there are some parts of it I think are really false, or hypocritical.

[ QUOTE ]
Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic -- still be American -- and still be good Republicans.


[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, I think Arnold probably believes this - or at least he wants to - but does Karl Rove? Does George Bush? This is a load of crap given the platform of this campaign, a campaign that makes you sign a 'loyalty oath' just to watch the President speak. I'm sorry, but calling people unpatriotic for dissenting has been more or less the GOP's trademark of late.


[ QUOTE ]
To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie men!


[/ QUOTE ]

I can see how some people find this funny, but I don't. I appreciate that Arnold is self-deprecating and willing to joke, but I don't like the idea of turning our whole political discourse into a festival of catch-phrases and celebrity-worship. Call me a crabby bastard, I don't care.

I don't hate Schwarzenegger, although some of his movies are so crass and xenophobic it makes me sad. But I hate seeing him up here as if he represents the Republican party and the direction it is pushing our country - he doesn't.

NT

[andyfox]

I didn't hear the speech, did he really say Nixon was a breath of fresh air?

Compared to what?

[Zeno]

I knew that would get you going.

[ QUOTE ]
Compared to what?

[/ QUOTE ]


Dragon breath?

Give Arnold some slack, he is an Actor.

-Zeno

[Rooster71]

[ QUOTE ]
"Nixon was a breath of fresh air"
Someone not afraid to talk about Nixon on National TV.

Good speech by Arnold, I am duly impressed. How many people are seeing this?

He has the same optimistic Republican speaking style as Reagan did.

"If you believe that this country, not the United Nations is the best hope for democracy, than you are a Republican."

The transcript will be a great read, but you got to watch or listen to it to really appreciate this speech.

[/ QUOTE ]
It was a good speech. It's too bad that Arnold is nowhere near being a typical representation of the Republican platform.

[andyfox]

One is reminded of the line in My Favorite Year: "I am not an actor, I am a movie star."

[andyfox]

I just read the transcript that GWB posted. Nixon was a breath of fresh air compared to his socilaist opponent, Hubert Humphrey.

I remember both Humphrey and Nixon quite well. Only someone who considers himself an actor could find Nixon's words a breath of fresh air compared with Humphrey's.

[andyfox]

Evidently a simple man. He never stopped being a Republican even after that great man, Nixon, was shown to be a crazed criminal. An anti-semitic breath of fresh air. And now he likes Bush because he he doesn't flinch or back down. Shouldn't we admire someone because of the quality of the content of their ideas and actions, rather than because they're unwilling to consider alternatives?

I like the last part of the speech, beginning with the Peace Corps. The first part is embarrassing. What a colossal ego. Bush's more natural personality should be a true breath of fresh air after the contrived personalities of The Terminator and McCain.

[NotReady]

[ QUOTE ]

Only someone who considers himself an actor could find Nixon's words a breath of fresh air compared with Humphrey's.


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism -- which is what I had just left.


[/ QUOTE ]
I think he was having trouble distinguishing Humphrey from Krushchev et al.

[GWB]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Only someone who considers himself an actor could find Nixon's words a breath of fresh air compared with Humphrey's.


[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

I heard Humphrey saying things that sounded like socialism -- which is what I had just left.


[/ QUOTE ]
I think he was having trouble distinguishing Humphrey from Krushchev et al.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, he was refering to the growing socialism of Austria and the rest of Western Europe. Continental Europe has continued its decline into socialism after Arnold left.

[natedogg]

"To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: "Don't be economic girlie men!" "

This line was so awkward and so obviously shoe-horned in at all costs for the humor affect that it didn't work.

"You know, when the Germans brought down the Berlin Wall, America's determination helped wield the sledgehammers. When that lone, young Chinese man stood in front of those tanks in Tiananmen Square, America's hopes stood with him. "

Co-opting the heroic image of the Tiananmen Square protest is beyond the pale. Since that point we have done nothing but bow and scrape before the awesome Chinese economy. We have done everything we can to appease and placate china, including turning the other way when they kidnapped and tortured an american citizen, Harry Woo. (Thank you Clinton).

Tiananmen Square, and our govt's reaction to it, was a DISGRACE to america. Not something to lauded as one of OUR victories against oppression. I nearly vomited at this point in the speech.

And of course, the usual string of empty pandering platitudes that convey nothing:

"America brings out the best in people."
"We Republicans admire your ambition. We encourage your dreams. We believe in your future. "

It's the empty pandering that bothers me the most.

The convention feels more like a 9/11 memorial than an event for presenting the vision of the next four years.

natedogg

[cjromero]

Both sides pander. It's what political parties have always done, and what they will continue to do. It's no different than the Democrats pandering to their base by engaging in class warfare, scaring senior citizens into thinking Republicans will take away their Social Security, and by saying that there are "two Americas." Or voting against the Patriot Act not because of its potential ramifications on our personal liberties, but because the unions didn't like part of it.

The political conventions are a huge infomercial for the political parties. Neither side presents a detailed vision for the next few years, because most Americans wouldn't bother to listen. The sweeping statements, however hollow, are simply more appealing to the average citizen.

[cjromero]

It amazes me that people complain about the Republican platform and their supposed lack of inclusion, when the Democrats have refused to let a pro-life Democrat (and there are plenty) speak at their convention since 1988. Not to mention the fact that the Democratic platform takes no position on the war in Iraq, even though over 70% of rank and file Democrats think the war was a mistake.

The platforms of both parties contain elements that many members of each party disagree with.

[NotReady]

[ QUOTE ]

When I was a boy, the Soviets occupied part of Austria. I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw communism with my own eyes. I remember the fear we had when we had to cross into the Soviet sector. Growing up, we were told, "Don't look the soldiers in the eye. Look straight ahead." It was a common belief that Soviet soldiers could take a man out of his own car and ship him off to the Soviet Union as slave labor.

My family didn't have a car -- but one day we were in my uncle's car. It was near dark as we came to a Soviet checkpoint. I was a little boy, I wasn't an action hero back then, and I remember how scared I was that the soldiers would pull my father or my uncle out of the car, and I'd never see him again. My family and so many others lived in fear of the Soviet boot. Today, the world no longer fears the Soviet Union -- and it is because of the United States of America!

As a kid I saw the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's a difference?

[GWB]

[ QUOTE ]
The convention feels more like a 9/11 memorial than an event for presenting the vision of the next four years

[/ QUOTE ]

Not to worry. On Thursday I will present you with my vision for the next four years.

And next week we will memorialize the 9/11 victims, as a country we seem to have largely forgotten them - and that needs to be rectified.

[andyfox]

The whole thing was embarrassing, not just the first part. Telling a touching story of a man who lost a leg in Iraq, he used it as a lead up to an "I'll be back" punchline. What an egocentric buffoon.

[GWB]

If you want to watch the Schwarzenegger speech on your PC, go to this C-Span web page: C-Span convention coverage (http://www.c-span.org/2004vote/convention.asp?Cat=Special_Topic&Code=GOP&Rot_Cat_ CD=GOP)

The Guiliani, McCain and other speeches are available too.

[nothumb]

[ QUOTE ]
It amazes me that people complain about the Republican platform and their supposed lack of inclusion, when the Democrats have refused to let a pro-life Democrat (and there are plenty) speak at their convention since 1988. Not to mention the fact that the Democratic platform takes no position on the war in Iraq, even though over 70% of rank and file Democrats think the war was a mistake.

The platforms of both parties contain elements that many members of each party disagree with.

[/ QUOTE ]

It amazes me when people respond to my posts assuming I am an operative for the DNC. I'm not voting Democrat, and I'm not just talking about the convention speakers. Also, your comparison is faulty in a number of ways.

First of all, my complaint was not that the Republican party is not inclusive. I expect them not to be inclusive, this doesn't bother me at all. I was pointing out that they are giving a false impression of compassion, social tolerance, etc by putting a friendly, inclusive guy like Ahnold, who is gay-friendly and whatnot, on the face of a party that supports banning gay marriage and various other socially intolerant policies.

Second, there is a difference between being 'inclusive' in terms of showing all sides of your party and being 'inclusive' in terms of being tolerant, humanitarian and compassionate. The Democrats don't let pro-lifers speak for the same reason Republicans don't have gay rights activists speak: it's not their main constituency. There are limits to the extent to which either party goes in trying to appear to have a broad base; and that limit is precisely where their well-paid analysts have decided they will alienate more core voters than they will bring in new ones.

The only defense you have of these guys is to turn around and make nonsensical comparisons or attacks on the other party? Pretty common, pretty weak tactic, getting very old IMO.

NT

[John Cole]

Andy,

How do you remember these lines? Well, here's another from Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not To Be: "That great, great Polish actor, Joseph Tura." Played, of course, by Jack Benny. Now substitute Austrian for Polish.

[anatta]

Republicans speak of their love for democracy but really its power at any costs. Look at Clinton's impeachment. The people voted him President, and they trumped up those ridicoulous charges. Look at the 2000 election. The people spoke, and you would think that would count for something, but we couldn't even get an honest count, just a Supreme Court appointment.

During the Summer of 2002, two Candidates for Governor debated the issues. An election was held for the term of Governor. Davis won again. Shortly thereafter (weeks), conservative radio started a movement, funded by a Republican politician, to misuse clause that was supposed to be for serious malfeasance, along with the general unpopularity of politicians, paid petitioners, etc. to stage a rather brilliant coup.

Your hero, Arnold, refused to even debate Davis. I tend to think debates foster democracy, and elections are important. But I guess if you are a tough ass combat veteran who has dedicated his life to the issues of the people, you don't have a chance against a movie star, after all he killed a lot of bad guys in Commando, and did you see what he did to the Predator?