It is beginning...intro by Fred Thompson is good live...the video stuff is a little corny for me to take completely seriously...uh oh...drawing me in...OK, story of first pitch at Yankee Stadium is good enough without making it sound like he was sporting an injury wearing a bullet-proof vest. That was a good enough moment on its own.

Wow! Magic! The President just appeared. He looks good. Obviously Bush won't be the best speaker we've seen - we've seen some real good ones.

He's doing well. Speaking carefully and slowly. Maybe a little too slowly. Education, prescription drugs...taxes...he's getting into some substance now. The boring legislative stuff most speakers have glossed over.

OK, back to the wider view...terrorism...compassionate conservatism...

Talking about the changing work environment...women in the workplace and the fulfillment of a career - clever to get that in.

Make the tax relief permanent...create jobs by making the country less dependent on foreign sources of energy...

"Frivilous lawsuits" - a code-dig at Edwards. I've heard that a few times through the convention. Expect a lot more of that. It's a winner...

Talking in specifics about expectations for the next term...simplify the Federal Tax Code. Job training...increase funding for community colleges..."American Oportunity Zones" for poorer areas...an older idea come back. Good. Health care now...access...discount and incentives on insurance...portability - a recognition of what he said earlier about recognizing the changing job scene where people change jobs more frequently than they once did.

Medical Liability Reform now - there it is again - a good issue.

Change labor laws to allow more flexibility....Ownership society...seven million more affordable homes in the next ten years to add to the already record numbers in home ownership.

"Nest egg" accounts.

Opportunity for all exists no matter the circumstances...testing and local control. Fighting "the soft bigotry of low expectations." I love that expression.

Concentration on math and science. Testing before graduation...work to get more kids into college.

There is a easy theme here, as there has been throughout the convention, particularly in the faces they've been putting forward, and the themes in the speeches - outreach to minority concerns and the poor. Not just a bow. This is deep and significant.

Mentioning Kerry now. "He's proposed 2 trillion dollars in spending so far, and that's a lot, even for a Senator from Mass..."

Kerry's going to expand the government, rather than expand possibilities. That's a path to the past.

This is great stuff. Exactly what I want to hear from my Republican Party!!!!!!

Welfare reform that strengthens family and requires work.

Mentioning "the unborn child" now. A bow to the Right. Surprising. That's it? A short bow.

Another short bow - supporting the protection of marriage against activist judges.

Going after Kerry again. Some great one-liners, tieing him to Hollywood and against Reagan. Good stuff.

Back to 9/11 again..."I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes." Homeland security - "Striking terrorists abroad, so we do not have to face them at home...working to advance liberty in the broader Middle East..." [as a way to long-term peace] Detailing the progress across the Middle East now...excellent, more of this please. Framing the struggle in Iraq and Afghanistan as a piece of the long-term battle against terrorism. Saddam now..."We must and we will confront threats to America before it is too late." Refreshing us on the history of the build-up, the trips to the UN, the fact that Kerry and Edwards voted to allow force...always takes the choice to defend America after 9/11.

More than 10 million Afghans have registered to vote...an endorsement of democracy...

"When America gives its word, America must keep its word."

Free societies will help us keep the peace. We will train their troops, and our troops will return home with the honor they have earned.

Addressing the troops and their families directly now: "Because of you the world is more just and will be more peaceful." We will give you all the tools, all the resources and all the support you need for victory. My opponent and I have different approaches..." Brings up the K/E vote against the $87billion.

Talks about the Coalition and Kerry's insults to it. Effective!

Talks about the seven Iraqi men who had their hands removed and visited him in the Oval Office. Moving.

A democratic Iraq will be a bulwark by example against the terrorists. "Freedom is on the march." "I believe in the transformational power of Liberty." Lots along these lines. This is important. He can't make these points often enough.

Takes a shot at the New York Times...blog readers are familiar with the quote....because we stood firm then, we live in a better world today.

"Freedom is not America's gift to the world. It is the almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world."

"Generations will know if we kept our faith and kept our word."..."I ask you to stand with me."

Some self-depricating humor now - "People sometimes have to correct my English. I knew I had a problem when even Arnold Schwarzenegger started doing it." Makes fun of his swagger - in Texas called 'walking.' Heh.

Talking about the troops and families he's met. Tears in his eyes... "...seen the character of great nation - decent, idealistic and strong"

"Here buildings fell, here nations rose."

"Our tested and confident nation can achieve anything...we have reached a time for hope. This young century will be liberty's century..."

Over.

GO BALLOONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He started slowly...deliberately...too slowly...but he hit his stride about 15 minutes in and built from there. Bush is at his best talking about the big issues - the spread of liberty and the actions of the troops and the travails of the families. He is dead-on serious and sincere. The emotion is palpable. This guy isn't a cynical line reader.

I didn't think Bush could equal the other speakers we've seen. He did. This performance was great. In style and substance. I swear, I am inspired. This guy has to win.

He made me feel that I am NOT voting against John Kerry. I am voting FOR George Bush. If there are more like me, that's a big success in this day and age.

Satisfying.

Update: Watching the late night Kerry/Edwards rally. Just saw Edwards speak...we've gone from destiny from beyond the stars to "standing at the edge of a cliff..." He's certainly slick. No wonder Kerry carts him around wherever he goes.

Kerry now...he's undoubtedly way slicker off the mark than Bush. RNC=Really Not Compassionate...har..."they attacked my patriotism"...Wow, now he's attacking Cheney's deferments...I don't recall any of the Republicans attacking Kerry's service. Not one word. Misleading the nation into war...allowing the Saudis to set oil prices...Halliburton....snore... Why am I doing this to myself after that treat of a political speech i just saw? (Did someone just start chanting "Yankees, Yankees..."?) Waaaah! I just saw Dennis Kucinich in the background.

It's time for bed.