This Republican National Convention in Philadelphia nominating George W. Bush of Texas may look and sound more like a Republican governors’ conference: there will be nothing nasty or exotic on that podium, no cultural crusading by the celebrity likes of Pat Buchanan, and not much of the old Republican ideological fire… in sight anyway.
Republican governors held the strategic alliance that nominated George W. as one of their own who could win. Pataki of New York, Ryan of Illinois, Engler of Michigan: they are conservative men with the moderate mission of grinding out government that works, more or less.
Newt Gingrich is the name of what is missing in Philadelphia. George W. may be Newt without the scowl; running mate Dick Cheney was Newt without the charisma in his House years. But Newt defines what’s over now.
(Hosted by Christopher Lydon)
Guests:
Alan Simpson, former U.S. Senator from Wyoming
R. Emmet Tyrell, Jr. of The American Spectator
Whit Ayre, Republican pollster
Arianna Huffington, political maven and host of Shadow Convention 2000.