I sat down with my husband's two remote controls and figured out how to turn on the television. A few minutes later, I'd persuaded it to snap out of some sort of Charter-stupor and give me a news channel; Palin was at the podium, and about to give her speech.

I had just long enough to run to the restroom and pour myself a Tanqueray on the rocks before she started.

It was lovely; the buzz, of course, was that she'd stick to a sort of "getting-to-know-you" speech, rather than taking on the Veep candidate's traditional "attack dog" role.

No.

She re-introduced her family, focusing on her daughters and on her son, who is about to deploy to Iraq (her future son-in-law simply stood up as his fiancee did, when Palin introduced her daughters). Palin introduced her own baby, and talked about special-needs kids. She spoke about small-town values, and how as a mayor she had to actually make decisions, versus just "organizing." Then she spoke about energy, went on the attack, and finished up by highlighting McCain's biography and his qualifications for the job he's, um, applying for.

It's hard to critique the speech because the Palin-mania in the room was already so strong, but I really think she turned in a nice performance. She lost her place once, for just a few seconds, and made two or three little single-word errors that I doubt anyone noticed.

Mostly, though, she held the room. Again, it's hard to say how she would have performed in a crowd that wasn't already so pumped to see her, but I still think she did beautifully.

The makeover was also brilliant: no "Republican red" for Sarah, although I think she's got a soft spot for strong colors. Rimless glasses (the sides in a soft, translucent blue), subtle jewelry, and a light-blue suit that said, "I'm telling the truth, and I can hold my own; but I don't need to be in the spotlight." Hair both up anddown: down, but with a small bun in the back. (I'm including this information because male politicians sometimes complain that women are permitted greater latitude in how they dress, and this is true. But the McCain campaign toned Sarah down considerably for this speech—right down to the glasses and the barely-there lipstick.)

It was a lovely performance, and I think her attacks on Obama were reasonably effective.

I decided I should listen to some analysis, so I tried to turn to another channel. The television went blue, and wouldn't budge. I turned off it and the cable box, and then turned them both on. This time, no pay-per-view menu. No Charter hell. Just a blue television that refused to pay attention to either of the remotes.

And now I'll have to tell my husband that I think I broke the TV, and he'll laugh and show me what I did wrong. And I won't remember, and I'll ask him to write it down.

But I saw Sarah's speech—with any empty bladder, yet, and some bottled water and Tanq-on-the-rocks by my side.

I really think she struck a balance, there. She killed 'em. Softly.

Posted by: Attila Girl at 07:45 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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