Tuesday evening at the Republican National Convention might have seemed a little “low energy” compared to Monday’s fiery lineup of speakers (Rudy Giuliani in particular), but Gov. Chris Christie fired up the arena by going after Hillary Clinton and her record as secretary of state. Sure, her clean cookstove initiative was a personal career highlight, but how about that Iran deal? The Russian reset? And even President Obama admits that Libya is “kind of a mess.”
Christie: "tonight, as a former federal prosecutor, I welcome the opportunity to hold HRC accountable for her performance and her character"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) July 20, 2016
Yes, Christie’s was the speech that journalists will be writing about tomorrow, once they regain consciousness after fainting dead away at the sight of an arena chanting, “Lock her up!”
WOW: GOP convention now chanting "Lock her up" re Clinton
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) July 20, 2016
Need a fainting couch? https://t.co/mfnAcme369
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 20, 2016
Better have one ready.
Make America Grow Angrier Again? #RNCinCLE
— Geoffrey Skelley (@geoffreyvs) July 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/KatzOnEarth/status/755579848467288064
I suppose all trials should be determined this way
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) July 20, 2016
Elections are all about optimism and the future, right?
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) July 20, 2016
Exactly. So why does every successive Democrat nominee feel the need to point out just what terrible shape the country is in, even when it’s a Democrat seeking to succeed another Democrat?
Are Dem convention organizers scrambling to do a Trump University mock trial next Tuesday?
— Christina Bellantoni (@cbellantoni) July 20, 2016
Recommended
Looks like Christie hit a nerve. It’s unseemly that a party’s national convention should be so … partisan.
This Christie speech is a fact-checker's nightmare.
— Bi££ Hammond (@NYHammond) July 20, 2016
Better get started, then, now that PolitiFact has already parsed Patricia Smith’s speech from Monday night and gave Clinton a pass.
Prosecuting Hillary, as no one else can, @GovChristie gave great speech at convention. Super-important Trump backer down stretch.
— Larry Kudlow (@larry_kudlow) July 20, 2016
Chris Christie is putting on a master class on how to prosecute a political opponent—and showing Trump why he thinks he shoulda been VP.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) July 20, 2016
Christie: Hillary Clinton cared more about her own secrets than the nation's secrets
— Roger Kimball (@rogerkimball) July 20, 2016
Chris Christie is being absolutely brilliant on Hillary. AG under Trump ?
— Roger Kimball (@rogerkimball) July 20, 2016
I know Christie's speech is totally gimmicky but I think effective too
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) July 20, 2016
Effective, or creepy? Maybe both?
This is red meat. But it's clogging my arteries.
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) July 20, 2016
I detest Clinton, but this Christie-led Salem witch trial stuff, with the villagers yelling "GUILTY," is just creepy. #RNCinCLE
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 20, 2016
Totally agree. https://t.co/0zw1V09Ihi
— Jay Nordlinger (@jaynordlinger) July 20, 2016
Creepy? That’s a valid perspective, and there was a mob-like vibe in the venue. But consider those planted firmly in Camp Hillary who have insisted that her not being indicted is proof of her innocence. There’s a lot of frustration out there among people who aren’t enjoying watching Clinton skate her way to the White House. Besides, is chanting “lock her up” worse than watching Patricia Smith criticize Clinton’s record and then wishing to “beat her to death” for daring to do so?
Here’s the early spin on Christie; take your pick:
Christie has no room to criticize, what with Bridgegate haunting him.
Chris Christie, who's had 4 aides/appointees indicted over sprawling corruption scandal, grins as crowds chant "lock her up". Extraordinary
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) July 20, 2016
If you think Chris Christie can lecture anyone on ethics, we have a bridge to sell you. https://t.co/c1nkZojJFL #RNCinCLE
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 20, 2016
Donald Trump is a fan of dictators like Putin and Assad, so Christie’s not on the same page as the presidential nominee.
Hey Christie, you hate Assad so much. Maybe you should tell your buddy Trump, who has no problem with Assad staying in power. #RNCinCLE
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) July 20, 2016
did @GovChristie just attack @HillaryClinton for being too soft on Putin? Has he forgotten who his new boss is?
— Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) July 20, 2016
Perhaps most shocking of all: Christie has totally messed up the night’s theme of “Making America Work Again.”
The theme for tonight is "Make America Work Again," but almost all speakers hitting HRC, not talking about Trump's economic plans
— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylor) July 20, 2016
Christie prosecuting case against Clinton effectively. But isn't this "Make America Work" night? Far more about @HillaryClinton #RNCinCLE
— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) July 20, 2016
For a Trump #RNCinCLE convention night billed as "Make America Work Again," nothing so far on the economy. Mostly old, discredited attacks.
— Michael Shapiro (@mpshapiro) July 20, 2016
Another example of poor convention organizing: the theme for this evening has been mangled beyond compare
— amy walter (@amyewalter) July 20, 2016
Convention so far has been about how bad Hillary is and how scary the world is – now we get to the "Trump is a good guy" part #RNCinCLE
— Singer (@singernews) July 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins/status/755579681714253825
So much anger and hate. Why couldn’t Christie give a nice speech like the Trump kids would do later; it it surprising how much praise Tiffany Trump and Donald Trump Jr. garnered for their speeches.
Is it just me, or is Donald Trump’s Jr.’s speech the most effective, coherent argument of the convention thus far?
— Blake News (@blakehounshell) July 20, 2016
Best Trump speeches of convention so far: His kids. They are doing what Melania Trump didn't, and needed to: Painting in human side of him.
— adam nagourney (@adamnagourney) July 20, 2016
The Trump children have given the most cohesive character testimonials about the candidate tonight that anyone has given in the last year
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) July 20, 2016
Last hour has been solid in terms of messaging by family/Christie — Trump's a good dad, a tough doer, a decent guy deep down, a builder
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) July 20, 2016
The Tiffany Trump speech was impressive; helpful to her dad. sharing warm and personal anecdotes that have been rarely heard. #RNCinCLE
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) July 20, 2016
So, humanizing Trump is something everyone can get behind? Maybe he’s not evil incarnate after all, and America really can come together and overcome its differences under new leadership?
The Republican Party platform is so hateful, you'd think Donald Trump wrote it himself. https://t.co/AC4VPRtY4M
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 20, 2016
Guess not.
Democrats in 2008 suggested prosecuting Dick Cheney and George Bush for war crimes. Here's your tiny violin over "Lock her Up" media
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 20, 2016
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