Trump’s speech: Effective enough.
1) Reagan’s famous circuit-tested “The Speech” was all facts like Trump’s opening. Can be very effective.
2) Smart decision to implicitly praise Obama (for putatively regretting appointing Hillary!);
3) “Americanism not Globalism” — This section kind of skimpy. Trump seems to have chosen the more conventional law-and-order template. Not so interesting, but he’s not trying for tenure.
4) “Things will never change” vs. “things have to change.” Auspicious anti-reification theme! “The Democrats have explained the economy in various ways. …”
5) Hillary’s “Terrible, terrible crimes” — a bit overstated, no? Terrible judgment, yes.
6) Not sure I like the “I’m the strong man who can defend you powerless people” posture. In a democracy, people aren’t powerless. Why not say that?
7) “Abandon policy of … regime change.” Can’t say it’s substanceless.
8) “Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens, especially for African-American and Latino workers.” OK, I’m happy. But he quickly goes back to talking about violence. Would prefer mockery of open-borders economic Polyannaism, like that of … Paul Ryan.
9) “Not alone any longer.” OK, that resonates.
10) Any sellout on The Wall just got a bit harder;
11) Visa overstay issue is important to Latino voters — i.e. it’s not just the people (mainly Latinos) sneaking across the Mexican border who can bid down wages and take U.S. jobs.
12) “Americans want relief from uncontrolled immigration. … Hillary Clinton is proposing mass amnesty, mass immigration, and mass lawlessness. Her plan will overwhelm your schools and hospitals,” Brexit-tested!
13) OK, the Steve Miller section’s over. Time to wrap it up. …
14) The promise to appoint “a person of similar views” to Scalia seems way more significant than Trump’s previous list of judges (a list that could be added to later);
15: “I will fight for you.” Bob Shrum wins again.
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