Blog to Gordon Keith at "The Ticket" KTCK AM in Dallas

Coverage and Expectations

by Ross Vick

Dear Gordon:

I loved your Muse in the News segment this morning as you, Dunham and Miller discussed the new RNC VP Candidate.

Like you, I watched in admiration last night as she played to the crowd and camera as the ex-professional TV personality and beauty pageant contestant she is.

It makes me wonder why everyone's expectations of her were so low. She's trained to do what she did last night: Smile at the camera, don't trip when you talk, know who your audience is.

Then I had that "coyote ugly" moment.

I listened to your snippets of her speech and heard "that voice." I believe Miller referred to her "Fargo" accent. "That Fargo thing goin' on" I think he said. If she had been chewing gum, the picture would have been complete.

With sarcasm dripping like chocolate fondue off of a plump strawberry onto your only white dress shirt, she didn't play well "audio only." She had me till then. Now I can't get the stain out.

Thanks for opening my eyes by opening my ears to this moment in history. And to be fair, historically speaking, those who watched the Kennedy-Nixon debates found Kennedy the winner. Those who listened only, preferred Nixon. So, as your granny probably told you as mine told me: "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear."

Her "Hockey Mom" line about putting lipstick on a pitbull reminded me of the colloquialism here in Texas: "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig."

Pound for pound, I thought Michelle Obama's speech was tighter, better delivered, more sincere and was full of information about her husband and what he stands for--not as the star of the show last night delivered--a speech about what she's against.

I think in the final analysis, what these two conventions highlight is that the Republican machine is fueled by fear and sarcasm, the Democrat machine runs on hope and charity.

Thanks again for the great show. I'm not sure what it says about how my brain works, but my three sources of radio information input come from KERA, WRR and KTCK.

Best regards,
Ross
Long Time Listener, First Time Caller