Rice Shines in Tampa

At the Republican convention last night, “there was indeed a lofty, high-minded speech, one that managed to forcefully articulate a conservative world view without cheap partisan attacks or facts stretched to the breaking point. But it wasn’t Ryan’s — it was delivered by Condoleezza Rice, the former secretary of state,” Molly Ball reports.

“Rice’s address had a sophistication, ease, and grace almost never found in modern political speeches. It was a speechwriter’s speech, the kind you could imagine reading in a history book. She spoke with a diplomat’s formality and the teleprompter turned off, glancing only occasionally at her notes on the podium. “

E. J. Dionne: “Maybe it’s unfair to say so because former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice didn’t have to carry any water as a member of the Republican ticket. But her speech to the Republican National Convention was more serious and, yes, more presidential than any other speech on Wednesday night. She outshined Paul Ryan.”