His turn: McCain at the RNC – open thread; Anti-war disrupters sabotage McCain’s speech
Scroll for updates…anti-war loons disrupt McCain’s speech…full text added below…Memorable line: “I’m not running for president because I think I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.”
My bottom line on the speech:
McCain is McCain. He was who he’s always been tonight: a war hero with an unabashed love of country who acknowledges his flaws, gives too much benefit of the doubt to his political opponents, and bends over backwards to reach out to the other side of the aisle in misguidedly mistaking partisanship for evil. But he’s also a man who has taken many risks, desires victory over surrender in the War on Terror, and, after dissing the GOP base time and again, stands beside a vice presidential nominee who breathes new life and hope into grass-roots, outside-the-Beltway conservatism.
Originally posted at 9:04pm Eastern.
It’s true. I can’t work up the same amount of enthusiasm for John McCain’s speech tonight as I had last night for Gov. Palin.
But Gov. Palin has given us conservatives Hope.
Yesterday’s euphoria is significantly dampened by the presence of Lindsay Grahamnesty, who is currently on stage talking Iraq and the surge.
Waiting to see if he Hispanders…
Grahamnesty is such a mediocre speaker. What a buzzkill, as commenter PBoilermaker put it, to stick him in prime time.
The biggest cheer of his speech so far came when he mentioned Sarah Palin.
Thanks to our friends at UStream, you can watch the streaming video of tonight’s speeches over at Hot Air. Allah’s got details of the “no negativity” speech McCain has planned. Stay tuned.
If anyone watched Obama/O’Reilly, give us your thoughts.
In other news: Keith Olbermann’s head explodes for the 9,999th time over a 9/11 tribute video shown at the convention.
***
Here’s the Sarah Palin bio video that got bumped yesterday:
10:20pm Eastern. McCain’s on. Anti-war protesters are in the stands. McCain says he has “respect” for Obama and his supporters.
The gigantic screen behind him is a weird green. Now, it’s a cornfield. Now, it’s sky blue with a huge flag waving.
Sorry, it’s quite distracting.
McCain declares: “We’re going to win this election.” Big applause.
10:23pm Eastern. Un-freaking-believable. More disrupters in the crowd.
Crowd chants “USA!”
McCain: “Please don’t be diverted by the ground noise and the static.”
He’s handling it well. But how the hell did they get in?
“Americans want us to stop yelling at each other, ok?”
AGAIN, more disrupters.
McCain salutes Palin.
HUGE, HUGE applause.
10:32pm Eastern. Another disruption.
Here’s the full text of the speech. No, not a word about immigration and border security:
Thank you all very much. Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans — the privilege of accepting our party’s nomination for President of the United States. And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence.
In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn’t any different. That’s a tribute to the candidates who opposed me and their supporters. They’re leaders of great ability, who love our country, and wished to lead it to better days. Their support is an honor I won’t forget.
I’m grateful to the President for leading us in those dark days following the worst attack on American soil in our history, and keeping us safe from another attack many thought was inevitable; and to the First Lady, Laura Bush, a model of grace and kindness in public and in private. And I’m grateful to the 41st President and his bride of 63 years, and for their outstanding example of honorable service to our country.
As always, I’m indebted to my wife, Cindy, and my seven children. The pleasures of family life can seem like a brief holiday from the crowded calendar of our nation’s business. But I have treasured them all the more, and can’t imagine a life without the happiness you give me. Cindy said a lot of nice things about me tonight. But, in truth, she’s more my inspiration than I am hers. Her concern for those less blessed than we are — victims of land mines, children born in poverty and with birth defects — shows the measure of her humanity. I know she will make a great First Lady.
When I was growing up, my father was often at sea, and the job of raising my brother, sister and me would fall to my mother alone. Roberta McCain gave us her love of life, her deep interest in the world, her strength, and her belief we are all meant to use our opportunities to make ourselves useful to our country. I wouldn’t be here tonight but for the strength of her character.
My heartfelt thanks to all of you, who helped me win this nomination, and stood by me when the odds were long. I won’t let you down. To Americans who have yet to decide who to vote for, thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to win your trust. I intend to earn it.
Finally, a word to Senator Obama and his supporters. We’ll go at it over the next two months. That’s the nature of these contests, and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and admiration. Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other. We’re dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. No country ever had a greater cause than that. And I wouldn’t be an American worthy of the name if I didn’t honor Senator Obama and his supporters for their achievement.
But let there be no doubt, my friends, we’re going to win this election. And after we’ve won, we’re going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again, and get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace.
These are tough times for many of you. You’re worried about keeping your job or finding a new one, and are struggling to put food on the table and stay in your home. All you ever asked of government is to stand on your side, not in your way. And that’s just what I intend to do: stand on your side and fight for your future.
And I’ve found just the right partner to help me shake up Washington, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska. She has executive experience and a real record of accomplishment. She’s tackled tough problems like energy independence and corruption. She’s balanced a budget, cut taxes, and taken on the special interests. She’s reached across the aisle and asked Republicans, Democrats and Independents to serve in her administration. She’s the mother of five children. She’s helped run a small business, worked with her hands and knows what it’s like to worry about mortgage payments and health care and the cost of gasoline and groceries.
She knows where she comes from and she knows who she works for. She stands up for what’s right, and she doesn’t let anyone tell her to sit down. I’m very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country. But I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming.
I’m not in the habit of breaking promises to my country and neither is Governor Palin. And when we tell you we’re going to change Washington, and stop leaving our country’s problems for some unluckier generation to fix, you can count on it. We’ve got a record of doing just that, and the strength, experience, judgment and backbone to keep our word to you.
You know, I’ve been called a maverick; someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. Sometimes it’s meant as a compliment and sometimes it’s not. What it really means is I understand who I work for. I don’t work for a party. I don’t work for a special interest. I don’t work for myself. I work for you.
I’ve fought corruption, and it didn’t matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans. They violated their public trust, and had to be held accountable. I’ve fought big spenders in both parties, who waste your money on things you neither need nor want, while you struggle to buy groceries, fill your gas tank and make your mortgage payment. I’ve fought to get million dollar checks out of our elections. I’ve fought lobbyists who stole from Indian tribes. I fought crooked deals in the Pentagon. I fought tobacco companies and trial lawyers, drug companies and union bosses.
I fought for the right strategy and more troops in Iraq, when it wasn’t a popular thing to do. And when the pundits said my campaign was finished, I said I’d rather lose an election than see my country lose a war.
Thanks to the leadership of a brilliant general, David Petreaus, and the brave men and women he has the honor to command, that strategy succeeded and rescued us from a defeat that would have demoralized our military, risked a wider war and threatened the security of all Americans.
I don’t mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I’ve had quite a few tough ones in my life. But I learned an important lesson along the way. In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is the real test.
I fight for Americans. I fight for you. I fight for Bill and Sue Nebe from Farmington Hills, Michigan, who lost their real estate investments in the bad housing market. Bill got a temporary job after he was out of work for seven months. Sue works three jobs to help pay the bills.
I fight for Jake and Toni Wimmer of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Jake works on a loading dock; coaches Little League, and raises money for the mentally and physically disabled. Toni is a schoolteacher, working toward her Master’s Degree. They have two sons, the youngest, Luke, has been diagnosed with autism. Their lives should matter to the people they elect to office. They matter to me.
I fight for the family of Matthew Stanley of Wolfboro, New Hampshire, who died serving our country in Iraq. I wear his bracelet and think of him every day. I intend to honor their sacrifice by making sure the country their son loved so well and never returned to, remains safe from its enemies.
I fight to restore the pride and principles of our party. We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. We lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger. We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust, when we valued our power over our principles.
We’re going to change that. We’re going to recover the people’s trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire. The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics.
We believe everyone has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach their God-given potential from the boy whose descendents arrived on the Mayflower to the Latina daughter of migrant workers. We’re all God’s children and we’re all Americans.
We believe in low taxes; spending discipline, and open markets. We believe in rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor.
We believe in a strong defense, work, faith, service, a culture of life, personal responsibility, the rule of law, and judges who dispense justice impartially and don’t legislate from the bench. We believe in the values of families, neighborhoods and communities.
We believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of Americans. Government that doesn’t make your choices for you, but works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself.
I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. I will open new markets to our goods and services. My opponent will close them. I will cut government spending. He will increase it.
My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate them. My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance. His plan will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor.
Keeping taxes low helps small businesses grow and create new jobs. Cutting the second highest business tax rate in the world will help American companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas. Doubling the child tax exemption from $3500 to $7000 will improve the lives of millions of American families. Reducing government spending and getting rid of failed programs will let you keep more of your own money to save, spend and invest as you see fit. Opening new markets and preparing workers to compete in the world economy is essential to our future prosperity.
I know some of you have been left behind in the changing economy and it often seems your government hasn’t even noticed. Government assistance for unemployed workers was designed for the economy of the 1950s. That’s going to change on my watch. My opponent promises to bring back old jobs by wishing away the global economy. We’re going to help workers who’ve lost a job that won’t come back, find a new one that won’t go away.
We will prepare them for the jobs of today. We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we’ll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage.
Education is the civil rights issue of this century. Equal access to public education has been gained. But what is the value of access to a failing school? We need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice, remove barriers to qualified instructors, attract and reward good teachers, and help bad teachers find another line of work.
When a public school fails to meet its obligations to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to give it to them. Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have that choice and their children will have that opportunity.
Senator Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students. And when I’m President, they will.
My fellow Americans, when I’m President, we’re going to embark on the most ambitious national project in decades. We are going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us very much. We will attack the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore, and we’ll drill them now. We will build more nuclear power plants. We will develop clean coal technology. We will increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. We will encourage the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles.
Senator Obama thinks we can achieve energy independence without more drilling and without more nuclear power. But Americans know better than that. We must use all resources and develop all technologies necessary to rescue our economy from the damage caused by rising oil prices and to restore the health of our planet. It’s an ambitious plan, but Americans are ambitious by nature, and we have faced greater challenges. It’s time for us to show the world again how Americans lead.
This great national cause will create millions of new jobs, many in industries that will be the engine of our future prosperity; jobs that will be there when your children enter the workforce.
Today, the prospect of a better world remains within our reach. But we must see the threats to peace and liberty in our time clearly and face them, as Americans before us did, with confidence, wisdom and resolve.
We have dealt a serious blow to al Qaeda in recent years. But they are not defeated, and they’ll strike us again if they can. Iran remains the chief state sponsor of terrorism and on the path to acquiring nuclear weapons. Russia’s leaders, rich with oil wealth and corrupt with power, have rejected democratic ideals and the obligations of a responsible power. They invaded a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the world’s oil supply, intimidate other neighbors, and further their ambitions of reassembling the Russian empire. And the brave people of Georgia need our solidarity and prayers. As President I will work to establish good relations with Russia so we need not fear a return of the Cold War. But we can’t turn a blind eye to aggression and international lawlessness that threatens the peace and stability of the world and the security of the American people.
We face many threats in this dangerous world, but I’m not afraid of them. I’m prepared for them. I know how the military works, what it can do, what it can do better, and what it should not do. I know how the world works. I know the good and the evil in it. I know how to work with leaders who share our dreams of a freer, safer and more prosperous world, and how to stand up to those who don’t. I know how to secure the peace.
When I was five years old, a car pulled up in front of our house. A Navy officer rolled down the window, and shouted at my father that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I rarely saw my father again for four years. My grandfather came home from that same war exhausted from the burdens he had borne, and died the next day. In Vietnam, where I formed the closest friendships of my life, some of those friends never came home with me. I hate war. It is terrible beyond imagination.
I’m running for President to keep the country I love safe, and prevent other families from risking their loved ones in war as my family has. I will draw on all my experience with the world and its leaders, and all the tools at our disposal — diplomatic, economic, military and the power of our ideals — to build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace.
In America, we change things that need to be changed. Each generation makes its contribution to our greatness. The work that is ours to do is plainly before us. We don’t need to search for it.
We need to change the way government does almost everything: from the way we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children. All these functions of government were designed before the rise of the global economy, the information technology revolution and the end of the Cold War. We have to catch up to history, and we have to change the way we do business in Washington.
The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn’t a cause, it’s a symptom. It’s what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.
Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That’s how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not.
Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn’t think of them first, let’s use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let’s try sharing it. This amazing country can do anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and Independents to serve with me. And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.
We’re going to finally start getting things done for the people who are counting on us, and I won’t care who gets the credit.
I’ve been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I’ve never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn’t thank God for the privilege.
Long ago, something unusual happened to me that taught me the most valuable lesson of my life. I was blessed by misfortune. I mean that sincerely. I was blessed because I served in the company of heroes, and I witnessed a thousand acts of courage, compassion and love.
On an October morning, in the Gulf of Tonkin, I prepared for my 23rd mission over North Vietnam. I hadn’t any worry I wouldn’t come back safe and sound. I thought I was tougher than anyone. I was pretty independent then, too. I liked to bend a few rules, and pick a few fights for the fun of it. But I did it for my own pleasure; my own pride. I didn’t think there was a cause more important than me.
Then I found myself falling toward the middle of a small lake in the city of Hanoi, with two broken arms, a broken leg, and an angry crowd waiting to greet me. I was dumped in a dark cell, and left to die. I didn’t feel so tough anymore. When they discovered my father was an admiral, they took me to a hospital. They couldn’t set my bones properly, so they just slapped a cast on me. When I didn’t get better, and was down to about a hundred pounds, they put me in a cell with two other Americans. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t even feed myself. They did it for me. I was beginning to learn the limits of my selfish independence. Those men saved my life.
I was in solitary confinement when my captors offered to release me. I knew why. If I went home, they would use it as propaganda to demoralize my fellow prisoners. Our Code said we could only go home in the order of our capture, and there were men who had been shot down before me. I thought about it, though. I wasn’t in great shape, and I missed everything about America. But I turned it down.
A lot of prisoners had it worse than I did. I’d been mistreated before, but not as badly as others. I always liked to strut a little after I’d been roughed up to show the other guys I was tough enough to take it. But after I turned down their offer, they worked me over harder than they ever had before. For a long time. And they broke me.
When they brought me back to my cell, I was hurt and ashamed, and I didn’t know how I could face my fellow prisoners. The good man in the cell next door, my friend, Bob Craner, saved me. Through taps on a wall he told me I had fought as hard as I could. No man can always stand alone. And then he told me to get back up and fight again for our country and for the men I had the honor to serve with. Because every day they fought for me.
I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else’s. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn’t my own man anymore. I was my country’s.
I’m not running for president because I think I’m blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God.
If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.
I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.
Fight for what’s right for our country.
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children’s future.
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.
Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.
Thank you, and God Bless you.
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Also, the immigrants need to assimilate not balkanize. They need to be Americans, first and last. No hyphens.
Yes I agree committed glad to hear that that is the case of the majority although I remain unconvinced. If you think we cams to the new world to have the same as the old you got another thing coming, and that doesn’t mean you, necessarily.
Roger in hose Diego=deleted
I’ve posted my view on immigration in another thread on this site… the RINO one. I find it a very useful metaphor.
tgusa, God bless you, and God bless the USA!
I thought it was a great speech. McCain certainly does not have the oratory grace of a teleprompted Obama, but he has a life experience that makes his the only real candidate for President in 2008.
Tonight I met John McCain, the man. I knew who he was before tonight, but I never knew what made him tick. We got a real glimpse of that this evening in the revealing part of his speech about being blessed by misfortune.
His transformation from a person who was all about John McCain, to a man that was all about his Country. His metamorphisis from a man that appreciated his Country, to a man that truly loved his Country and the decency of the United States.
It went a ong way to help explain his position on immigration. While I do not hold those same views, I now understand that it is his desire to fuel his vision of decency that causes him to embrace that position.
Tonight I saw a giant of a decent man, who, by comparison, made his opponent look like small. The comparison one could not help to draw between Obama and McCain was a stark contrast. And next to John McCain, Barak Obama is a minute shell of a candidate. An empty suit spouting empty promises and empty visions of hope.
Every time Obama whines, we will be reminded of McCain enduring hardships that Obama will never fathom. A community organizer in love with himself, versus a humble servant in love with his Country.
Like I said, a great speech.
I’ve hardly read anything on this blog tonight -so I could comment my reaction about the Republican Convention.
Michelle, the protestors hardly sabatoged McCain’s speech – in fact – he showed that they were a mere moment of static.
I sincerely say “WOW”.
This was the most exciting convention I’ve ever seen.
To any Obama supporters who might be commenting on this blog – I say to you -all your comments are welcome. (by me anyway)
To those who claim to be conservative – and still have reservations – or even negative things to say about McCain after one of John McCain’s greatest speeches ever..I say to you that I hope you slip below that muck you so cherish and live in – and stay stuck in it forever.
Over and out…
Ok Roger, dammit, God bless you and the USA too. Friends?
So, in November, if nihilism triumphs and Obama is elected president, then it’s Sarahcuda for president in ‘12? What about Jindal? Choosing one over the other would be a good problem to have.
Great job, Senator McCain.
One thing, other than witnessing history with the great Sarah Palin, was the changing of my heart towards McCain.
McCain/Palin’08!!
McCain did pretty good in my opinion. I liked the tough talk on education, but would have liked to have seen an outline of a firm energy plan rolled-out tonight. Not just the new drilling now, solar, nuclear, etc. It would have been a perfect opportunity to energize the base and attract more of the undecideds.
As to illegal immigration, I noticed that just like the Democrats, McCain made no mention. Maybe they have heard us a little bit.
A CBS poll released today has the race even again. I look forward to the debates so we can showcase our ideas for America as opposed to BHO’s disdain for America.
I guess Palin’s speech really got to Jesse! They are falling apart:
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080904/D930009G1.html
OK…I thought this was one of the best speeches that McCain has ever given. It was sincere, it was nowhere near as insulting as it usually is to the conservatives etc.
This loser Krauthammer is saying that McCain just gave a speech to try and get Bush’s third term. Is he kidding? I saw nothing of that in this speech. I would like o know when, exactly Krauthammer decided to throw in with the Obama campaign, because everything he just said basically came straight from Obama’s playbook.
I think the last two days have basically cemented McCain as the next President, and they have made this election theirs to lose. They have turned this entire race around in the space of a week. Unless they do something incredibly stupid and shoot themselves in the foot, they will easily take this election, leaving the Liberals to scream their favorite mantras: “It was racism” “It was fraud” and the best…”Republicans cheated”
That’s right. In two months, the cries of racism and voter intimidation and fraud from the idiots on the Left with reach new heights in deafening cacophony. But we all know that it will simply be a case of the very best beating those that have absolutely no business being in the Oval Office.
And Ike’s grand-daughter is now the new darling of the Liberals. Shame on her.
Oh. My. God.
I never, ever would have expected a speech like that from a senator, my disdain of bloated self serving bureaucrats sucking the life out of this fine country is famous in this area. Where was this during the primaries? Where was the fire and the passion? I still disagree with John on immigration, but he’s turned me.
A month ago I was under a cloud: a senator running against a senator. We’re doomed. Then Obama picked that tool, Biden, as his running mate and I honestly gave up. Since I’m relocating in 2 weeks it’s unlikely that I’d be able to register to vote when I get to my new location and I was truly looking forward to not voting for the very first time in my life. I was that disgusted with the entire thing.
Last week a friend said “Hang in there, trust the Captain”
Then John picked Sarah Palin and I said “Wait a minute, this was probably the most politically savvy move I’ll ever see in my lifetime!”
I saw her courage under fire, and I saw the Captain stand by his choice, and I saw no hint that Sarah would be looking up at a bus undercarrage ala Granny Obama and I thought “This guy isn’t like the other losers.”
Then the speech tonight.
Oh. My. God.
This sorry old vet’s eyes are still teared up with pride and joy that I’ve finally found someone who actually gets it. As the crowd went wild I realized that finally the Republican party is rejoining me, it’s coming back from it’s flirtation with the tired old party machine garbage that caused the party of Reagan to abandon me and those that are sick of the way Washington is destroying this country.
Thank you Captain McCain, and I’m going to do everything that I can to put you in office. I’ll even find me an absentee ballot to push you over the top. And then I’m going to hold you to your promises. But don’t worry. I’ll help.
Well said Jim M. My thoughts exactly.
Holy Guacamole, way too many comments to wade through!
Just watched Obama on Fox.com. Nothing groundbreaking. Obama says he’ll kill Bin Laden, so what?
I do appreciate Bill’s straightforward manner with him. Its better than the usual swooning.
Is he going to kill him by talking him to death?
We’re not big McCain fans in our home, but we both thought it was a good speech and McCain did well. Palin truly has excited us. McCain/Palin is getting our votes.
Saw O’Reilly/Obama. Don’t think Obama got the boost he thought he would get which is why he HAD to appear tonight. Our nation’s security will not be safe with Obama in the White House. Thought Bill did well. Obama still can’t admit he was wrong. Pathetic. Arrogance doesn’t wear well.
McCain gave a speech tonight that told who he is and why he is the way he is. God Bless John McCain and God Bless America!
Jim M:
Well said. My military husband liked the speech and had tears in his eyes. I had tears in my eyes.
I think that McCain is quite a transformational character who has flaws and made mistaks and is honest about it. Obummer? Not so much.
As I’ve felt about Palin, I feel McCain is a self-made individual. Obummer has gotten the attention of the media and freebie crowd because he’s benefited from his color, his connections, and rode the coattails of rich donors. There is a stark contrast between the two.
It will be left up to the independents to decide the election. McCain’s personal history is more well-known and epic. People know him for the maverick that he is. If the Obummer campaign wants to continue hanging their hat on the McCain-Bush connections and hug photo-ops instead of engaging on the issues, they’re making a mistake.
I’m sorry, but McCain isn’t Pres. Bush. McCain isn’t my kind of conservative and why I didn’t vote for him in the primary. However, I think that honest people that haven’t fallen into Obummer’s trap will admit that.
I though the speech was very good, but I think the debates is where we will make the most ground..
That’s where the Democrats are anemic, on Policy..
This Speech, talk & theatrical stuff is their world. Addressing actual issues is for Conservatives..
I think the disrupters actually helped McCain. He came out somewhat tight. But, then the slight commotion. His great line about noise and static (which I think had to be ad libbed). Then he got going. It was a good McCain performance.
While watching CNN (briefly, mind you) they were interviewing some folks from TX, who were in full support of McCain. The wife was wearing a sticker that said…
“KISS MY LIPSTICK”
Great tagline going forward.
RetFireman:
Yeah, I actually listened to her speech during the DNC. It’s obvious she’s jumping on the trend bandwagon. It’s obvious she’s learned nothing from Ike, yet another transformational figure. It’s really disappointing that some of these “life-long” Republicans have jumped ship for a candidate that is the opposite of the values that her grandfather stood for.
All because you didn’t like Pres. Bush? We’re talking about a man who will leave the White House in a couple months. Ms. Eisenhower, a foreign policy analyst, either was never a stalwart Republican (or conservative), or is the most superficial “feux-Republican” I’ve ever seen.
At least Margaret Hoover, the great-granddaughter of Pres. Hoover, has a little more integrity than that. Even though I think she’s a little too ebulient at times, she’s the real deal (a Republican strategist). Eisenhower’s granddaughter is another example of yet another president’s relative who has also ridden those coattails in their lives.
If it takes the likes of Pres. Bush to turn one’s alegience to the Republican Party, they were never a member of that party to speak of. I’m speaking as someone who is thinking of becoming an independent who leans Republican.
I do partially agree with you (re. Balkanization). Many Americans are also a citizen of another country. I’m a tri-national citizen of United States, Switzerland and France (Alsace: French citizen with German descent). I didn’t get any of these nationalities by naturalization. Also I was born in United States, so were my parents.
I really didn’t know McCain before tonight. Just thought he was ‘just another bloated Senator Windbag’.
The speech was very good. I got to know the man and what he believes in. Seems like a lot of straight talk to me. Unlike some others who say one thing to your face and another to your back.
I think that he truly loves his country and, while I may not agree with him on immigration – I feel that he has what he feels are the best interest of the nation at heart. And that he really wants to change government.
Turned to MSNBC right after the speech tonight, my wife said they couldn’t be that bad. She has a life outside of politics, who knew? Anyway McCain no more than closes his mouth and Olbersummer goes off on Bush this and Bush that. The look on my wife’s face was priceless as she asks me if they know that Bush can’t run again.
WHo is it that lets these people in? Where is the security? Why is it, that Liberals cannot show even the slightest bit of respect for other people’s beliefs, property, events and what-not? Why do people in this country continue to put up with what these horrid animals do? Who is it that can stand up to them and tell them, “Enough…we have all had it with your immature, childish antics”?
I, for one, cannot stand it anymore. “Protestors outside planning to kidnap delegates and conventioneers, throwing urine, bleach and other objects on them, threatening, intimidating them, becoming violent…enough is enough. There is not one single excuse for them anymore.
It is time to stop slapping them on the wrist. It is time to actually prosecute them to the full extent of the law. It is time we has a Justice Department and District Attorneys that will actually arrest and prosecute for treason and sedition. No more stretching the definition of what constitutes “Free Speech” any more. Your “Free Speech” stops the very second it infringes on my rights and freedoms.
No more. I say if you come into contact with them, file charges, sign complaints and see too it that they are made to pay the full price for their crimes against this country, it’s leaders, it’s military men and women and it’s people.
Not even the left can figure that one out.
It’s the fringe group who thinks they’re entitled to everything, at any cost, by any means necessary.
All this speech did was confirm what I already knew. Obama is going to lose.
I knew the instant it was confirmed that McCain picked Palin as his running mate.
GAME OVER
There really is a stark contrast between the two candidates. This was the most inspiring political convention I have ever seen.
I think both nights really, REALLY touched most Americans. Well Done.
This was far better than I thought it would be.
I’m PUMPED.
MCCAIN/ PALIN ‘08
PALIN / JINDAL ‘16
While I briefly had CNN on, partisan hack Jeffrey Toobin said this was the worst speech he had seen since Carter’s 1980 speech.
See? The left is scared. Very scared.
You are the one who sounds angry! None of us have a problem with speaking Spanish as long as you can also speak English. I happen to think it’s cool when you’re bilingual. I’m not anti-latino. In case you haven’t noticed, latinos are not the only people who come here illegally, so don’t even go there. No one on this thread mentioned anything about legal immigrants. We just don’t agree with some of John McCain’s ideas on the subject. You really need to get a grip and watch your mouth.
It is unbelievable that people will still continue the lie that Republicans are anti-immigration. Then again, considering the antics of the Libs outside the Convention and other places, it really is no wonder that they ignore the word “illegal” at every turn. It helps them to justify the foulness of their actions. “If i=there is no “illegal”, then how can it be wrong”. Pitiful, dishonest and disgusting. Par for the course.
RetFireman #522:
I totally agree with you. I really think that we need to put a stop to what is fondly known in certain circles as “professional protesters.” People make a living off of generating hate and disension on something they disagree with.
I call this trend that you identify as the Europeanization of our Bill of Rights. I lived in Spain for a couple of months, and it’s a productive economy but they protest over everything. Unfortunately, with Spain, like a lot of the EU, there is massive socialism trend within their societies that taints their educational and social welfare systems and prevents free enterprise from flourishing.
It’s sad that liberals not only want to bring that kind of socialism to the US but the chaos that it breeds like anarchists and nihilists. Americans need to stop indulging in self-pity, get off their high horse, and stop falling for gimmicky politics that says that America needs to be like Europe. That’s the part I can’t stand.
37 million people watched Sarah give her speech. Almost as many as the annointed one.
Anyone really think Obama is going to win this after the VP on the ticket got almost as many viewers as the top of the Dems
Hot off the NYT front page…
They’re scared, very scared. They threw everything including the kitchen sink at her this week, and Palin came out smelling like a rose. Now Obama has to send his cats after her.
I agree with you. This convention gave me some hope. I’ve gotten kind of demoralized about the crap that liberals have heaped on Pres. Bush and the military and it’s discouraging to see that. Sarah lit a fire in me. She quantified why I’m an American and what makes America unique.
What has Obummer done but delude a lot of people? Seriously, any political scientist worth his/her P.H.d would see right through his Elmer Gantry routine. I wish American can see what is real and what is make believe.
Hell, I might not become an independent after all.
Mike Dukakis doing a full fledged smear on McCain on Larry King live right now..
I concur fully Trollman. The differences between the two tickets and what their message was is vast. While The Golden Calf spent a decent amount of time in his speech callin McCain by name and attacking him, McCain kept it civil and did no such thing.
Both Republican speeches were uplifting, positive, encouraging. Calling out for people to better themselves, better their environments and better their country.
In contrast, the opposition was all about gloom and doom. How everything is in the s**t can and how only they will be able to save us all from ourselves and the “boogie man” that just happens to be leaving on his own in a few months anyway.
There was nothing positive in their addresses, whereas both McCain and Palin had people chanting for their country, had people at home yelling, “YEAH!!” at their TV’s, fired up and ready to go in for the big win.
The only thing the Left knows in depression, gloom, doom and how o make people depressed so as to go looking for saviours.
The Right knows how to make people excited, knows how to get people to take control and responsibility for their actions and their lives.
Happiness and positiveness will always defeat gloom and doom. No one wants to be depressed, no one wants to be associated with someone who is depressing and never has anything good to say.
The cry for “Change” has run it’s course, and people will finally begin to see that it was an empty slogan with no plans in place to tell and show what that change is or what it means, other than to change Presidents…which happens every 4-8 years anyway. People are finally going to get excited, and all those people siting on the sidelines, waiting for McCain to do what he needed to do will finally come out and fight for him, for the Republicans and make themselves heard.
I predict a very different polling come next week.
If not..well then I hate to sound paranoid, but I feel it is solid proof that you cannot trust poling figures.
Dukakis Claims McCain through him out of his office once.. I would have too.. He’s greasy & whiney & generally annoying..
Sorry folks, I couldn’t stand it. I just sent this email to Mcain’s website:
“Marvelous” speech John! My tongue is firmly planted in my cheek! First let me say that Democrats have PROVEN that they will lie to your face and stab America in the back! Second “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” won’t cut it! Legal is legal, but ILLEGAL is still ILLEGAL! ILLEGAL’s are dragging this country down from filling emergency rooms with medical needs that the government has to pay for to taking jobs that Americans WILL fill if a true living wage is offered! Anchor babies are still parented by ILLEGAL immigrants! Let’s not even talk about all the crime done by ILLEGAL’s including everything from murder to drunk driving and murder by motor vehicle to drug running and human sex trafficking! SECURE THE BORDERS! BUILD THE FENCE! PROSECUTE and DEPORT ILLEGAL CRIMINALS! WAKE UP! Some points like Palin are good! Some points like trying to make everyone here an American is NOT good!!! I want to vote for Palin! I currently DON’T want to vote for you!
oops, I meant “threw” him out of course..
As I was waiting for McCain to speak tonight, I was remembering Sara’Cuda’s speech last night thinking how great it was. I was remembering how she and Rudy had pointed out Oblahblah had voted “present” so many times. The media seems to be trying to cover for him by claiming it was “dozens out of the thousands of votes” he made.
Whatever.
I recall Rudy or Sarah saying he couldn’t figure out how to decide Yes or No.
Interesting how he figured out how to say Yes to infanticide three times.
It makes one wonder what other issues were before him that were more difficult to decide than killing partially birthed babies.
Someone should make a list of those issues too difficult for Oblahblah.
I’m no Don Imus fan, but he was on Cavuto today and said Dukakis should just go away. Someone should pin a note on his shirt and drop him off at the park. Well, something to that effect. It was funny. The video is on foxnews.com
Wow…and they were saying that McCain was pandering?
I agree…after these last two nights, after hearing Gov. Palin and now McCain both giving the speeches of their lives, both of which danced circles around Biden and TGC’s, after watching Cindy’s video and hearing her speak and contrasting that with MichelleO’s, (and this is really not helping her children) they are completely terrorized by what is happening to them right before their eyes.
Right now, in a hotel room somewhere in this nation, a bunch of Dem/Obama strategists are standing around, hot-boxing the room with cigarette smoke, scratching their heads wondering what the hell happened when it was all but sealed, yelling at each other, throwing blame around like beads at Mardi Gras.
Man…if that image doesn’t put a smile on your face…
One of the things that bothers me about illegal immigration being so badly out of control is that I cannot see a person who was obviously born in some other country without wondering if they came here illegally. I personally do not have any easy way to determine their status without being rudely nosey, so I give them the benefit of the doubt and conduct myself no differently than I would with anyone else. I want to see the situation brought under control well enough that I could be confident that any person I meet is here legally. I do not like having to always wonder about it.
I believe that the public outcry about Spanish and such is just a symptom of the problem and not the result of racism or xenophobia.
Soooooo, after the election, how many days do you think Michael Moore will stay in bed this time?
And don’t buy into the lie and propaganda that it is impossible to deport 12 million ILLEGAL immigrants.
It is just that…a lie and Liberal propaganda.
For all I care, I hope he stays there forever.
And by the looks of him and how much he is growing by the week, I would say it won’t be long before he won’t have the option of getting out of bed or not.
Keep eating Mike…continue to show everyone just how bad off people have it here in this country. Nothing says “bad off” like a guy 10x’s overweight.
Ok I really hate the multiple pages. Just sayin’…
So, the factory worker who’s now working at Taco Bell will now get a separate pay check from the government? Hmm, so which bureaucracy would take on this task? The government’s job is not to pay the wages of citizens who’ve been laid off. Wages are between the worker and business. The government has no role in this matter. Let the market work.
So does this mean that I’ll get back my portion of the tax dollars that were meant for education? The government will pay me to homeschool my children? All for it, Senator.
Prayers, yes. Weapons, ammunition, equipment, yes. “Solidarity?” The Georgians are saying, “sure, whatever. You Americans have said that before to so many people. We’ll believe it when we see it.” (Charlie Wilson’s War comes to mind. If you promise action, then take action. If you act, then finish.)
I don’t think it’s popular with the posters, but apparently there is a technical reason for it that someone posted about earlier.
I didn’t think McCain had it in him.
Maybe he was inspired by Sarah Palin like the rest of America!
McCain Palin One Two Punch!
On September 5th, 2008 at 12:55 am, navywife91 said:
What is the reason? I hate this.
I can not believe the words I am about to type. I’m pumped about John McCain. There, I put it on ‘paper’. Never thought I would see this day, his speech tonight totally got me.
Still have areas we disagree, but I want him working for me.
And I want Sarah Palin behind him with her pit bull teeth bared and ready to bite.
I’m not likin’ it myself. Why not give the option to display all pages?
I’m pro choice here!
And don’t forget the lipstick!
It was only speculation by some that it had to do with the number of posts on a thread and this was done to prevent the thread from not allowing anymore posts. It happened last night and last week during Obama’s speech. I don’t think MM has given an official reason though. A lot of complaining going on early in the thread, so that’s probably where the explanation is.
goodnight…again!
There, fixed that for ya.
The other night I wasn’t even able to open the thread due to the number of posts on the same page. I’m thinking that might be the reason.
I’m just guessing, but I figure it was done in response to a technical difficulty that cropped up last night on the thread about Sarah’s speech. The comments quit functioning–to the point that the box I type my comments in totally disappeared. The same thing had happened during the Dem convention last week. A few of us moved over to another thread, where AJ reported that he had emailed Michelle and she was working on it. This morning the multiple pages appeared.
Good catch, thank you much!
Regardless of the reason…still sucks.
I’m pretty disturbed about the Government paying the difference between a higher paying job and a lower one too. Since when is that the Government’s job?
To quote Mitt, “It’s not your money to spend!” Senator McCain.
More socialistic garbage. Otherwise, good speech. I wonder who is going to get taxed for all the illegals he plans to continue to pay for?
What I wish is that the American people would stop EXPECTING Government handouts. Every time these jokers tell us what Government is going to do for us, without raising taxes, I wonder what world they are living in. Economy really isn’t his strong point!
You can’t have the Government footing the bill for all this and lower taxes!! Sheeeeeeeeeeeesh.
I agree. You may be interested in Joseph Farah’s take on this election.
Unfortnately, welfare has become a lifestyle. And you know who you have to thank for that.
McCain’s speech was a good one. Not as good as Palin’s, but a good one. I feel he gave us his reasons for wanting to serve the country, and in that context, his Vietnam experience not only makes sense but it’s also a story worth telling. And I think he’s sincere. He isn’t perfect, but who is? Palin’s the future, along with Gov. Jindal from Louisiana, and I hope some others.
Saw Obama on O’Reilly. No, I don’t feel any safer. The big news is, he actually said, sort of, the surge worked — but he almost choked on the words. He can’t admit it when he’s wrong. O’Reilly is, in his own words, a Bloviator, but at least he was reasonably tough on The Anointed One. I’m glad Fox didn’t give him more than 8-10 minutes, which is all that aired tonight. Obama’s biggest mistake: failure, even when pressed, to say he’d make contingency plans to attack Iran if diplomacy doesn’t work. Would only say everything’s on the table. Yeah, right. Means squat. Too politically correct, nuanced, you name it, for his own good.
I guess its better than crashing at #494 again! Where the heck did everyone come from????? I think there are names on here I havent seen in two years.
So was it open registration and I missed it yesterday?
McCain bores me. I know he is an open borders illegal alien guy. He will slap us Conservatives in the face. I feel sorry for Palin. She will have to accept the fact that her boss is a Gang of 14 thug. Out to destroy the Constitution after he takes office. Remember, what he does NOT say is most important. He leaves out all the domestic and international horrors he intends to implement during his tenor as President. The crowd in the Xcel center was very subdued during much of his speech. Everyone knows what’s coming when he takes office. Hold your nose.
The next time she runs for any office, McCain will be the millstone around her neck. She’ll always be one of that guy’s people.
She should have kept the Governor job. She could have far more impact there than as a Vice President.
Six months ago, I was sending John McCain hate mail (over Shamnesty). Tonight, I sent him $300. He made the perfect move picking Palin; if not for her, I wouldn’t have sent anything.
Maybe not yesterday, but certainly recently. Hot Air had open registration just before the Dem convention and threads over there are going over 2000 comments. That’s one reason I chose to hang out here. I want to be able to read all the comments by the people I’m chatting with.
For some reason, I don’t agree with you. I have the feeling she will find a way to assert her own principles in Washington. I have a strong gut feeling it’s going to be Palin/Jindal in 2012, which will be an unbelievable ticket. She just won’t sidle along to McCain.
We’ll just have to wait and see
I’m a big fan of Jindal. On top of his sound social/fiscal/moral/legal principles, the man knows how to lead and excel.
Not bad for a guy who’s 37.
As McCain ended his speech this way:
Therefor I must quote a line from the movie Terminator (1984):
Fortunately Arnold isn’t in the race, or else I’d be very confused.
The other night we have a post with well over 1100 comments, and then it crashes at 494…sheesh, talk about a fickle server.
This is pretty interesting.
I just saw this on Fark. He says he got convention pass from a Ron Paul delegate. Does the GOP have any recourse they can take against Paul?
I disagree, Michelle. I don’t think they sabotaged his speech.
I think they highlighted how classless they really are and gave him a good applause line to boot.
Speaking of loser protestors and other assorted hate groups, can you believe that it has been about a year since the MO hate group came out with the Petraeus ad already?
At this point I think Obama wants to send Hillary and a fast-response team of women after bin Laden…
Joe Biden will have a comment as soon as Sandy Berger returns with one…
OT
To all those people who still have “issues” with McCain (and I am one).
I will be voting for Mac, and with a lot more enthusiasm than I had before Sarah came on board, for a number of reasons:
His speech. It is obvious that he truly loves this country, and is indeed a patriot. While I disagree with him on many things, he is a principled and honest man.
He’s a 1000 times better than His Most High Obamaship, who will devastate this country in ways we can’t possibly imagine.
Having Sarah poised for a run for POTUS herself in 2012 or 2016. That thought alone was enough to seal the deal for me!
The real difference in this election is summed up in these words from the Naval Academy’s Chapel:
John McCain lives those words
Barry O wouldn’t have an idea about what they really mean.
Right. I still believe that it would be best for the Conservative Cause to let Obama have this one. After 4 years of Obama, the country will be ripe for a Conservative Revolution that will last 20 years.
McCain at the helm will forever skew the Republican Party by making it Democrat-Lite.
It would be different if Palin were at the top of the ticket.
On September 5th, 2008 at 12:53 am, AlohaGuy said:
I think it would be great to have a Malkin User’s Lounge or something that’s more forum oriented, where a real conversation between users could occur.
That way threads could stay more on topic, and the natural tendency of people to discuss could be fulfilled.
On September 5th, 2008 at 7:31 am, 57fender said:
I used to think that too, but after looking at what Obamahole’s been saying – especially in regards to media ownership capping, regulation of the internet, etc. – it may be entirely possible that A.O. (After Obama) there will never be a chance for the citizens of the United States to recover their freedoms, short of taking up arms.
He is much more dangerous than Carter.
Me too. Annoying to have to wait for a new page instead of just scrolling..
Agreed, Michelle.
I watched part of the speeches last night, starting with Lindsey Graham and ending with Tom Ridge. I told my wife I hoped this wasn’t foreshadowing for how McCain’s speech was going to come off. Sarah Palin set the bar high Wednesday night, judging from the crowd’s response.
I told my wife that, compared to Wednesday night, the convention floor looked like a lot of folks were coming down off of the fix we got with Sarah Palin’s speech and were bottoming out now, waiting on a maintenance dose to get us going again. There certainly wasn’t the same euphoria present last night with the speaking lineup they had.
Hard to believe ANY guy would want to hang out with those ugly broads…
Michelle
These multiple pages don’t work for us.
Thanks Michelle for your coverage and hard work, I can trust you and most commenters like CC’s collie for the truth. Thanks to all.