John McCain's big night. I thought his video was weak, but better than Cindy's.
MORE: What is with that bizarre shifting background? Is McCain speaking from the planet Xylar, waiting to get beamed up, or what?
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McCain/Palin '08
Posted by: Sue | September 04, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Is he on the ticket with Palin?
Posted by: TCO | September 04, 2008 at 11:16 PM
They're playing "Barracuda". Awesome!
One of McCaine's daugters was singing along and dancing!!!!!
Posted by: Pofarmer | September 04, 2008 at 11:18 PM
sleep study clinics across the country have found the holy grail of non-addictive sleep aids...
the Mccain speech.
he's fine. his heavy lifting comes during the debates.
Posted by: paul | September 04, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Thank goodness for the final few minutes of that speech.
And someone should be made to answer for the early background of the green lawn and country club, or whatever it was.
I didn't think it was that great a speech, but then the guy was trying to follow the Rolling Stones.
Posted by: Danube of Thought | September 04, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Danube - yes! WTF was that?!!
I kept wondering if the big screen was showing a PC going into sleep mode and showing random screensavers. Not just tonight.
Posted by: Jim Hu | September 04, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Barbara Amiel (Lord Black's wife) has a good piece comparing the treatment Thatcher received with that Palin did.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122057410046101771.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries>Amiel
Posted by: clarice | September 04, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Pundits don't get the change parts of the speech. They don't understand why he'd distance himself from Bush. Dont' get why he acknowledged there are problems.
Have these guys been paying attention?
I think he did what he needed to do.
Posted by: Pofarmer | September 04, 2008 at 11:25 PM
J Mac: ' I know Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is a friend of mine. Neither my wife nor myself is Sarah Palin.'
Obama can coast in. Both McCains just handed the Presidency to Barack and Joe.
Pathetic.
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | September 04, 2008 at 11:27 PM
The Magnificent Bastard said it wasn't a great speech, but one of the best McCain has given. ::sigh:: I fear that the uneducated masses will forget the content and listen only to the oratory.
Posted by: Sue | September 04, 2008 at 11:27 PM
J Mac: ' I know Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin is a friend of mine. Neither my wife nor myself is Sarah Palin.'
Obama can coast in. Both McCains just handed the Presidency to Barack and Joe.
Pathetic.
Did we just watch the same convention?
Posted by: Pofarmer | September 04, 2008 at 11:28 PM
I thought the green background was so a weatherman could give us an update on Hannah...
Posted by: hit and run | September 04, 2008 at 11:28 PM
OT
Sue - I posted in regards to your 8:18 PM in the last post.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | September 04, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Is typepad a democrat?
Posted by: Sue | September 04, 2008 at 11:33 PM
PDinDetroit,
I replied.
Posted by: Sue | September 04, 2008 at 11:34 PM
PRS-
Obama can coast in. Both McCains just handed the Presidency to Barack and Joe.
I don't know about that. It wasn't a great speech, but any sort of disaster either. It was what it needed to be.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 04, 2008 at 11:35 PM
McCain did what he needed to do. He appealed to the undecided and gave details on policy differences with Obama. Now some folks who are a little shallow may disagree (i.e. "smarter than you elitists") . But that is what is great about America...vote for the other guy/gal if you have a problem.
Posted by: Boo Fn Hoo | September 04, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Planet Xylar is better than Xanu. At least we know that Megan is going to vote for a republican this time for President.
I thought it was a solid speech from the straight talk express.
Posted by: John Loki | September 04, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Worse, Sue. Typhus pad is a communisty organizer.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | September 04, 2008 at 11:37 PM
The line that struck me the most was Obama's handout to the oil companies.
I believe they will go after him as a corrupt politician.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 04, 2008 at 11:38 PM
curses!!! Grandson wanted to just "take a minute" to hook up the router so he can have wireless. That was in beginning of Cindy's speech. I am just back online...sigh.
Surber put this up at 10pm
http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/2008/09/04/saracuda-parody/
Saracuda parody
The video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpkitLUbeEg
Surber's lyrics:
So this is it.
She doesn’t quit.
Hooray.
They’ll have to learn how she plays
Land of Midnight Sun
Carries her gun.
And hunts
She never fails.
She’s setting her traps for them
They’re underestimatin’
She’ll shoot them down, down, down, down on their knees
She’s getting’ you,
Saracuda?
OH!
The rumors are spread.
They’ll wish they were dead
They went after her kid
That’s what they did.
The same old smear the name
Whisper game
But she’s got them all over the barrel
They better watch her sharp elbows
She’s gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn them all down
Ooooh, Saracuda!
OH!
”Tell me, tell me,” reporters said
Dive down deep in the dumpsters
I think that she’s got them too
All last night and the day next
Swam with sharks, and got their best
Made for the western pools — silly, silly fools!
The real thing that sure did the trick, no?
Dems better make up something quick
Or they gonna burn, burn, burn, burn, burn it to the wick
Ahh, Sara- Saracuda!
ME: THANK GOD FOR PALIN.
Could they talk McCain into lip syncing FRED or RUDY???
Posted by: larwyn | September 04, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Yes, curse of the Irish.
Posted by: Patty's Ex-Gal | September 04, 2008 at 11:41 PM
I have never been a big McCain fan, however I truly think he believes what he is saying and more importantly I believe Him --- and his story and humility brought tears to my eyes. It's great to be an American- God Bless America
Posted by: thelonereader | September 04, 2008 at 11:41 PM
M. Simon-
I believe they will go after him as a corrupt politician.
Pretty good catch. I did a little digging and found that Gov. Palin reformed the tax and regulatory structure of oil and gas drilling in Alaska as well (to call it a "windfall tax" isn't accurate). Its nap inducing, but it might be an area that McCain-Palin wants to tackle. Another issue that is going to come to the fore is education and that is a wide open area for the CAC and redder schoolhouses that the Obama-Ayers partnership were trying to build.
Overall I'm not disappointed and the setting isn't where he is good.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 04, 2008 at 11:46 PM
"Did we just watch the same convention?"
There are some people who just hate John McCain.
Posted by: John Loki | September 04, 2008 at 11:46 PM
OK, what in this speech does Team Obama take up a fight over?
Anything? Maybe a snipe about them raising taxes. But that was a very small part of the speech.
No. Sarah is where Team Obama is forced to focus their efforts....mostly because she is the threat and the one who took the direct shots at The One -- but also because McCain gave them little or nothing to strike at in this speech.
That works -- Obama v Palin is a big net positive for McCain/Palin.
If they can pull it off.
Posted by: hit and run | September 04, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Niters.
Posted by: clarice | September 04, 2008 at 11:52 PM
I think it takes a lot of guts to lay bare the darkest moments of your life, as John McCain did (in part) in his speech. It was all to an end to describe his mission as President, but I think it displays a profound difference between a Man who has experienced life in full measure (succeeded and failed and tried again), and a gifted and telegenic politician who has in actuality accomplished little of note in his professional life.
A time for choosing is coming, Americans.
Posted by: E. Nigma | September 04, 2008 at 11:52 PM
Rich,
Here's some more decent polling on Palin's effect. McCain didn't hurt anything tonight. He's in the hunt for the Muddle and I believe he has them pegged.
It's funny - that was an iteration of Gore's 2000 stump speech with the Fight! Fight! Fight! banging away as if it meant something. Apparently it does to the Muddle.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | September 04, 2008 at 11:53 PM
h&r,
Yeah, that was what I thought. There was nothing in the speech that gave the Ds an opening.
McCain is the shield Sara is the sword.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 04, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Rush on the phone with Greta...
Posted by: hit and run | September 05, 2008 at 12:01 AM
The money analytical point I heard (I can't remember from whom) was that McCain picked Palin to hold the base and pick up disaffected dem women she can freeing him up to go for the independents and disaffected dem men.
I think this is probably right, and the only way he can win.
She will certainly do her part, and he will do well with his because that is who he is.
Authenticity is key here. Each of them can be real comfortable that their roles.
Rush has just made the same points, validating that analysis, IMO.
Posted by: Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet | September 05, 2008 at 12:06 AM
Rick-
Thanks. I'm a bit amazed that Sen. Obama would be wasting his time and energy attacking Gov. Palin when his opponent in the debates and the campaign trail is Sen. McCain.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 05, 2008 at 12:07 AM
OMG, Chrissy Matthews just gave Obama's next speech for him. "This was a confession of eight years of betrayal by George Bush". "This is a party that has divorced itself from itself,....the real bad guy here is George Bush".
Chrissy is on a roll. This morning McCain was Bush III, tonight McCain is condemning his own party.
Posted by: Publius | September 05, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Publius-
This was a confession of eight years of betrayal by George Bush
And I bet Chrissy shrapened his crayons for that line.
Posted by: RichatUF | September 05, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Just checked the corner. They didn't put it in so many words - but they called it a defensive speech.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 12:12 AM
By the way, McCain used Frank Luntz's magic word "accountability:"
Obama did too, but, in reference to teachers and lobbyists, not himself.
Posted by: Elliott | September 05, 2008 at 12:14 AM
I am glad they picked that up, Pub. That is the whole idea. The question now is who better to effect a change from an unpopular executive administration (about 70% disapprove) and an even more unpopular congress (about 90% disapprove). Here are the choices:
Two guys who have toed the Democratic line for their entire careers; or
A guy and a gal who have a lifelong record fighting "business as usual".
I will let you make the decision ladies and gentlemen of the jury.
Posted by: Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet | September 05, 2008 at 12:16 AM
About nominee's wives speaking, I can't imagine Betty Ford didn't say something at the '76 convention. Like the Windsors, we seem to be putting increasing emphasis on first families (going for the female vote?).
I noticed McCain finessed globaloney warming and immigration. At least he had the sense not to drop a lead balloon tonight.
Posted by: Ralph L | September 05, 2008 at 12:17 AM
"comfortable with their roles"
Posted by: Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet | September 05, 2008 at 12:17 AM
RichardUF,
The idiots are destroying their own argument.
What ever happened to McSame?
They just made a huge unforced error based on a speech they could have safely ignored. They could have been gracious and let it pass.
They have now made it a referendum on the future.
The old aviator has foxed them again. The shield has blunted their sword.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 12:18 AM
E. Nigma,
My thoughts too. This nation is on very thin ice when an unknow, silver-tongued, but only with a telepromter in his face, commie, fresh from the streets of Chicago can be competitive for the presidency of the United Statews with a naval aviator, and prisoner of war, who comes to the contest with 26 years experience in Congress.
Think about it people. This shouldn't even be a contest, and it wouldn't be without the complicity of the media.
Posted by: Publius | September 05, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Oh, I'll bet the green background is so they can reuse parts in ads with different backgrounds.
Posted by: Ralph L | September 05, 2008 at 12:19 AM
McCain just threw Bush under the bus and Bush, unlike guys like Wright, Clark, etc., etc., is perfectly happy to be there.
Scrap BHO's last multi-million media buy.
Posted by: Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet | September 05, 2008 at 12:22 AM
The line that struck me the most was Obama's handout to the oil companies.
For the sake of America's national security, we need to drill more, and drill now!
But first we need to lock up all those crooks who are running the oil companies!
Hit has a fair point that McCain didn't give much for a Democrat to criticize. I'm not reassured knowing the typical Democrat will be more satisfied with the positions of my party's nominee than I am.
Posted by: bgates | September 05, 2008 at 12:22 AM
McCain just threw Bush under the bus and Bush, unlike guys like Wright, Clark, etc., etc., is perfectly happy to be there.
Exactly! Bush has said he'll endorse Obama if it will help McCain. That's why we love him, but it also says a lot for both men.
Posted by: MayBee | September 05, 2008 at 12:43 AM
I know PUK had "Thrilla from Wasilla," yesterday. I want to know whether "Wasilly Wabbit" is taken.
Posted by: Elliott | September 05, 2008 at 01:06 AM
Should have read the comments. Arandom Person beat me to it.
Posted by: Elliott | September 05, 2008 at 01:09 AM
Publius:
I thought that bit from Chris Matthews was priceless:
Matthews clearly bought into Bush/McCain big time, and this is like some deus ex machina separation of Siamese twins. Matthews also thought this would be a Rudi vs. Hillary election. So much for perspicacity, if there were any lingering quesions.The truth that Matthews inadvertantly reveals is that it's no accident that Camp Obama has been pushing the Bush/McCain conflation. If it takes, it's really a killer. I don't think the distance McCain has put between them is simply cynical, in fact, I believe McCain has swallowed a lot of their difference in deference to the war effort. However gracious it might have been, I believe it's asking a lot to expect him to give Bush a loyal royal send off at the expense of his own campaign, when he's already done that at critical junctures during Bush's tenure. I do not doubt that the President understands quite clearly what McCain needs to do, and why. History will write the book on Bush; McCain's story is still unfolding. Should McCain be elected, I suspect Bush will be far more likely to receive the honor he is due.
I didn't really have trouble with the more subdued tone this evening. There's a point of diminishing returns where euphoria is concerned, as Obama may be about to prove. Determination, not charisma has always been McCain's strength. Sarah Palin nails down the GOTV enthusiasm, and John McCain is the reliable, fatherly, guy you can trust and who ain't finished yet. If you want somebody who can actually kick ass and take names, he's your guy -- and if something should happen to him, she's your girl.
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 01:19 AM
"There are some people who just hate John McCain."
Some of them his own supporters.
Posted by: PD | September 05, 2008 at 01:20 AM
The most interesting thing about the speech for me: McCain describing why being a POW was a transformative experience for him. From before the fateful flight being a person for whom the highest interest was his own self-interest. To a person who became broken, helpless even to feed himself. To having his life saved by his fellow servicemen prisoners and coming to a recognition of what his country meant to him.
Before the speech, I was sort of dreading hearing about the POW experience "yet again," but I hadn't understood this transformational aspect of it before and it gave me a new appreciation of him.
Posted by: PD | September 05, 2008 at 01:25 AM
Yes, PD. Given the context, hearing him say, "My country saved me" was quite remarkable.
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 01:41 AM
Did Obama air the congratulatory message that Plouffe promised?
Posted by: MayBee | September 05, 2008 at 02:06 AM
bgates,
If the oil guys are buying politicians, it is wrong.
We will need their help. But it has to be honest competitive help. Not earmarked help.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:10 AM
bgates,
If the oil guys are buying politicians, it is wrong.
We will need their help. But it has to be honest competitive help. Not earmarked help.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:10 AM
bgates,
Let me make this as simple as possible.
NO BACK ROOM DEALS
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:12 AM
Bingo, JMH.
A clue that your analysis is accurate is Karl Rove's jaunty demeanor as a Fox contributor.
Posted by: Jim Rhoads aka Vnjagvet | September 05, 2008 at 02:14 AM
If the oil guys are buying politicians, it is wrong.
Sure. I could say the same thing about the Jews, and it would be more recognizable as an outrageous slander, yet no less supported by any evidence. There's a sense out there that four dollar gasoline is proof the oil companies are criminal. I think it's proof that demand is rising in developing nations while supply is choked off by people who don't have our interests at heart, like the Iranians, the Saudis, and the Democratic party. The more McCain shifts blame for the energy problem to the energy companies, the easier it is for the Dems to skate.
Posted by: bgates | September 05, 2008 at 02:17 AM
I'm afraid I have to ask you to make it a bit more complex:
WHAT BACK ROOM DEALS?
Posted by: bgates | September 05, 2008 at 02:19 AM
MayBee,
It looks like Tapper updated his story. Here's what Hot Air quoted:
And now the story at the ABC link has the following:
Aside from whether the Obama campaign ever said they'd run an ad, I don't recall anything congratulatory from them this week and I didn't see anything an hour ago on the front page of the website. And Biden's hardly appears congratulatory.
Posted by: Elliott | September 05, 2008 at 02:25 AM
***Biden's recently released statement***
I remember someone suggested that the McCain campaign should have Palin debate Obama. I just had the thought that the McCain campaign could reissue their town hall invitation to Obama making the suggested substitution.
Posted by: Elliott | September 05, 2008 at 02:38 AM
I'm just watching the speech fully awake - home run! Not flashy. Not bases loaded but a with a woman on base (heh) a solid two runs scored.
Change Is Coming
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:40 AM
bgates,
In Alaska it appears (if you trust Sarah Palin) there were a lot of back room deals re: Alaskan oil.
Oil cos buying politicians. I seemed to remember one on the oil and gas commission having to resign and pay a 12K fine.
The deal was renegotiated because of those deals.
Really. Have you been paying attention? Normally you are way more perceptive.
I thought you knew about Sarah cleaning up oil corruption. My apologies if you missed it.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:48 AM
bgates,
In Alaska it appears (if you trust Sarah Palin) there were a lot of back room deals re: Alaskan oil.
Oil cos buying politicians. I seemed to remember one on the oil and gas commission having to resign and pay a 12K fine.
The deal was renegotiated because of those deals.
Really. Have you been paying attention? Normally you are way more perceptive.
I thought you knew about Sarah cleaning up oil corruption. My apologies if you missed it.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:48 AM
What on earth happened to Michael Gerson, who was like an acid bath in a post speech clip? He used to be a talented speech writer, but he just sounds like a sour spoilsport -- like a nastier version of David Frum.
This is interesting to me. One of what I thought were McCain's most effective lines was added after the text of his speech was released. This is the bit as written:
Here it is, as delivered [emphasis mine]: I was distracted by several other things, and haven't actually had a chance to hear his remarks straight through yet. What I have since seen seemed to take much better advantage his own speaking style than previous speeches did (remedial work with his speech writer?). Perhaps as a consequence his delivery seemed much more fluid than it's ever been in the past. I think this is probably as good as it gets for McCain rhetorically, and in that sense, I think he really did rise to the occasion.I also suspect that these three days have been well structured thematically for voters who are not as steeped in politics as most of us here have been. I was particularly struck by something McCain said towards the close of his speech:
It took me right back to the opening video narrated by Robert Duval that so touched me at the outset:Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 02:52 AM
She got the gas pipeline through by tearing up the previous gridlocked proposition (probably due to competing bought politicians) and made it happen by opening it up to competitive bidding.
Really bgates, it is like you weren't paying attention.
So unlike you.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:54 AM
On pork spenders:
I will make them famous and you will know their names
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 02:57 AM
McCain
Man of Steel
No flash. Solid connection with the American people. This wasn't a speech for the base or the pundits, it was for the American people.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:03 AM
David Gregory surprised me with what I thought was a telling comment. Loosely (very!) quoting here, he said that "McCain was basically framing the campaign to come, and for the first time, he became the leader of the Republican party. With McCain's history, that's no small feat. At the same time he made it clear that while he leads the Republican party, he doesn't work for the Republican party."
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 03:07 AM
Good morning, JMH and M. Simon.
Posted by: Elliott | September 05, 2008 at 03:09 AM
MSNBC really has decided that it can't risk putting Olberman and Matthews at the same desk. Not sure why I find that so amusing, but I do.
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 03:10 AM
Mornin' Elliott!
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 03:10 AM
Sarah: Red meat for the base.
Johnny Mac Red Meat For The People
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:13 AM
McCain
The Strong Horse
Americans always go for the strong horse.
See "Midway For Obama" LUN Scroll down.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:19 AM
Hey, Jack Shafer stole my Sarah Palin = Spiro Agnew comparison.
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 03:21 AM
She got the gas pipeline through by tearing up the previous gridlocked proposition (probably due to competing bought politicians)
Probably? I know about Palin's fellow commissioner, and how she put him out of commission, and good for her, but how do you get from there to the blanket assumption of guilt for an entire industry? I thought a libertarian would be more concerned about a government official making a case before announcing his intention to turn the full power of the Justice Department towards a "fight" with a private party, even a big, rich, easily scapegoated target like the oil companies.
Posted by: bgates | September 05, 2008 at 03:22 AM
Intriguing work by Jim Lindgren (scroll down for the companion post).
Posted by: Elliott | September 05, 2008 at 03:30 AM
Best sermon I have ever heard.
Evah
Chris Mathews was cheering at the end. Screaming.
This speech was a home run.
And then Olberman came up with his usual carp. Bitter and clinging.
I am in tears. Bawling.
F*** Oldnuts. Let him and Andy do their thing together. Appropriately maybe they can promote Olby to grip. Because he has lost his.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:40 AM
Matthews gets it:
Americans like a WINNER
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:43 AM
Matthews gets it:
Americans like a WINNER
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:43 AM
bgates:
I have no personal information on any of this (as I stated). However the one thing you did not hear was a call to raise taxes on the oil companies.
So if he is not going to fight to take their money - why else would they need to be fought? What is the theme of the campaign? Ending corruption. What does that mean to me? No sweetheart deals.
YMMV.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:48 AM
What's this new mania for bold? :)
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 03:49 AM
bgates,
Let me see if I can explain it to you. Oil Cos work with some of the most corrupt governments on earth. I think it is a fair assumption that they have picked up some bad habits.
You know - like Obama's association with Chicago.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:52 AM
JMH,
Excitement.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 03:53 AM
We surf so you don't have to! The NY Times tells us how Team Obama intends to counter Sarah Plain:
[Yawn] They're adding a couple of governors to surrogate chorus line too - female, of course, like Napolitano [yawn] and Sebelius [yawn].Color me surprised. It gets better, though. It turns out that Palin represents everything folks dislike about Washington! It seems Obama has a hard time shifting gears.
O apparently doesn't realize that Sarah Palin is going to be a square peg. If anyone has access to the N.Y. Times style book, I'm curious to know why Sarah Palin is Ms. Palin and Cindy McCain is Mrs. McCain.
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 04:41 AM
More on the strategizing at Camp Obama from Politico. Good news! There will be no holistic surge:
There will be comedy, though: How funny is that? Let me count the ways.Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 05:00 AM
M. Simon: I was scrolling up the thread and wondered why I'd used bold myself, instead of the usual italics!
Posted by: JM Hanes | September 05, 2008 at 05:05 AM
JMH,
I'm a little late getting back, but I think this was a one two punch.
McCain echoed a theme I did a little earlier this summer. Adversity has made me a better person. Broken me more than once. But in the end it made me stronger. I am a victim of torture myself. At the hands of my own family. (since reconciled). And for quite a number of years I resented it and it drove me left. Then I found a cause larger than myself that I could only serve with humility. When I got that I was a changed man.
What McCain did tonight was to tell the resentful to give it up and go to work with "a servant's heart". That hanging on to resents or preaching resent makes you small.
If 10 people got "saved" with that speech McCain has won the election. If 100 were "saved" it will be a landslide.
When Sarah came on the scene I knew it was a game changer. Now I know how McCain could see what he saw in her.
Obama will lose because he is a small man. Maybe he will learn something.
Posted by: M. Simon | September 05, 2008 at 06:10 AM
Oil Cos work with some of the most corrupt governments on earth. I think it is a fair assumption that they have picked up some bad habits.
Well, if Exxon's been imprisoning dissident voices, poisoning their critics with radioactivity, and sponsoring fanatical terrorist organizations, then no wonder McCain is pledged to fight them!
I don't know why you're picking up the Axelrod talking point on Obama's Hyde Park friends. Guilt by association is specious, it is how you are charging the oil companies with bad behavior, and it is not why the Weathermen are an issue in this campaign.
So if he is not going to fight to take their money - why else would they need to be fought?
This is a peculiar form of libertarianism which takes an agent of the government at his word as to the identity of an enemy of the state. You're not even requiring him to name a charge - McCain just pronounces the oil companies anathema, and you gamely try to deduce what his undisclosed reasons may be. Why would they need to be fought, indeed. That's a question I'd like answered rather earlier in the government's "fight" than the public denouncement.
Posted by: bgates | September 05, 2008 at 06:19 AM
First they came for the oil companies, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a giant multinational corporation....
Posted by: bgates | September 05, 2008 at 06:22 AM
There's another dynamic, and that is that any fossil fuel company has been demonized by the carbon dioxide nonsense. They can run the company strictly on the up and up, and still be considered the hounds of hell by the believers. This is a massive, and mistaken, effect.
I'm sure McCain and Palin will get around to straightening that whole mess out, but maybe not before the election. They are running out of time to change public perception on that account. Skepticism is clearly on the rise, though and it will get worked out eventually.
We are cooling, folks; for how long even kim doesn't know.
=================================
Posted by: kim | September 05, 2008 at 06:35 AM
Obama also suggested that he'd be relying on the same press that has obsessively examined his life to pick apart Palin's.
Does Axelrod or any of the other purported adults ever try to abuse him of delusional fantasies like this? Am I the only person that regards this as borderline psychotic and that this statement in and of itself should disqualify him from serving in any office higher than community organizer?
Posted by: Captain Hate | September 05, 2008 at 07:30 AM
GRRRRRR
abuse == disabuse
Posted by: Captain Hate | September 05, 2008 at 07:32 AM
Well, he must think he's been examined more closely than she; what little scrutiny he has had has revealed three evil buddies, Ayers, Wright, and Rezko. Examination of Palin has found a fetus, heart beating away madly.
===========================
Posted by: kim | September 05, 2008 at 07:40 AM
McCain is woefully naive about Bush-hater; he is under the impression that once Bush leave office the Progressive Left will join his One America campaign.
The problem is that the rage isn't against Bush, it is against the "oppressive, imperialist 'white' America".
If McCain should win, defeating the Oppressed Minority, then whatever Bush-hate we saw over the last seven+ years will be childs play compared to what they'll do to McCain.
McCain has set himself up as a Uniter, but then so did President Bush, and look at how United is America today.
McCain going after oil companies or making an alliance with La Raza will not save from from the Progressive Left wrath.
See McCain no matter how far you reach across the aisle the Progressive Left wants nothing to do with your America.
Posted by: syn | September 05, 2008 at 07:40 AM
Jiminy Cricket - since when does "good morning" start at 3:00 AM? Are you guys off to moose hunt or something?
The speech feels good this morning - comforting, reassuring - a guy you can trust at the helm of the ship. I'm pleased.
Posted by: Jane | September 05, 2008 at 07:44 AM
No, Captain Hate, you're not the only one. I'd like to laugh but I can't because it's so infuriating.
Posted by: Porchlight | September 05, 2008 at 07:45 AM
I liked the speech too, Jane. I hadn't been able to check in on the blogs all evening or watch any of the other speakers - just tuned in for McCain. I thought he was effective and genuine.
My husband has been planning to vote for Obama all along, but I think I am 3/4 of the way to winning him over to McCain, and last night's speech helped. For what it's worth (not much probably).
Posted by: Porchlight | September 05, 2008 at 07:48 AM
syn, the 'progressive' left has so twisted themselves up with hate and dissonance that they respond like a crazed, wounded, animal. If McCain/Palin win, I think the extreme left will get so crazy that some in the media will rebel. I know, Pollyanna. So sue me.
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Posted by: kim | September 05, 2008 at 07:49 AM
It was easy enough to stigmatize Bush, who didn't really fight back, but McCain and Palin are not going to take the garbage lying down. Can't you imagine a McCain smackdown of Schumer if he tried some of his Department of Justice chicanery?
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Posted by: kim | September 05, 2008 at 07:52 AM