5:38 Central Time: Just setting up the post, so you'll know I'm going to do this again. Don't expect much for another 2 hours.
6:44: I just recorded a new Bloggingheads, with lots of talk about the convention. Now, I have the time to watch some things. Pawlenty is coming up in the next hour. Brownback. Hmmm.
7:07: Barack Obama gives a good speech, but the best sermons are lived, says Tim Pawlenty. He's trying to get the chant going: "John McCain put our country first." That was a little cheesy. Ah, but it didn't last long.
7:24: Brownback calls McCain "a history maker and a history breaker." That sounds like a line for the Steve Carrell character on "The Office."
8:01: Lindsey Graham says that everyone knows the surge is working. "The only people who deny it are Barack Obama and his buddies at MoveOn.org." Why? Because the Obama campaign is built on losing in Iraq, Graham says. McCain pushed for the surge, pushed against Republicans. It was unpopular. "Some said it was political suicide." John McCain "stopped the Democratic Party from losing this war." Strong stuff. Excellently delivered.
8:10: A little film about Sarah Palin. Co-maverick. "When Alaska's maverick joined America's maverick, the world shook." Some lovely pictures of people and landscapes. I especially enjoyed the shot of shelves of cut up fish meat to illustrate "hard work."
8:23: "It's not about talking pretty; it's about talking straight," says Tom Ridge, putting a lot of effort into sounding tough. "Let's call this maverick forward."
8:35: A nice film about Cindy McCain. Good works. Loving mom. And.... drift racing!
8:43: Cindy is speaking. She says we feel Abraham Lincoln's hand tapping us on the shoulder, then pauses, and it takes way too long for the crowd to pick up the applause cue. She makes a nice contrast -- a good liberal/conservative contrast -- between being concerned about what people in other countries will think and being concerned about what our forefathers would think.
9:02: "Obama to Dispatch Female Surrogates" -- NYT headline.
9:04: Excellent film presentation of the story of John McCain. Most notable is the idea that he survived the Forrestal fire because there was a plan -- God isn't named outright -- for him to do something more. Nice but intimidating contributions from Mother McCain.
9:17: McCain's speech. It feels rote sometimes and has an actorly passion sometimes. "I hate war," woke me from one of my dozes. "I've never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege.... I was blessed by misfortune." The speech felt very long and had its ups and downs. After many diverse phrases, he got it together over the idea of service and the slogan "Country First." He spoke clearly and well about his early life, as a cocky selfish man, and his transition to a man in love with his country. Now, I'm watching the final waving, with the family and Sarah Palin. Where are the balloons? I obsess over the balloons. What if they never fall? Obviously, there is a huge balloon snafu. Finally, balloons. Why were balloons important? Ah, why is a speech important? The big idea is John McCain's life, and somewhere along the way tonight that point was made. It was made over and over. It's now for us to decide if we want this man to lead us for the next 4 years.
September 4, 2008
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420 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 420 Newer› Newest»I'm liking the energy talk. Obama's campaign has basically conceded national security at this point; now McCain (aided by the Palin pick, which was brilliant from an energy perspective) is claiming energy as his issue. Well, his and Paris Hilton's. His delivery now is better than it's been, too.
MM: I am the complete looney tunes fanatic--best cartoon ever made and I have the complete collection on dvd thanks to my kids who feed my habit--will check it out--got a link or are you going to make me look it up
Am I the only one who sees Jessica Tandy every time I look at John McCain's mother. "Hoke, get the car!"
Y A Tittle was Yelberton Abraham Tittle.
An Obama victory would be the death of Jon Stewart.
I even own stock in the Acme company
"I'm not afraid of them - I'm prepared for them." Yes, John McCain owns the national security issue.
"brent:"
It's called rational conversation. Republicans denounce and castigate people for vague, unspecified offenses.
But they adamantly refuse to back up these claims. Instead, they attack the person requesting back up.
Me, I back up what I say. Hell, I tried to back up what John Stodder falsely claimed about Sara Palin being called an anti-semite.
What a disgusting thing to say.
vb -- have there been other Republican speakers who did not major in being nasty? I will go to the C-SPAN website and listen.
The other thing I disliked about the Republican speakers is their affection for simple, uninformed answers to complex questions. For example, the fantasy that today, doctors and patients alone decide the treatments received. The choice is not between a federal bureaucracy and no bureaucracy; the choice is between multiple insurance bureaucracies and a federal bureaucracy. And how can the military be the one arm of government that works?
The Straight Talk Express derailed and was replaced with a Pander Bear, sad to say. Remember, McCain ("Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran") is the only one who can come between you and a sickening death.
If she makes it out of the next 60 days unscathed, my gut tells me that Sarah Palin will be THE face of the republican party (and perhaps the nation) for the next dozen years.
My kids and I spent an hour and a half walking from one end of downtown St. Paul to the other. We missed out on seeing the protesters clash with police, but we got a good sense of how authorities locked down the area around the convention site.
I'm not watching the speech, but I read the full text as posted on Instapundit.
It was mind-blowingly incredible, so I can only assume that McCain is failing on some level of delivery based on the comments so far :(
roger, I saw them at www.ew.com -- they have a page called sound bites, try This url. It's the sound bite from Wednesday or Tuesday this week. Well, whichever day Thompson and Lieberman spoke on.
"It was mind-blowingly incredible, so I can only assume that McCain is failing on some level of delivery based on the comments so far :("
It's classic McCain. It's a moderate, level, and nuanced speech. He's talking to the independents and Reagan Democrats. The base got their night already. Obama did a miserable job of reaching out to the right. McCain is schooling him.
I'll do something to help the Obama campaign, instead.
Enjoy repeating false outrages to each other while you get worked up.
McCain's definiton of humility: mentioning that POW expereince less than once per minute.
Oops. He failed.
Does he really fail to realize that calling yourself humble is not humble.
I bear the scars, Obama??
google it
Obama camp connects the dots for Jews: McCain...Palin...Buchanan..."Nazis"
Barack Obama's campaign, perhaps miffed at all the Democrat-is-weak-on-Israel theme, started striking back at John McCain almost as soon as he tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Where the Dems are trying to paint McCain as more financially out of touch with people, they're strongly suggesting that his Christian conservative running mate is no friend to the Jews.
"Palin was a supporter of [MSNBC analyst] Pat Buchanan, a right-winger or as many Jews call him: a Nazi sympathizer,'' Obama spokesman Mark Bubriski wrote in an email."
Google. You've been hanging out on AA too much. Ry reading Kos. Andrew Sullivan?
f, I agree. I'm not sure there's a better speaker/communicator. (Certainly not at the convention). If only her views were more in line with mine she'd be perfect :)
Good night everybody!
Wind vote?
Try NIMBY Ted Kennedy.
MM--thanks much appreciated
The reaching out to independents and Democrats material is good, and McCain's delivery is so sincere. He's not a show horse by any measure, but he comes across as a humble and dedicated man with his heart in the right place and the courage to follow it.
It's classic McCain. It's a moderate, level, and nuanced speech. He's talking to the independents and Reagan Democrats. The base got their night already. Obama did a miserable job of reaching out to the right. McCain is schooling him.
Well, as a pro-war social and economic liberal I've been extremely conflicted this election cycle. I still don't like some of the things McCain said about the economy (but I love what he said about energy), but I can't stand Obama and the sexist left. So I guess McCain is doing good enough for me...
You suppose he's going to tell the cross in the dirt story?
mentioning that POW expereince less than once per minute.
That is nothing compared to the experience. I dont mind hearing it again.
The choice is not between a federal bureaucracy and no bureaucracy; the choice is between multiple insurance bureaucracies and a federal bureaucracy.
The choice is between either:
(A) Federal bureaucracy
or
(B) Your choice of federal bureaucracy, insurance bureaucracy, or no bureaucracy at all, your pick.
Democrats favor (A). Republicans, (B).
Who called Sarah Palin an anti-Semite and a Nazi sympathizer?
Robert Wexler. Guy from Florida. Author of "Fire Breathing Liberal." Oh, and he's a Democratic congressman, and one of the most prominent talking, uh, heads in Washington.
He was defended in this charge by... Obama spokesman Mark Bubriski. Here's the money quote from the story linked below:
"Palin was a supporter of Pat Buchanan, a right-winger or as many Jews call him: a Nazi sympathizer," Obama spokesman Mark Bubriski said in an e-mailed statement to the Miami Herald.
AL, read this and then it's time for your cookie and nap.
http://tinyurl.com/63jekw
Did anybody here know McCain was a P.O.W.?
Who knew?
G-o-o-d L-o-r-d...cane America hear this one-more-time?
"I was my country's." Good stuff. The other unspoken meme here, apart from "Obama is a pussy, McCain is a fighter," is "Obama is arrogant. John McCain is humble."
Oops, I spoke too soon. He's making it kind of clear.
Since Obama is running as the Messiah, does that mean McCain, with this approach, has decided to run as the Antichrist?
OK I'm officially tired of the Vietnam stories. God bless him but ya know, enough!
(B) Your choice of federal bureaucracy, insurance bureaucracy, or no bureaucracy at all, your pick.
Democrats favor (A). Republicans, (B).
McCain's plan gives you a choice of insurance bureaucracies:
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm
John Stodder: But she did support of Buchanan, who is an anti-Semite.
You didn't know this??
I swear to God, McCain is the most gracious and least selfish speaker at this convention. Big kudos.
I know I might be alone in this. But this is a terrific speech. It's exactly what we needed.
And this ending was great!
McCain has gravitas and makes Obo look like a spoiled frat boy.
I would be embarrassed if I were a Democrat.
This paen to his buddies in prison is heartbreakingly powerful.
Who would pretend to match this man's devotion to us?
FLS, Is that your way of saying the man is a poor public speaker?
I think he's trying to show that his experience caused him to want to be a servant of the country, not himself. But I guarantee you that the talking heads tomorrow will be ALL ABOUT "McCain's using his war stories for political expediency! Oh, the horror!"
eli, we wouldn't want you.
SleepingGiant, yes, you are alone.
And Former Law Student is correct. Very gracious, very humble, a true patriot. Very impressive, very honorable.
Agree that McCain pulled it out at the end. Great ending
vbspurs said...
YES!!
GROUND NOISE AND THE STATIC!
That is alphaiberal's new nick name!!
ok- that ending was awesome.
What movie is that score from? It's been bugging me for a week!
You're not cause alpha, you're a symptom
The bio and service section brought the crowd back into it. They don't necessarily like McCain, but they like America.
There's a lot of trying to fire up the GOP in this speech, despite the admonition.
Wow, big ending. They're almost drowning him out. The speech started off middling, but ended great. He took ownership of energy issues, reasserted his dominance of national security, laid claim to education, and made it clear that he will fight corruption. And he left no doubt that he will work across party lines for the greater good. I would've liked to see a little more on the economy, but he laid out his plans to expand trade, cut corporate taxes, and find health care solutions that did not cripple the economy.
But all told, the big themes here were "McCain is a fighter" and "McCain is humble." And while he never mentioned it, there's no question that he was contrasting himself to his opponent.
It was a good speech, better than I thought it would be after the first five minutes. The key sound bytes are very, very, very good, and McCain helped his candidacy tonight.
Who will forget: "She worked with her hand and nose."
Can't make this stuff up.
AlphaLiberal said...
Me, I back up what I say. Hell, I tried to back up what John Stodder falsely claimed about Sara Palin being called an anti-semite.
With partisan hacks?
Oh Michael, I thought you were with the guy who started out to drop politics as usual, and wanted to bring the country together.
You are so inspiring!
michael said:
Did anybody here know McCain was a P.O.W.?
Who knew?
G-o-o-d L-o-r-d...cane America hear this one-more-time?
I really feel sorry for you, man.
Sad.
Michael: way to focus on the big picture, man--no one is going to remember that after that ending
AlphaLiberal said...
I'll do something to help the Obama campaign, instead.
Yeah, you are goingto help them keep smearing Palin! Just like they have been doing for days.
AAA is on the way Alpha, just hold on. They will be there soon.
This man, who looks older than his age, with a herky-jerky delivery, and awkward little movements did something the pistol-packin' mommma from yesterday, who I so admire, didn't do --
John McCain made me cry tonight. And he made me proud.
If there is such a thing as being a Republican, even if he sometimes doesn't act it, maybe he transcends it.
This was an awesome, mulit-layered speech. I hope there are SOME Democrats who understand this is no Bush 44. If not, they are the poorer for it.
Cheers,
Victoria
michael -- what's with the hand and nose comment?
I wonder if that dumbass blogger still has the betting line up for when Palin drops out? Problem is when you bet with a liberal they always welsh. They always have some excuse. Diabold, hanging chads, Lucy Ramirez.
brent, You can ONLY say it 25,000 times before it becomes rather stale.
And now they're playing Barracuda - McCain did great, but Palin's star has forever eclipsed his among the faithful. That's ok. McCain is a low-key, humble, bipartisan worker, and he's the only Republican who could possibly win this cycle. Now he's free to take the middle while Palin keeps the base adrenalized. What a brilliant pick he made.
Oh, and did I mention that he articulated his economic philosophy?
Michael said...
Did anybody here know McCain was a P.O.W.?
Did anyone know that Obama was a modern fighting mighty community organizer?
What the hell is a community organizer?
"They broke me."
That has to be hard to say.
OK I'm officially tired of the Vietnam stories. God bless him but ya know, enough!
He saved his best for last.
It's one thing when others talk about it, but when you hear the guy who lived it, talk about it with such humility, it was amazing.
You know, my mom's uncle was a POW, for three years. But my family hasn't discussed it as much in 40 years as I've heard about McCain's experience this week alone. I'm going to blame the speechwriters for this.
After all this, I'd run my uncle for office, if he weren't in his 90s.
former law student said...
I swear to God, McCain is the most gracious and least selfish speaker at this convention. Big kudos.
We agree.
He broke from Bush. No sound bites for Obambi to use here.
Solid, inspiring speech. No, maybe it didn't give hardcore conservatives what they wanted. But hardcore conservatives got their day with Palin.
Michael and to a lesser extent Alpha: when I was in viet nam we used to call people like you flies--you buzzed around, ate shit, and bothered people.
OK I'm officially tired of the Vietnam stories. God bless him but ya know, enough!
He saved his best for last.
It's one thing when others talk about it, but when you hear the guy who lived it, talk about it with such humility, it was amazing.
Victoria, I thought it was a good speech, but not great. Palin raised the bar.
SleepingGiant said...
I know I might be alone in this. But this is a terrific speech. It's exactly what we needed.
Nah, you are not alone.
Solid, inspiring speech. No, maybe it didn't give hardcore conservatives what they wanted. But hardcore conservatives got their day with Palin.
I couldn't agree more, Sleepingiant.
It's the most balanced ticket I've seen.
Andrea Mitchell is in the middle of a rather...bad situation. turn to MSNBC.
LOL @ Andrea Mitchell amidst the balloons.
LOL! Chucky Cheese crack by Olbermann.
ABC NEWS:
"McCain mentioned Obama 6 times tonight, far less than Obama mentioned him in his speech"
"Ballon-wielding thugs?"
I'm laughing at MSNBC's jokes. Something is seriously wrong.
From the NYT article:
"Obama aides say they are counting on not only Mrs. Clinton but also Democratic female governors to criticize their Alaskan counterpart, Ms. Palin"
Ms.? Who's that eskimo?
Counterpart? But she's hot!
"counting on to criticize".
Because O. himself isn't *mean* or *shrill* like that.
OK I'm officially tired of the Vietnam stories. God bless him but ya know, enough!
But I'll bet you cannot get enough of those community organizer stories.
LMAO. Andrea "Boom Boom" Mitchell.
Ewww, visual of Andrea pole-dancing at Solid Gold.
BRAIN BLEACH!
Now I understand why Allen Greenspan looks so dour all the time--if had to roll over in the morning and look at that i would be sour looking too
peter hoh said...
Victoria, I thought it was a good speech, but not great. Palin raised the bar.
Palin owns the bar now.
A McCain presidency threatens the "Viet Nam Syndrome" like none before.
Wow, thanks for the heads up. Incisive balloon drop coverage on MSNBC. Ann must be loving it; I think they're the only network covering her key issue.
And now they're playing Barracuda - McCain did great, but Palin's star has forever eclipsed his among the faithful.
In all fairness, they did play 'Barracuda' after 'Raising McCain.'
I liked the speech, but it was almost vegetarian in comparison to last night's Red meat. He challenged the audience - both in and outside of St. Paul - to bring the party back to many of its core principles. It set McCain apart from Obama, and he inspired.
I can't wait to vote for him.
You know, my mom's uncle was a POW, for three years. But my family hasn't discussed it as much in 40 years as I've heard about McCain's experience this week alone. I'm going to blame the speechwriters for this.
Here's the thing. In not so long a time, your uncle will be dead. And his story, the things he learned, the love he shared, and how it made him the man it is - those things will be lost forever.
They should be shared. And while it's completely understandable for him not to want to talk about those things, I think it's churlish of you to suggest they simply shouldn't be talked about. Like we ought to pretend it never happened.
Victoria, I thought it was a good speech, but not great. Palin raised the bar.
I agree but it was actually very moving. Her forté is grit, but his is gumption.
Another senseless victim of the balloon drop.
LOL @ MSNBC's wisecracks about the cameraman.
"Obama aides say they are counting on not only Mrs. Clinton...
Yeah, Obama had to bring out the old gray mare war horse to do his job. A woman's work is never done.
John Stodder: But she did support of Buchanan, who is an anti-Semite.
You didn't know this??
This story got knocked down even before last night. She endorsed Steve Forbes in 96 and 00. Buchanan was making a visit to her city, and she wore his badge as a way of welcoming him in her capacity as mayor.
They probably don't get many celebs like Pat in her part of Alaska. She removed the button as soon as the event was over.
A McCain presidency threatens the "Viet Nam Syndrome" like none before.
Chickenlittle, the world isn't going according to the progressive script.
We might have an ex-Vietnam hero as US President. We already have an ex-WWII German soldier as Pope.
Neither are ANYTHING like the people popular culture says those people are supposed be -- monsters.
on a larger level, I think, McCain and Palin brought personal experiences to the table-neither democrat can do that in a way that will resonate--I mean who really cares if Obama was editor of Harvard Law review when compared to McCain and Palin
LOL @ MSNBC's wisecracks about the cameraman.
I "chipped" the sound "ahoy" right after the speech. what did they say?
michael said...
Who will forget: "She worked with her hand and nose."
Can't make this stuff up.
Apparently you can make it up.
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.
Nice try princess...
FLS,
McCain's plan gives you a choice of insurance bureaucracies:
Maybe I've misread it, but my understanding of McCain's plan is that he would still allow people to go uninsured if such was their desire. That's what I was getting at.
Insurance is, and by definition has to be, wasteful -- the average person has to get less out of it than the average person puts into it. A lot of people like the idea of going completely without insurance except for catastrophic coverage. That's what I have done, when it was possible for me to do so. It is the smarter, cheaper option.
By the way, the answer to your earlier question about "why the military works" is (a) the job of the military is to defeat other militaries and (b) they're all run by governments, too. Also consider that the military is increasingly relying on the private sector for those parts of its mission not directly related to killing things -- as wasteful as Haliburton is, things used to be even worse!
Obama can better relate to Americans than McCain. Obama did coke. Did McCain ever do coke? Most Americans do coke. We should elect Obama. Things go better with coke.
AlphaLiberal:
STFU and get lost you little pissant.
Howard Wolfson taking apart the speech, and honestly, they just don't get it.
They are so obsessed with Bush, they can't see McCain.
It's depressing that this is the calibre of commentary we have from the Left, and nothing more.
Hey Victoria --
We were watching NBC (not cable) and whoever was commenting (a female) at the end said there were people around her weeping.
That's kind of cool.
Thought the end was terrific. Draggy in the middle -- and yes -- I know the POW story (don't we all -- heard it before a dozen times...), but got a better take on it tonight as an explanation for McCain's love affair with America. (Wouldn't you have gone home?)
I'm with him. I love this country.
WHY SO SERIOUS?
Obviously this speech was nothing new. John McCain will be a great leader.
It gets boring listening to all of the programtic stuff. Obama did it too. But, if they don't do it they get criticised for not having a plan, so they do it anyway. I prefer keeping it simple. I will cut taxes on all americans, not raise them. I will do all possible thing to achieve energy independence not some of them.
My favorite stuff was McCains idea that education is the "civil rights issue of the 21st century." I think that is a brilliant way to put it. The public school system is broken because it is controlled by unions that have no accountability. It is so simple, bust the unions and the schools will improve.
He missed a chance to jab Obama for sending his kids to private school.
all in all a fine speech.
Well, I guess I have to deliver some straight talk.
I thought the speech itself - the writing, I mean - ranged from great to atrocious. The delivery ranged from mediocre to awful. I know that McCain't not great at this set-piece speeches, and it does rather sem to me that if your political life may hang on doing it well, you might want to, you know, practice it.
It wasn't disastrous, or even horrible. It did what it needed to do. But I found myself thinking repeatedly that this just isn't doing what it should.
I think it was a better speech than many here are giving credit for. John McCain is not the fieriest of orators, and he got bogged down in the laundry list that all politicians think they need to include these days. But when he told the crowd to ignore the static, when he made an impassioned plea for all Americans to stop yelling at each other, to work together, and when he called the GOP out for failing to uphold its values, well it was magical. His exhortations at the end of the speech I thought worked well. This is a man who truly wants to get beyond partisanship, and I think that will play well with undecideds om this country.
Since last Friday, Krauthammer's commentaries have really disappointed me.
He's usually very bright, and sees situations from such an intellectual vantage point, that he eclipses others.
But for one week, nothing but schlock and pshaw.
Victoria--no one knows or cares who Howard Wolfson is; everyone knows who John McCain is--
Relax fair lady--this isnt important stuff
What I heard new tonight in the POW story was: "My country saved me". The man does love America, no doubt about that.
vbspurs said: Chickenlittle, the world isn't going according to the progressive script
I merely meant that he touches another aspect of the culture war like no other. That's all.
Hey, Jal. :)
I'm with him. I love this country.
And when his speechwriters were thinking up that long, sometimes disjointed speech up, they must've had that in their minds.
They succeeded. And frankly, I thought since he is not the kind to either want or be comfortable around great sentiment from crowds, that he handled that rousing exit BEAUTIFULLY.
It was moving, but in an American way. It was...Eisenhoweresque.
(Simon, I read your comments though)
I read the speech on Instapundit instead of watching it, and I thought it was great.
I loved his "ambitious national project" on energy independance, which reminds me of the apollo project and the mind-blowing things American can do when it focuses on something.
I liked his stance on sharing credit and serving with democrats and independents.
And he took the right positions on free trade and choice in education.
But most of all I thought his view of America and his belief in what it can achieve when it dedicates itself to something was uplifting.
Obama did coke
When he was a teenager in high school, not when he was a 40 year old adult.
rev: fine as far as it goes, but what do you think should happen to those who choose to go without insurance but then need costly medical treatment? I once knew a healthy guy in his 20s, who worked out in the gym every work day, who developed testicular cancer. Luckily he had insurance through his work.
The POW story is of course amazing. I have read the book and heard the story a dozen times. But I have never heard John McCain tell it himself, and he did a tremendous job.
The candidates keep jarring at each other about how "ordinary" they are, I guess so that they can connect with ordinary Americans. But, in America we really desire heros not the ordinary, which is why McCain will be an uplifting and outstanding leader. Someone the country hasn't had for a long time.
I merely meant that he touches another aspect of the culture war like no other. That's all.
No! I wasn't disagreeing. I was building up my thoughts in agreement. :)
Relax fair lady--this isnt important stuff
Man, I really needed that, Roger.
Blogging has made me as much a navel-gazer as MSM. Need to step back and get perspective. Thanks. :)
Simon I think simon, you over intellectalized this speech--I had concerns until the end, but fortunately thats what the public will hear. So from an intellectual standpoint it wasnt all that hot; but from an emotional standpoint it connected big time. Anyway, thats my take. Presidential elections are won by emotion and atomospherics, not issues.
I thought the rhetoric at the end given over the crowd cheering was cool. It sounded like some hollywood production. Very effective.
He missed a chance to jab Obama for sending his kids to private school.
Obama merely did the same thing McCain's dad did. Besides, the school the Obama kids go to is tuition-free for University of Chicago employees.
Milton Friedman sent his kids there, so you libertarians can't complain.
Maverick - Barracuda
--------2008--------
I'll be back, ya'll. I'm going to walk my dog, shower, and settle in for the night on Althouse.
Victoria: heres the appropriate analogy. In the superbowl, the only thing thats important is the ending. No one puts much stock in what the "analysts" say--ask trooper; he'll tell you the Giants won this year--does anyone remember what the talking heads said after the game?
The contrast between McCain and Obama is so sharp, the vast gulf between the former's sacrifice, service and experience and the latter's extravagant sense of self so wide, that there is every reason to choose John McCain for President.
Well, that was a nice speech and all, but has McCain ever been a community organizer? That's a job that'd break any man.
Wish I could have been around for the festivities but today's my meetaversary (the anniversary of the day I met my wife) so McCain had to wait. I heard the last 2/3rds, and it was decent enough. But I sure am glad we have a pit bull on the ticket to balance his German shepherd!
AL, if no one else has gotten back to you:
go to proteinwisdom.com/?p=13191
He has a nice collection of left wisdom on the Palins - with links.
Were you visiting the back side of the moon since Friday?
Maverick - Barracuda
--------2008--------
Maverick - Sarahcuda
;)
Well, now the conventions are over and we have a choice;
Do we make history just for the sake of making history or do we elect experienced people who know what they are doing and act like adults.
Roger said: "...does anyone remember what the talking heads said after the game?"
Yes. They said: "The Giants still suck. We can hardly wait for the Packers to offload Brett Favre on the jets so a the better NY team can win the Super Bowl next season."
mcg -
check instapundit -- he has a link to the complete text
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Although the ending was very nice.
Obama merely did the same thing McCain's dad did. Besides, the school the Obama kids go to is tuition-free for University of Chicago employees.
My point is that Obama is not for giving such a choice to ordinary Americans through the use of vouchers. Obama is for the special interest teachers union rather than the people.
Can I say this: much as I love our Sarah Barracuda, I've never liked Barracuda by Heart, which they inevitably played tonight (and I've played it, not wholly willingly, a few times at jam sessions). The riff doesn't work for me, there's an odd tonality between the riff and the vocal part, and it's just a very mediocre song overall.
How about a campaign commercial with two fighter planes dealing with bandits?
"Barracuda this is Maverick break right go high burners and split S when I tell you!*sskkkooosh*
(Top Gun music)
I think it would be silly by the campaigns... but as somebody who remembers when Saturday Night Live was actually funny, I could see them doing it.
Roger - well, I'm uncomfortably aware that I grew up in a very different culture, and some of my expectations are quite different. So I certainly concede that there may have been elements of the speech - emotional resonance, if you will - that transcended what I see as flaws for the target audience.
Oh, and it'll be McCain/Palin, and it won't be close.
Have a fine one.
can I say this:
Simon, no. You can't. Don't mess with Heart. (since you asked).
former law student said...
Obama did coke
When he was a teenager in high school, not when he was a 40 year old adult.
How do you know? BTW, the Chicago Lab School is not a public school. It is an elite school. It is one of the schools of weath and privielge.
Gee, I just re-read my comment above and what a bunch o' typos. That's what you get for going to a cocktail party for the speech, I guess.
BTW, FLS, in order to get in to the USNA and stay there you must earn your spot every day. He may have not been in the op of his class, but he was not thrown out or flunked out. They take in anyone who qualifies. They will boot you out in a heart beat if you fail to qualify and they care not who your father is.
The academies are the last schools to manitain and retain standards; more rigourous than law schools.
Peter: In RE: Why so few comments? It seems to me that the answer is that has been John McCain's problem throughout this campaign.
there's an odd tonality between the riff and the vocal part, and it's just a very mediocre song overall.
Yes, but Annie Wilson really rocks with the vocals in that song. It's a song that can't be imitated.
My point is that Obama is not for giving such a choice to ordinary Americans through the use of vouchers.
That's not a fiscally conservative position. The current day student tuition for the U of C lab school is $20,445. Tuition for every child in the US would cost over 1.5 trillion dollars.
I loved the visual of McCain surrounded by his delegates, in contrast to Obama up in his temple/Oval Office/Lincoln Memorial homage. Obama was above the crowd, alone; McCain was where he was most comfortable, with the people.
It was not a great speech, and at times McCain's reading wasn't the best it could have been, but in the end it was a fine speech, a stirring speech, and one that touched my heart much more than I expected it to. John McCain has pissed me off more than a lot of politicians, and I find myself wholly in his corner today.
Telling his POW story wasn't for grandstanding or a sympathy play, it was to 1) explain how he came to love this country so much and 2) reassure everyone how much he hates war, because you know there are those out there who brand him a warmonger. For him to admit, on this night, "they broke me," was extraordinary, brutally honest. I have never heard Barack Obama say anything with as much conviction.
Yeah, I was going to vote R anyway, but now I'm a lot happier about doing it.
The academies are the last schools to manitain and retain standards; more rigourous than law schools.
Excellent point. It’s a great contrast to see Obama complaining and doing coke lines at Occidental College while Cadet McCain is doing 5000 pushups during the rain.
Beth - it figures that the harshest words you've had for me all election season are because I kinda sorta dissed Heart. ;)
Actually, a band I was in played a warm-up show before a hockey game about six or seven years ago, and we had two female singers; the only review we got, as I recall said we sounded like Heart.
I appreciate the few actually reasonable attempts at analysis in this thread.
I also find great humor in the fact that our resident leftist kooks are still trying to drum up a scandal over various allegations about Palin, who spoke last night. Ask yourselves these two questions:
1. Would Palin have been the nominee were these allegations true? No, of course not, thus the co-meme that there was no vetting whatsoever by the McCain camp.
2. Are you making any kind of a dent? Because if you aren't -- and you aren't -- you are wasting your energy.
Rush Limbaugh is really impressing with his phone-in speech post-mortem on Greta's show.
Maybe I should start listening to Rush.
I mean, Ann does, and if (a moderate Liberal) can take it, why haven't I been able to?
What sloan just said.
pvb,
No, I meant Episcopal High, in Alexandria, VA, where "the Punk" was a wrestler and member of the class of '54.
When McCain graduated, the tuition was $1400. It's not cheap to go there today. From their website:
The Comprehensive Fee for the 2008-09 School year is $40,875. This amount includes tuition, room and board, basic health center expenses, and the cost of most school-sponsored academic, athletic, and recreational activities. The Comprehensive Fee for the 2009-10 School Year will be determined in January 2009.
Tuition for every child in the US would cost over 1.5 trillion dollars.
Not to mention that Lab's classrooms would be mighty overcrowded.
I've taught Lab kids. They are great kids. Very bright and fun. However, it's a very elite school. I guess the public schools are for the little people. The people who claim to represent the little people get to send their kids elsewhere.
Obama spent a great deal of time telling us how horrible things are in America.
Tonight McCain told us that he's seen horrible, and America aint it.
Obama got us to be sad because some of us borrowed too much and lost our houses, until we all met a man whose house for 5 years was an 8 by 8 cell.
For him to admit, on this night, "they broke me," was extraordinary, brutally honest. I have never heard Barack Obama say anything with as much conviction.
That is such a great observation. JSM went on to say that his cell wall mate, tapped him that "no man can stand alone forever." McCain is saying that we are individuals who "rely" on each other to overcome difficulty in contrast to Obama who believes that we are a group and we need to band together as a group to overcome problems.
These statements highlight McCain's preference for freedom vs. Obama's preference for equality.
Rush speculating that Obama might dump Biden and put Hillary!
BTW, my mother said:
Obama = rockstar
Palin = movie star
I laughed and said, no. But after all, my mother is a Boomer. :)
Palladian alert!
Todd Palin to speak on Greta coming up. Actually, when Gov Palin was presented to the nation, I had heard her speak on Youtube many times. I wasn't shocked at her precise, clipped "Minnesotan" like pronunciation.
But I've never heard Todd Palin speak. This might be interesting.
Prediction: the more anyone compares Obama and Palin, the more likely it is that Obama will lose.
Maybe Obama and his crew of hopey, changey geniuses will eventually figure this out.
Zaplito nailed it! Jessica Tandy = Nana McCain.
That's not a fiscally conservative position. The current day student tuition for the U of C lab school is $20,445. Tuition for every child in the US would cost over 1.5 trillion dollars.
You know what I mean. The public school system is broken because of the most entrenched special interest group in modern times - the Teacher's union. Obama hasn't challenged them because either 1) he agrees with them, or 2) doesn't have the courage.
One way to break it is to have vouchers. But Obama opposes that because he is for special interests and not for ordinary Americans.
First Dude said he was working the night shift last week, and today he was there introducing Cindy McCain.
LOL! Great line about asking questions when Sarahcuda joined the PTA.
Rush just predicted that Bidden will be replaced by Hillary on the Democrat ticket.
Who is this Joe Biden?
Jim, I'm reminded of what was dismissed as a crack by Rudy about "hope Biden got the VP thing on paper".
Jeez. What a train crash.
I wasn't shocked at her precise, clipped "Minnesotan" like pronunciation.
I wonder if Palin puts Minnesota in Play. She seems very minnesota like.
I will also have to admit, taking my kids to hockey here in Minnesota, that there really are lots of "hockey moms" in this state.
Rush just predicted that Bidden will be replaced by Hillary on the Democrat ticket.
Very entertaining from Rush, but that isn't going to happen (unless Biden suffers some sort of untimely accident)
Lab kids. They are great kids. Very bright and fun. However, it's a very elite school.
Maybe you would know this: They start with nursery school. How do you evaluate a 3 year old to see if he's elite or not?
We know that the moral foundation of the Democrat Party is "Sexual Liberty for everyone - no judging and no consequences!", but it sue seems they picked the wrong hockey mom to fuck this time.
I wonder if Palin puts Minnesota in Play. She seems very minnesota like.
I would like to many a prediction.
McCain/Palin will take Minnesota. I know, I know. Minnesota is liberal. But Pawlenty impressed me as being very committed to getting his State on the red column.
And as you say, she's very Minnesota, dontchaknow.
Who was it who told Biden to get it in writing a few days ago?
Hilarious (Limbaugh's thought that BO will replace Biden with Hillary).
One more under the bus!! Look out!!!
There are plenty of decisions to be made as POTUS which don't allow do-overs.
And what exactly would that say about Barack Obama's judgment, really! (I don't believe it.)
The speech felt very long and had its ups and downs.
Oh, biting criticism Althouse!
You have become such a GOP chump that you can't muster a single criticsm of a speech ripe for critique.
For you lefty loons who want to keep harping on Palin, here's Mickey Kaus, who is on your side (though for the life of me I'll never understand why):
May I suggest to my fellow conspirators that we move directly on to Plan 3: Forget Palin. Stop writing about her. If we make the election about Palin, we will lose. She'll probably win her debate and will almost certainly handle the interviews well enough (to the satisfaction of the voters, at least, if not the experts). The election's not about Palin. It's about McCain. We can beat McCain.
But go ahead. Tell us the one about the Buchanan button again.
Very entertaining from Rush, but that isn't going to happen
Agreed. It's political suicide, and he's not stupid.
The only reason it resonates is that Obama has a very crowded undercarriage on that bus.
Re taking Minnesota -- there was one place where the Gov sounded just like Fargo's Marge.
I could get used to it.
The speech felt very long and had its ups and downs.
In the world of sanity, we call that solid and objective analysis.
Make a note of it. What you can't do, you can at least try to emulate.
Thanks!
Fargo's Marge.
LOL! My boyfriend said the same thing.
former law student said...
Lab kids. They are great kids. Very bright and fun. However, it's a very elite school.
Maybe you would know this: They start with nursery school. How do you evaluate a 3 year old to see if he's elite or not?
Wrong!! They canstart at any point in their education from nursery to high school. The only qualification is an easy test and the ability to pay the tuition. I looked into it for my kid. I know parents who sent their kids there. They were sorry.
You, know, you really should get the facts before you talk out of your ass. Lab school is for elitists and the wealthy. It is priced out of range for normal working class people and that is done on purpose. Once you are accepted the only standard is to keep up your tuition payments.
How do you evaluate a 3 year old to see if he's elite or not?
Easy. By whether the parents have the wherewithal to send the kid to lab. It's either money, power, or an important job at U of C. Which one isn't elitist?
Maybe you would know this: They start with nursery school. How do you evaluate a 3 year old to see if he's elite or not?
Wrong!! They canstart at any point in their education from nursery
You, know, you really should get the facts before you talk out of your ass.
Dude, relax. They do start with nursery school. If I said the bus route started downtown, I don't mean that's the only place you can get on.
Peter -- I actually said that the Lab kids are bright and smart. He was copying my post.
Also, that's not really true about the standards. At Lab and all the fancypants private schools in the city (Latin, Parker, etc.), kids routinely get asked to leave if they aren't up to snuff academically. I'm sure it's the same at Payton and other public schools of Payton's caliber. (These are high schools in Chicago for anyone else reading this.)
The point here, that we can all agree on unless we have a silly agenda that we must keep at all costs, is that Lab is a very expensive school.
Obama got us to be sad because some of us borrowed too much and lost our houses, until we all met a man whose house for 5 years was an 8 by 8 cell.
I heard something about McCain being a POW. Is that what you're referring to?
Brilliant argument. Shut up about the economy. For five years, McCain had no money. Shut up about healthcare. For five years, McCain had no doctor. Shut up about education. For five years, McCain had no school. Just keep going, it works with everything!
I read that Obama is going to sick other female governors on Palin because he is afraid to take her on himself.
This will only energize the Republican base even more. Doesn't Obama realize that the Palin pick was made to energize the base - to get all the voters that came out in droves to vote for Bush to come out again for McCain. Mccain himself is the moderate one.
I must agree with Beth that the war hero schtick is unlikely to sway those who are not already committed. It failed for Kerry and Dole.
McCain should stick to what makes his economic and foreign policies better, and why he will bring real change to Washington. I'm confident that Republicans aren't going to overplay the military thing.
We'll have to find those pictures back of her and the vikings. I didn't know that Alaska had vikings.
(I say this as a kid that had a helmet with horns on it and learned to write with runic letters.) Donchaknow.
I don't know if this helps, but all full-time U of C employees are entitled to the same benefit -- but it's only 50% off tuition. And tuition does vary by school - nursery school is "only" $11K
http://hr.uchicago.edu/benefits/spds/education/index-06.htm#TopOfPage
It was so sad each time that McCain outlawed wind power by failing to provide earmark money.
Which McCain will show up? I hope the ass-kicking conservative one who, among other things, wants to downsize the behemoth monstrosity that is the federal government. Certainly, whichever Obama that shows up won't do this.
but all full-time U of C employees are entitled to the same benefit -- but it's only 50% off tuition. And tuition does vary by school - nursery school is "only" $11K
I assume that Obama's hefty earmark to his wife's employer is enough to cover the tuition costs.
fine as far as it goes, but what do you think should happen to those who choose to go without insurance but then need costly medical treatment?
I don't care what happens to them, so long as I don't have to pay for it.
I'm open to the idea of helping poor American citizens get access to basic medical care they can't otherwise afford, but we're already doing that; the main reason poor Americans lack coverage is that they haven't bothered signing up for one of the various state or federal assistance programs.
You have to get admitted to Lab. That guy who sweeps the floors at the Reg? His kids don't get in.
If McCain can take Minnesota, he'll take Wisconsin too (not precious Dane Co though).
How does Chickenlittle know? Chickenlittle has extensive familial lineage in that state, and senses that the phrases McCain turned tonight, and especially the words of Sarah Palin, will cause Team Obama concern. Wasn't Obama just there a day or so ago?
vbspurs: McCain didn't make me cry but Sarah Palin did.
I thought the "community organizers" are losers clan might like this:
ABC News' Deputy Political Director Karen Travers points out that despite all the "community organizer"-bashing at this convention, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., seems to like the notion, at least based on this passage:
"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."
Sounds like what Obama did...
If a community organizer isn't someone "defend(ing) the rights of the oppressed," or getting involved to correct the mistakes of government, what is it?
Besides, the school the Obama kids go to is tuition-free for University of Chicago employees. Milton Friedman sent his kids there, so you libertarians can't complain.
The University of Chicago is a private school (although you wouldn't think it from the name). It can provide whatever benefits it wants and get no complaint from me or any other libertarian.
I LOVE THIS:
Comment: "...fine as far as it goes, but what do you think should happen to those who choose to go without insurance but then need costly medical treatment?"
Rev responds: "I don't care what happens to them, so long as I don't have to pay for it."
You're already paying for it, fool. Where do you think medical and insurance rates come from?
When oil goes up, gas prices go up. When material cost go up, the price of goods go up. When people can't pay for medical treatment, the cost of providing such services is spread around to those who can...and in turn...GO UP.
To add to Rev's comments:
1. I have had the privilege of visiting the emergency room at Northwestern Hospital a couple of times. I spent a lot of time in the waiting room. There's really no way that all of the people I saw there were fully insured. Yet, they were all treated at one of the best hospitals in the world.
2. Children's Hospital here in Chicago takes anybody, regardless of income.
3. A routine doctor's visit costs what? $200? $400? That's all able, healthy people need. Do the math, people: it costs $20 to $35 a month to get that.
Michael -- If the price of medical treatment becomes zero because of taxes, it will only lead to long and longer queues for treatment, shortages of services and medicines, a severe decrease in the rate of technology, and an erosion of care for everyone.
The system we have now is not broken. Despite their vaunted "free" health care system, Canadians come here for medical treatment, not the other way around.
It's now for us to decide if we want this man to lead us for the next 4 years.
I do.
Maybe you would know this: They start with nursery school. How do you evaluate a 3 year old to see if he's elite or not?
If you can afford the tuition and care enough about education to bother you're almost certainly a lot smarter than the average person. Which means your kids probably will be, too. Genetics, you know.
"Stand up and Fight!", borrowed from the Toreador song in Carmen Jones.
John McCain may well have connected better with the American people on an emotional level than Obama did. And nothing matters more than that.
You're already paying for it, fool. Where do you think medical and insurance rates come from?
You've confused "uninsured" with "destitute", which is a common mistake among the ignorant.
People who lack both insurance AND money have to rely on benevolent doctors and hospitals eating the bill; the cost of THAT gets passed on to their other customers. But most of the uninsured have money; when they get hit by unexpected bills, they pay for it out of pocket.
The more I think about the speech, I'll be curious to see if anyone in the press picks up on the undercurrents in McCain's speech.
The hotshot individualist whose avarice eventually sends him to his lowest point, and takes on a new identity larger than his own.
John McCain is a 'Born Again' American.
For a man who hasn't fully connected with the religious factions of the party....certainly framed his narrative in their terms.
f said...
If she makes it out of the next 60 days unscathed, my gut tells me that Sarah Palin will be THE face of the republican party (and perhaps the nation) for the next dozen years.
That's about the same reaction as the Obamabots had after the 1st two speeches he gave.
Like Palin, no one knew him. Then "Pop!!" honey drips from their lips and we are taking about the Black Messiah, wiser than Lincoln and the man future generations will credit with stopping the oceans rise, curing the sick, and healing the Planet Earth.
Palin is geting the same sort of unquestioning worship as tingles go up the thighs of Fundies and GirlPower! afficionados alike.
Both Cults are ridiculous.
Add McCain who has milked the POW Cult of Victimhood so much, he should be led in any procession he is in or any news hall with the Cult POW/MIA flag with a pink udder attached to it.
He had all his speakers dwell on it instead of any major details of fixing major American problems. Just in case, like John Edwards being a "mill worker's son" - somebody missed the idea that John McCain was one of the ones who paid a price.
58,000 dead. 9,000 lifetime maimed
on 100% disability - if they still have a working brain to know it. 801 POWs. 13,000 with post-service disabilities related to mental affliction tied to service, Agent Orange,.
No POW in any US war used their victimhood to stake claim to high office, except McCain.
Other Vets had, but before Nixon's political spinners created the Cult as a boost to his 72 reelection - replete with Flags, bracelets, rituals...the POWs were not lionized, but considered more fortunate than those killed or with the worst maimings. Just their bad luck in wartime, but better luck than the kid whose eyes and face were blasted off or the ones who died of malaria..
BJK wins the thread. Great insight!
Thank you. Good night.
The deal with community organizers
is they are kind of like quasi- political social workers. Usually into helping people fight the system, or work the system, or get the system to work. Soometimes good, sometimes a way to make a living without making a living.
The COs get paid very little (as low level starters) and the money often comes from foundations, or religious groups --- usually some kind of thing from a grant or a 501(c)3. But I think the Alinsky guy has some ideas about how to work it to transform society ....
Obama apparently got paid $12,000 a year when he started. (When was that? Before or after law school? Or both?)
Grant money is a big thing to fund these positions and projects ... that's why the Annenberg Challenge was such a big deal, though targeting education. It will be interesting to see what kind of programs Obama gave its money to.
Good night seven.
I didn't expect a lump in my throat, but my neighbor, a very likable Democart, actually wiped away tears after McCain said "and they broke me". He's still an Obama guy, but I think a lot of Americans are just like my neighbor - and I predict that many will be moved enough by McCain tonight to truly consider McCain/Palin in November.
Good night from out west.
I hope that Althouse can afford a post devoted to healthcare. I suspect that many of us would like to add something to the discussion.
Another time, another thread.
McCain made a clear statement tonight that Obama cannot and will not make:
"This is who I am, this is what profoundly shaped my life, and this is why I love my country." Any attempt to duplicate this by Obama would never pass the laugh test.
It's not about the words, which the word merchants will attempt to make the central issue. It's about character shaped by a life that few of us can even imagine. The left cannot compete on this ground, so they attempt to tear down real people like McCain and Palin. In their shallow desperation it's all they know how to do, and the enabling masses will follow along like the sheep they are.
Once again justice has triumphed.
Truth has won out. Real Americans can revel in the glory from the purple mountain majesty to the waving fields of grain.
BECAUSE THE WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK GIANTS HAVE WON THE FIRST GAME IN THE MARCH TO THE SUPER BOWL TO REPEAT AS WORLD CHAMPIONS.
The only problem is someone bought up all the fucking balloons. Bastards.
Did I tell you lately the Giants won the Super Bowl?
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