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Thursday RNC open discussion, plus McCain preview...
Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 6:20am.
On running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin:
"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."
On his solving problems 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."
"We know the surge has worked. Our men and women in uniform know it has worked. I promise you -- above all others -- Al Qaeda knows it has worked. The only people who deny it are Barack Obama and his buddies at MoveOn.org. Why won't they admit it? Because Barack Obama's campaign is built around us losing in Iraq. Without John McCain's courageous leadership there would be no surge."
And without McCain and the neocons, there would be no war to quiesce with a surge.
"We can't have a health care system run by doctors and patients instead of a federal bureaucracy."
Uh, I'm pretty sure the insurance companies run it now. How's that working out? Plus, what percentage of health care is delivered via Medicare? That seems to be working better than most other plans.
The rest of his speech: "Yes we will! Yes we will! Yes we will!"
Uh, I'm pretty sure the insurance companies run it now
When he said something about a bureaucrat between you and your doctor, my thought was "wouldn't they be between you and your insurance company?" It is the void left by employment-based health insurance and cherry-picking insurers that bureaucrats would be stepping into.
I thought McCain's POW story was very moving, and it lent passion to his call for peace, but it was a moment when a maverick would have spoken out about the torture infrastructure created by Rumsfeld. McCain said that "some Republicans" had become corrupted by Washington. Which ones? Just the ones who have been caught? What sort of corruption? What are you going to do about it? This earmark crap barely scratches the surface of Washington corruption.
I will believe Palin is a reformer ready to take on Washington when she tells Harriet Miers to be prompt and to testify honestly next week. If Miers, Bolton or Rove keep up their obstruction of the Constitution, Palin will have a prime opportunity to prove she can live up to the hype. I am not counting on it.
I kinda like McCain and Palin, but their party can not be trusted and neither can they until they get specific about how they will attack corruption. Mavericks are not timid.
Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2008/09/04 - 10:56pm.
So, if I understand correctly, McCain publicly acknowledged the miserable failures of the last eight years under Republican rule.
Then he offered up four more years of exactly the same policies, calling it change and reform as if it will somehow be different?
OK, then.
Also, why are Republicans so hellbent on destroying public education? Seems like McCain spent an inordinate amount of time talking about how to eliminate it, while insulting hard working teachers who are expected to do so much with so little.
So, if I understand correctly, McCain publicly acknowledged the miserable failures of the last eight years under Republican rule.
Then he offered up four more years of exactly the same policies, calling it change and reform as if it will somehow be different?
Yup, pretty much. The bio parts worked pretty well, although I couldn't take 6 whole paragraphs about being a POW from the guy who, you know, hates to talk about it.
But there was little meat in the speech, red or otherwise. No red meat for the base, no real meat on specific proposals (especially on the economy) for the rest of us.
David Gergen had an interesting observation: up until McCain's speech this convention has been "nasty." Can McCain control his own party?
P.S. I often find Olbermann over the top, but he just said McCain talking about his own party was "we have met the enemy and he is us." I wish I'd said that.
Submitted by Brian A. on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 2:25am.
The POW story would have been effective one night, but not three. Good thing the convention wasn't four nights.
And yes, the whole event left the viewer wondering who McCain is planning to do this reforming from, apart from the people he was speaking to in the hall, and the AWOL Bush/Cheney.
Submitted by tennesseevalues... on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 7:44am.
Also, why are Republicans so hellbent on destroying public education?
Teachers look an awful lot like com-yuu-nitty or-gan-eye-zers. Don't ya know? The GOP spent an inordinate amount of time (even by GOP standards) attacking people who roll up their sleeves and work to help their country except, you know, the ones who are soldiers.
By the way, is it just me or did John McCain just admit that he didn't love his country UNTIL he was a prisoner of war? Look out, Sen. McCain, that kind of language got Michelle Obama in all sorts of hot water with your supporters. Heh.
Submitted by Carole Borges on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 9:09am.
What kind of message does that send to young people about to enter the military? John McCain wants everyone to think he is noble, but really he is a hothead who will just like GWB make policy decisions out of fear and refuse to listen to anyone around him. He has proved by his caving in over his choice for VP he is now very capable of choosing what's political rather than stick to his principles like he used to. The maverick has passed on into history now. The new John McCain is basically a re-run of Bush.
Personally I also got a little sick of hearing the POW "story" over and over again. It just got weaker and weaker every time you heard it, and hearing him applaud himself became kind of sickening.
I admire his service. I always have. Enough already. I don't want to hear the "he can't lift his arms to his shoulders" line ever again.
Submitted by Carole Borges on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 8:55am.
Sadly, it seems like anyone who can afford a private school bailed out awhile ago. Those who can't afford private school, but can survive on one income, have also abandoned supporting the idea of putting a huge focus on making all public schools better than private or faith-based institutions.
McCain was talking to the VOUCHER crowd. The Christian coalition has been lobbying hard for vouchers. They hate the idea of public education because it doesn't include enough Jesus in the curriculum. They seem to overlook the fact that the Muslim idea of a madras is its equivilant. Get them early and indoctrinate them early.
I'll believe McCain wants to end partisan rancor when he tells Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter and the rest of their ilk to tone down the rhetoric.
Submitted by Brian A. on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 8:47am.
Exactly. It would be a Sister Souljah moment if he ever called those clowns out.
All the talk of McCain being a Maverick, but he never get around to citing his maverickness. Why didn't he devote a few minutes last night to reliving campaign finance reform and comprehensive immigration reform? That reaction would have been amusing to watch.
I noticed how orderly it was. The aisles were empty. At the DNC the aisles were packed as was most every other available spot. Of course, Democrats are just loud, rowdy, ne'er-do-wells.
Exactly. It would be a Sister Souljah moment if he ever called those clowns out.
If he actually did denounce the right-wing hate-mongers, it would substantially improve his standings in my eyes.
I used to have a lot of respect for McCain. I didn't agree with him politically, but I thought he was an honest, straightforward leader who just wanted what's best for America.
He's shown himself to be far too willing to compromize, though. Just his transition on the religious right, going from "agents of intolerance" to actively seeking their support, ruined my respect for him.
I used to have a lot of respect for McCain. I didn't agree with him politically, but I thought he was an honest, straightforward leader who just wanted what's best for America.
Yup, me too. Then he sold his soul to right wing because he wants to be President. The sad thing is, it's far from sure that will work.
Submitted by redmondkr on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 10:00am.
Also, did the RNC have a dress code? Just about every guy I saw had on a suit and tie.
PBS said something last night about more than half the Republican delegates having incomes of $500K or more. That could be a factor in their enthusiasm about Palin's community organizers comment.
There is also news of an unexpected fundraising boost from the Palin speech.
Submitted by bill young on Fri, 2008/09/05 - 12:31pm.
McCain's POW story is what it is..heroic.
In post WWII presidential elections we have elected 3 combat veterns president.
Truman,JFK & Bush 41.
OTH,5 Democratic & Republican nominees that were combat veterns lost.
Goldwater,McGovern,Ford,Dole,& Kerry.
Therefore,given the history,an heroic story is compelling to the American people but doesn't get a candidate elected president.
Then there's Ike.His story was epic.
Ike was a Republican & common sense conservative but Ike transcended party & politics.
It seams to me McCain could have should have run as a 21st century Ike.
After all,Ike lead us out of WWII & Korea.
Ike also sent troops to uphold the law & integrate the schools in Arkansas & appointed judges in the south that would guarantee constitutional rights for African-Americans.
I dont think I heard Ike's name once @ the Republican Convention.OTH,an Eisenhower spoke @ the Democratic Convention.Go figure.
While I admire McCain's service record, I can't help but remember how the Republicans sought to tarnish Kerry's record. I can't imagine what McCain endured as a POW but every time I hear him talk about it, I get the impression that he is saying that we "owe" him the presidency because of it.
Yadda yadda yadda.
I'll fight to get rid of the crap in Washington that my party's been in charge of for the last 8 years.
I won't tell you any specifics about how I'll do it. But trust me.
BTW, did you hear I was a POW?
"I saw a cross in the sand! Jesus must love me! Vote for me! Handpicked by Jesus to lead this country to greatness!...did I mention I was a POW™?"
but how can he talk about ending partisan rancor in Washington and working across the aisle when...
He will have Phil Gramm running the economy....
He will have Bush administration neocons who advocated invading Iraq and who advocate attacking Iran running the Defense and State Departments...
How do either of those steps make this country stronger and safer?
They won't..it will be a continuation of the Bush policies.
Marsha Blackburn:
"We are the gun totin', God fearin,' flag wavin' Americans who are excited to see two crack shots on the ticket with the status quo in their sights."
Yikes!
Lindsey Graham:
"We know the surge has worked. Our men and women in uniform know it has worked. I promise you -- above all others -- Al Qaeda knows it has worked. The only people who deny it are Barack Obama and his buddies at MoveOn.org. Why won't they admit it? Because Barack Obama's campaign is built around us losing in Iraq. Without John McCain's courageous leadership there would be no surge."
And without McCain and the neocons, there would be no war to quiesce with a surge.
OK, then.
Sam Brownback:
"We can't have a health care system run by doctors and patients instead of a federal bureaucracy."
Uh, I'm pretty sure the insurance companies run it now. How's that working out? Plus, what percentage of health care is delivered via Medicare? That seems to be working better than most other plans.
The rest of his speech: "Yes we will! Yes we will! Yes we will!"
Uh, I'm pretty sure the insurance companies run it now
When he said something about a bureaucrat between you and your doctor, my thought was "wouldn't they be between you and your insurance company?" It is the void left by employment-based health insurance and cherry-picking insurers that bureaucrats would be stepping into.
I thought McCain's POW story was very moving, and it lent passion to his call for peace, but it was a moment when a maverick would have spoken out about the torture infrastructure created by Rumsfeld. McCain said that "some Republicans" had become corrupted by Washington. Which ones? Just the ones who have been caught? What sort of corruption? What are you going to do about it? This earmark crap barely scratches the surface of Washington corruption.
I will believe Palin is a reformer ready to take on Washington when she tells Harriet Miers to be prompt and to testify honestly next week. If Miers, Bolton or Rove keep up their obstruction of the Constitution, Palin will have a prime opportunity to prove she can live up to the hype. I am not counting on it.
I kinda like McCain and Palin, but their party can not be trusted and neither can they until they get specific about how they will attack corruption. Mavericks are not timid.
So, if I understand correctly, McCain publicly acknowledged the miserable failures of the last eight years under Republican rule.
Then he offered up four more years of exactly the same policies, calling it change and reform as if it will somehow be different?
OK, then.
Also, why are Republicans so hellbent on destroying public education? Seems like McCain spent an inordinate amount of time talking about how to eliminate it, while insulting hard working teachers who are expected to do so much with so little.
So, if I understand correctly, McCain publicly acknowledged the miserable failures of the last eight years under Republican rule.
Then he offered up four more years of exactly the same policies, calling it change and reform as if it will somehow be different?
Yup, pretty much. The bio parts worked pretty well, although I couldn't take 6 whole paragraphs about being a POW from the guy who, you know, hates to talk about it.
But there was little meat in the speech, red or otherwise. No red meat for the base, no real meat on specific proposals (especially on the economy) for the rest of us.
David Gergen had an interesting observation: up until McCain's speech this convention has been "nasty." Can McCain control his own party?
P.S. I often find Olbermann over the top, but he just said McCain talking about his own party was "we have met the enemy and he is us." I wish I'd said that.
The POW story would have been effective one night, but not three. Good thing the convention wasn't four nights.
And yes, the whole event left the viewer wondering who McCain is planning to do this reforming from, apart from the people he was speaking to in the hall, and the AWOL Bush/Cheney.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
Teachers look an awful lot like com-yuu-nitty or-gan-eye-zers. Don't ya know? The GOP spent an inordinate amount of time (even by GOP standards) attacking people who roll up their sleeves and work to help their country except, you know, the ones who are soldiers.
By the way, is it just me or did John McCain just admit that he didn't love his country UNTIL he was a prisoner of war? Look out, Sen. McCain, that kind of language got Michelle Obama in all sorts of hot water with your supporters. Heh.
What kind of message does that send to young people about to enter the military? John McCain wants everyone to think he is noble, but really he is a hothead who will just like GWB make policy decisions out of fear and refuse to listen to anyone around him. He has proved by his caving in over his choice for VP he is now very capable of choosing what's political rather than stick to his principles like he used to. The maverick has passed on into history now. The new John McCain is basically a re-run of Bush.
Personally I also got a little sick of hearing the POW "story" over and over again. It just got weaker and weaker every time you heard it, and hearing him applaud himself became kind of sickening.
I admire his service. I always have. Enough already. I don't want to hear the "he can't lift his arms to his shoulders" line ever again.
Sadly, it seems like anyone who can afford a private school bailed out awhile ago. Those who can't afford private school, but can survive on one income, have also abandoned supporting the idea of putting a huge focus on making all public schools better than private or faith-based institutions.
McCain was talking to the VOUCHER crowd. The Christian coalition has been lobbying hard for vouchers. They hate the idea of public education because it doesn't include enough Jesus in the curriculum. They seem to overlook the fact that the Muslim idea of a madras is its equivilant. Get them early and indoctrinate them early.
Religion-free schools are a gift to our children.
If anyone was on the fence that speech should drive them immediately to Obama/Biden.
I overheard this at lunch yesterday at a certain famous local eatery situated inside a functioning pharmacy:
"Well, the convention is over tonight. So here come the nonstop commercials. Thank God for TiVo."
I'll believe McCain wants to end partisan rancor when he tells Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Reilly, Coulter and the rest of their ilk to tone down the rhetoric.
Exactly. It would be a Sister Souljah moment if he ever called those clowns out.
All the talk of McCain being a Maverick, but he never get around to citing his maverickness. Why didn't he devote a few minutes last night to reliving campaign finance reform and comprehensive immigration reform? That reaction would have been amusing to watch.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
Speaking of "maverick," MSNBC had a "moran" moment when they cut to some guy in the audience with a sign saying "McCain The Mavrick."
(Maybe it's an inside joke or something?)
Also, did the RNC have a dress code? Just about every guy I saw had on a suit and tie.
I noticed how orderly it was. The aisles were empty. At the DNC the aisles were packed as was most every other available spot. Of course, Democrats are just loud, rowdy, ne'er-do-wells.
"Also, did the RNC have a dress code? Just about every guy I saw had on a suit and tie. "
No dress code. That's just what car salesmen, insurance agents and morticians wear.*
*Did I just describe the Knox County Commission?
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
I took a suit, nice dress shirts, and ties (including a Democrat tie my Mom got for me) to Denver but they were never unpacked.
I wore my (only) Hawaiian shirt to Invesco, because a) it was hot, and b) as a tribute to O.
If he actually did denounce the right-wing hate-mongers, it would substantially improve his standings in my eyes.
I used to have a lot of respect for McCain. I didn't agree with him politically, but I thought he was an honest, straightforward leader who just wanted what's best for America.
He's shown himself to be far too willing to compromize, though. Just his transition on the religious right, going from "agents of intolerance" to actively seeking their support, ruined my respect for him.
I used to have a lot of respect for McCain. I didn't agree with him politically, but I thought he was an honest, straightforward leader who just wanted what's best for America.
Yup, me too. Then he sold his soul to right wing because he wants to be President. The sad thing is, it's far from sure that will work.
Also, did the RNC have a dress code? Just about every guy I saw had on a suit and tie.
PBS said something last night about more than half the Republican delegates having incomes of $500K or more. That could be a factor in their enthusiasm about Palin's community organizers comment.
There is also news of an unexpected fundraising boost from the Palin speech.
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Interesting. I was wondering about the average net worth/income of GOP delegates.
McCain's POW story is what it is..heroic.
In post WWII presidential elections we have elected 3 combat veterns president.
Truman,JFK & Bush 41.
OTH,5 Democratic & Republican nominees that were combat veterns lost.
Goldwater,McGovern,Ford,Dole,& Kerry.
Therefore,given the history,an heroic story is compelling to the American people but doesn't get a candidate elected president.
Then there's Ike.His story was epic.
Ike was a Republican & common sense conservative but Ike transcended party & politics.
It seams to me McCain could have should have run as a 21st century Ike.
After all,Ike lead us out of WWII & Korea.
Ike also sent troops to uphold the law & integrate the schools in Arkansas & appointed judges in the south that would guarantee constitutional rights for African-Americans.
I dont think I heard Ike's name once @ the Republican Convention.OTH,an Eisenhower spoke @ the Democratic Convention.Go figure.
Why don't McCain like Ike?
Who knows?
But whatever the reason it's a mistake.
While I admire McCain's service record, I can't help but remember how the Republicans sought to tarnish Kerry's record. I can't imagine what McCain endured as a POW but every time I hear him talk about it, I get the impression that he is saying that we "owe" him the presidency because of it.
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