Republican National Convention '08

[sleepyjeff]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

He certainly spoke as if he understood his party's failings and was clearly playing more to the undecideds in TV land than the loyalists in the house. The question, of course, is whether he means it. I think last night was the first time he really sounded like that.

I think he does mean it....he's pretty much made it the hallmark of his career at tipping over the Republican apple cart.

[innerSpaceman]

Oh, I think he meant that, too.

But as I said, what I found completely insincere, from his history and his delivery, was when he claimed his intimate abhorance of war would give him a moment's pause in committing young men and women to combat against McCain's enemy nations once he gets to play the World like a giant game of Risk.

I think he relishes ultimate command of our military and I think he's itching to use its power.



I also think he hasn't got an inkling of what All Men Are Created Equal means ... and he is, therefore, DisQuaLiFiEd.

[Ghoulish Delight]

What was it McCain was saying about Obama acting like a celebrity?

[innerSpaceman]

oh please, that whole ad campaign, Palin's crack about styrofoam greek columns ... they're pathetically jealous they can't fill a stadium with their faithful minions (of convenience ... the minions don't even like McCain).

[Cadaverous Pallor]

The speech itself...meh. I'm sure if I read the transcript I'd find something to get hot and bothered about, but whatever. We skipped around watching it online and perhaps I missed the interesting bits, but it was definitely not written with me in mind.

To me, legislating from the bench includes a lot more issues than just abortion and gay rights. There are a lot of other judgments they'd like overturned.

On a personal note, McCain freaks me out these days. I'm sure it's due to his cancer, as he has to will his face to smile. Poor guy. I'd never vote based on such things, but sadly, it affects how he comes across. Ack, what a shame, what a shame he didn't beat out W in 2000! He used to be so cool...though you never know what his administration would have looked like. Who knows who really pulls the strings...

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

To me, legislating from the bench includes a lot more issues than just abortion and gay rights. There are a lot of other judgments they'd like overturned.

I read this that way too, although I will grant iSm, that I do think he meant to appeal to the fundies on this one.

I did notice that not all that he was saying was received all that enthusiastically by the crowd - which made me happy. Not from an electoral standpoint, but from a what-if-he-wins standpoint. I'm glad he's departing from party line, and I'm glad what he wants to do makes the party faithful (eg: delegates) uncomfortable. IF we get stuck with him, it won't be as bad as it could have been.

[innerSpaceman]

When you read the transcript, scaeagles, the wink won't be there.


Don't pretend the wink doesn't affect the meaning of the words "legislate from the bench." John McCain's loathesomeness last night proved the transcript doesn't tell the real story.

[scaeagles]

You see, that's exactly why I read instead of listen or watch.

I have no doubt in your sincerity in how you've interpretted it. If I was watching, I really doubt that I'd have interpretted it that way (even if I caught the wink). I haven't heard or read any analysis of it being interpretted that way.

The mannerisms and visual queues mean different things to different people. The words are the words. You could be right that I miss what the body language is saying in reading rather than watching, and you're probably right to an extent. But I think this is a case where you read something into it that many or most don't or didn't.

[Strangler Lewis]

I think I said this before about John Edwards, but last night John McCain's smile flashing also reminded me of Dan Aykroyd's impression of Jimmy Carter.

[Betty]

McCain says that Obama is sexist because he questioned Palin's experience... Therefore that must mean that McCain is racist for questioning Obama's experience - right?

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...edName=topNews

ST. PAUL (Reuters) - John McCain and his fellow Republicans rallied behind his vice presidential pick, Sarah Palin, on Tuesday and his campaign accused Democrat Barack Obama of sexism for questioning her level of experience.

I don't think either of them are sexist or racist by the way. I'm just so annoyed at the game playing and finger pointing over things that things that are just so over the top.

I want to hear specifics about things not vague ideas. I want to know, for a fact, exactly what a candidate will do, won't do, and how they plan on doing that.