September 3, 2008
Sarah Palin's speech
Along the way, Sarah Palin asked what the difference was between a pit bull and a hockey mom: Lipstick.
Ahem, after listening to her speech, ladies and gentlemen, I'm betting she is plenty tough enough and most surely ready for primetime.
Some excerpts:
On her experience as a public servant:
"I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education better. When I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too. Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."
On why she is going to Washington, D.C.:
"I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country."
On energy policies that the McCain-Palin administration will implement:
"Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems - as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines...build more nuclear plants...create jobs with clean coal...and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources. We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers."
On John McCain:
"Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."
Other excerpts:
...in small towns, they don't know what to make of a candidate [Obama] who "lavish praise" on them when he's around and then, behind their backs, "talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns." Don't talk about us "one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco."
ADDENDUM
Here is a link to the speech.
In the comments section, Monique provides another excerpt:
"The American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of 'personal discovery.' This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organizer."
More:
"I've noticed a pattern with our opponent. Maybe you have, too.We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers. And there is much to like and admire about our opponent.
But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.
This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign.
But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet?
The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it.
Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit.
Terrorist states are seeking new-clear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions.
Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights?
Government is too big ... he wants to grow it.
Congress spends too much ... he promises more.
Taxes are too high ... he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan, and let me be specific.
The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
For goodness sake, why just read word excerpts when you can watch it live on video?
And I reiterate my points here. The quality of her performance tonight only ups the ante.
ADDENDUM #2:
Thanks to CQ Politics for the link.
My fave-rave is:
"The American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery."
Posted by: Monique at September 3, 2008 11:16 PMWell,Biden won't be pushing her around.Of course,the media backup for the Dems might impinge on how the debates go.
Posted by: joe bernstein at September 3, 2008 11:24 PMThe only "downside" to this performance is that now the long knives will really come out from the legacy media and the left wing bloggers.
A very good speech, delivered very well.
Posted by: brassband at September 3, 2008 11:54 PM She gave a good speech...well, at least in comparison to the tired circus act Guiliani gave us.
Rudy illustrated tonight how he could blow through $20 million and win one measly delegate. Those delegates chanted "Drill baby drill!" to drown out the Emperor's laughing at his own lame jokes.
And I saw plenty of delegates during Palin's speech wearing WTF looks. I can understand why Pat Buchanan just said she needs to be kept away from the press, and also why McCain looks like he's aged 15 years over the last 24 hours.
BTW...watch out for her pastor. Obama's not the only candidate in this race with a preacher problem.
And having had several babies herself, Cindy McCain should know you don't touch the crown of a five-month-old baby's head.
I don't think Palin could have done any better. She had to come out swinging to blunt the all-out assault on her family and herself. She did that.
She also acknowleged Obama's brilliant oratory skills, while pointing out that his actions don't come close to fulfilling his words.
I particularly liked her mentioning that Obama has already written two memoirs without having ever written a significant piece of legislation!
She'll be able to connect well with the hockey moms of Michigan and the small towns of Pennsylvania.
Posted by: Anthony at September 4, 2008 12:41 AMShe was simply amazing tonight, amazing, dare I say, Reaganesque. Style and substance personified. Out of the ballpark, out of the zip code. Wonderful!
The pit bull analogy was right on. She carved up Obama like the ginsu guy. Great, great, great (okay, I'm gushing)!
PS I just got a fundraising e-mail from Sarah Palin as I'm writing this (smart of Sen. McCain, very smart). I predict she will be Sen. John McCain's best weapon.
Posted by: Will at September 4, 2008 1:02 AMYou're assessment was noted by CQ Politics.
Posted by: Mario at September 4, 2008 2:01 AMI saw a comment reacting to her speech over at another blog that seemed to some the whole thing up very well (from a Republican POV):
From now on, when a Democrat says "But what if McCain drops dead on his first day in office?" I'm going to say "dude -- don't tease me like that."
I watched it in its entirety live on TV. She hit it out of the park. Her speech was a grand slam.
Her appeal is to numerous demographics, and to just good plain ol' Americans too.
This lady is a shot in the arm, a real breath of fresh air!! The GOP is back from the brink.
PS
She has roots out here in Idaho.
She didn't coattail on her husband in any event.She made a good enough speech-I can't believe I'm even listening to political speeches-I normally don't because they are usually full of hot air.
Thompson gave a really good speech.Too bad he is ill or he'd have been a good pick for VP.
He is knowledgeable about DC,yet declined to become a career hack when he could have been easily re-elected.
A couple of thoughts. She gave a good speech, not a great speech, no better than Biden's and not as good as Obama, Kennedy or certainly, Hillary,but a very good one, especially in contrast to Rudy who preceded her and really stunk up the joint. I never liked him and I am amazed that he is one of the highest paid public speakers in the world. I thought the bar had been set so high for Sarah that she would have had to deliver the Gettysburg address in order to attain it. Most of you are seeing it from the other perspective, that this "lil ol" hockey mom was actually able to deliver a good speech. I always thought she would and she did. She has held elective office and has a little on air journalism experience, so it's no great surprise that she can deliver a well crafted speech. I'm not going to go through the transcript to find it, but the most interesting line was something like "we need John McCain for our president for the next four years". Four years? I thought most presidential candidates intended to seek two terms. Slip of the tongue or deliberate message to the base? In any case it highlights the problem of Palin completely overshadowing McCain. Something that is probably going to become more apparent after his acceptance speech tonight, when he really will have to deliver the Gettysburg address to come close to the adulation Sarah is receiving for her speech. You could sense this in his tentative on stage appearance with the Palin's after her speech. He seemed bewildered and unsure of what to do or say. He was actually looking off stage for cues from the stage manager, not exactly presidential. This is going to be a problem for the ticket going forward.
Posted by: observer at September 4, 2008 9:11 AMObserver,
Regarding the eight-versus-four years thing, don't you think it would come across a bit presumptuous (even by the standard of a party convention) to say you're going to win two in a row, when you haven't won one yet?
She's the GOP's affirmative action candidate. McCain picked her because she's a woman, regardless of qualifications. Its painfully clear. I actually feel bad for her. She delivered a bunch of cliche talking points and one-liners and she looked nervous the whole time. McCain is ruining her life. She will be tossed to the side when he loses the election. Also-they are making a mistake by framing it as Palin vs. Obama. She wont be debating Obama. She will be debating Biden. He will look Presidential, she will look amateurish. McCain should have picked someone that was a better match for Biden... someone older, more experienced in the big leagues, not the backwoods. Bush destroyed the GOP, and McCain's irresponsible ineptitude is putting the fork in the party, which is cooked. You guys can act excited and spin spin spin... but I know the bloggers on this site are intellegent and are usually more intellectual. Are you guys really falling in love with Palin? Do you really think her speech last night will convince undecideds and independents that she's ready to be a heartbeat away? Do you really think she's ready? And if McCain does miraculously win, do you really think he's going to cave to her and the right-wing of the party that she represents once he's the President and the boss? Or will he revert to his former bipartisan/maverick self and tell the right-wing of the party to go screw off. Dont you see that he's using her?
I can't believe some of you are buying her b.s. The only thing worse than her inane blathering about "clean coal" and the need to drill to make some sort of effort was her condescending tone and petty attitude. The sort of thing you would expect out of a person that would laugh at an opponent being called a cancer. An opponent who had recovered from cancer herself. What an example for our young women. I am glad to hear that many of our women across the country won't be bought by this ridiculous ploy.
Posted by: Robbie at September 4, 2008 2:39 PMAgain, ever see a skater go down hard; legs akimbo, that look of disbelief. We’re seeing it big-time from Sarah Palin’s detractors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX7X4FovYRA&NR=1 How ‘bout them Dems, they done yet: http://theseedsof9-11.com
Posted by: Peggy McGilligan at September 4, 2008 3:04 PMJust saw a comment on the WSJ site referring to a writing professor who "grades" Gov. Palin's speech. I guess he watched her talk with his class. He gives her an A for delivery but a D for content. it's at the Weekly Reader. http://weeklyrader.blogspot.com
Posted by: Andrew P. at September 4, 2008 3:13 PMWhat should really scare is is an inexperienced empty suit with a Muslim family from top to bottom and ties to radicals who bombed the Pentagon and black supremacists being "zero" heartbeats away from the Presidency.
well CNN has it tied today so with the Bradley effect that means McCain +4.
sleep tight progressives.
(Writing from Australia here)
I must say, I was impressed by Sarah Palin. I know the speech wasn't written by her, but it suited her down to the ground. Moreover, her poise and confidence in the face of such recent pillories in the Media was truly astounding. I'm involved in quite a bit of speech making, and am friends with some of the best speech delivers in the business. Yet I know if they had to face the pressure that she did, they would have been quaking at the knees.
And, knowing also a bit about Narcissists, I would say Obama is one. (And it would NOT be good for America if a Narcissist was Commander in Chief...Narcissists always want the short term solution that makes them look good!!)
what a great woman! i've never watched a political convention in my entire life until this year.i've known of gov. palin for 2 months and when i heard that she was the vp nominee it brought e straight out of bed,glued to the news. she is fantastic! as a registered democrat,teamster electrician i could not think of a more attractive ticket to vote for.i don't trust obama or any other progressive politicians. their method of change is destruction of our great country.marxist socialism will NEVER work for america,the ONLY reason china and russia have been succeeding is from embracing free markets and capitalism, and we seem to be moving away from those ideals that make us the best country in the world.america is energized,VOTE GOP!
Posted by: kevin watt at September 9, 2008 7:04 PMWith all this said...
I still think the tide has turned and it looks like an Obama landslide is in the making.
What can be don to stop the other sides' momentum?
Darn Obamamaniacs!
Posted by: Grady Broughs at October 10, 2008 3:52 PM