RNC 2008 Thread

[HoyaNyr320]

"I fight for..."

Great... you know some working families. One problem...

HOW?

Are you going to provide autism support and job creation by cutting taxes? At least say that- there's no substance in this speech so far.

Oh yeah... evil judges are ruining America.....riiiiiiggghhht....

[strummer8526]

Aside from failing to learn the lessons of 9/11, I also clearly missed the memo that said "USA!" was an appropriate chant in any and all situations.

[HoyaNyr320]

Drill! Drill! Drill! Drill!

[jerseyhoya34]

Sept 4, 2008 21:43:16 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

Aside from failing to learn the lessons of 9/11, I also clearly missed the memo that said "USA!" was an appropriate chant in any and all situations.

Indeed. The people in that hall, excluding the terrorists, won the Cold War without firing a pistol, and we should all be mindful of that.

The Obama campaign should go live tomorrow with a Bomb Iran ad.

[Boz]

Things John McCain did well tonight:

1. His personal story. OK well, he always does that well. It's nearly impossible NOT to do well with such an inspiring story. But tonight in particular, telling the story about how his experience changed him from a cocky young kid, and built his character and love of country was very moving.

2. Criticizing his own party. It's the Republican convention, so he's not going to trash Republicans, even if he really wanted to, which he probably doesn't, but he did a good job of explaining where Republicans have gone wrong (and then of course, saying how he would change that).

3. His lines after the early protests was very good. On a side note, I'll repeat what I mentioned in a separate thread: while it may be a feel-good moment for the far left, I think Obama supporters should cringe whenever stuff like that happens. Screaming banshees do not reflect well on anyone, least of all Democrats and Obama. You can disagree if you want, but I don't think independents and undecided voters are swayed by such vulgar displays.

4. He did pretty well on outlining his approach to some key issues, particularly education, energy and foreign policy. No, he didn't provide ten-point plans, but that is not what a convention speech is for. Again, you may not agree with those approaches, but he was pretty clear, albeit at a very high level.

5. The end of the speech was outstanding.

For all of that, this is not McCain's forte. He flubbed a few lines and a few transitions. He didn't speak in enough detail about Iraq (and I really thought he would, with the successful Anbar transition this week). And, with the exception of the end of the speech, he's not very inspiring as a speaker. That's just the way it is.

Yes, I laughed and shook my head a little at the green lawn in front of the school at the beginning of the speech, but I don't think it was that big a deal.

Obviously, I'll leave it up to those who don't like him to point out most of the negatives, but those are some of the good points. Overall it was a successful speech, but I think McCain is looking forward to the debates much more than he was looking forward to this night.

It'll be interesting to see if and how much the numbers move next week. For its inauspicious beginning, it was a pretty good convention for the Republicans, Wednesday night being the highlight (again IMO).

[Jack]

I enjoyed McCain's Sister Souljah moment scolding the GOP for losing its way. But he could have gone further without conceding any of his important issues to Obama.

I felt McCain has a stronger record to stand on in the Senate than he presented to people. Where was he on fighting big tobacco, standing up to torture, campaign finance reform, or immigration policy? Those are the places where I respect the Mavrick Man, but he seems to have run from them to solidify the base. With Palin now taking care of that demographic, tonight was his chance to reach out to independents. He didn't quite get all the way there.

[Bando]

Sept 4, 2008 21:20:04 GMT -5 sead43 said:

He's really speaking in front of a green screen?? That is the dumbest backdrop possible. can't wait to see what colbert has to say about that.

EDIT: okay, it's changing as he goes along. it was still weird to start with. also, i know it was just grass in a larger shot, but don't they realize what it will look like on TV?

Yeah, whoever ran the stage and PR for this convention needs to be fired. They apparently didn't understand that the video backdrop that looks awesome from the floor only appears as a sliver behind the speaker on television. Not only did the blue and green monochrome look weird, it's going to lead to hundreds of videos tomorrow with people substituting any background they want behind McCain's speech.

It's not a GOP thing, it's just a media person didn't do their homework thing.

[Bando]

Also, another quick point, if I may. Code Pink is the stupidest antiwar group on the planet. Their tactics are juvenile and counterproductive. If this election becomes "McCain vs. the hippies", McCain will win in a landslide (although CP are not the Dems' friends, so I'm not worried).

The guy from Iraq Veterans Against the War was much more effective, IMO.

[Deleted]

Another useless speech from another career politician.

Just like Obama's all-pie-in-the-sky-all-the-time speech, there were lots of noble ideas with absolutely nothing to back them up. I'm ALWAYS captivated by McCain's POW story, and was again last night... but that's about it.

The guy isn't the most compelling public speaker, he - like Obama - spoke in loose generalities of what he's going to do for us without telling us how, and he completely lost me - like Palin - when he wasted my time going after Obama.

It is now official... both of these dopes are business-as-usual candidates.

[Filo]

Sept 4, 2008 23:00:14 GMT -5 Jack said:

I enjoyed McCain's Sister Souljah moment scolding the GOP for losing its way. But he could have gone further without conceding any of his important issues to Obama.

I felt McCain has a stronger record to stand on in the Senate than he presented to people. Where was he on fighting big tobacco, standing up to torture, campaign finance reform, or immigration policy? Those are the places where I respect the Mavrick Man, but he seems to have run from them to solidify the base. With Palin now taking care of that demographic, tonight was his chance to reach out to independents. He didn't quite get all the way there.

Sept 5, 2008 7:57:03 GMT -5 buffalohoya said:

Another useless speech from another career politician.

Just like Obama's all-pie-in-the-sky-all-the-time speech, there were lots of noble ideas with absolutely nothing to back them up. I'm ALWAYS captivated by McCain's POW story, and was again last night... but that's about it.

The guy isn't the most compelling public speaker, he - like Obama - spoke in loose generalities of what he's going to do for us without telling us how, and he completely lost me - like Palin - when he wasted my time going after Obama.

It is now official... both of these dopes are business-as-usual candidates.

I would not really expect much in the nominee's speech at the party's convention. I can't say that I am a student of such speeches, so this is just a guess, but I would think that very few nominees have given speeches that introduced novel ideas or diverged from the party's general platform.

I do generally agree with the sentiments expressed above, though. If I vote for McCain, it will be in the hopes that he shows more of a 'maverick' edge once elected and he is now only doing what all politicians do to get elected. And if I do vote for him, it will be despite the Palin pick, because she is way far right of where I am and where I want the country to be.

[Boz]

I would also like to thank the Redskins for not distracting AT ALL from the convention or the speech.

(I'm pretty sure Joe Gibbs was behind that in some way; maybe he stole Zorn's playbook)

Sweet sassy molassey, but they sucked.

Door. Mat.

[Bando]

Sept 5, 2008 8:54:32 GMT -5 Boz said:

I would also like to thank the Redskins for not distracting AT ALL from the convention or the speech.

(I'm pretty sure Joe Gibbs was behind that in some way; maybe he stole Zorn's playbook)

Sweet sassy molassey, but they sucked.

Door. Mat.

Hellllllllls, yes. The Big Blue Wrecking Crew's title defense begins now, y'all.

In other "Republicans hired the cheapest tech people they could find" news, it appears one of the backdrops of McCain's speech last night was Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood. I'm thinking they were planning on a different Walter Reed. (Link)

[EasyEd]

My take on McCain's speech. In comparison with other telepromptered McCain speeches this one was above average. In comparison with Obama's or Palin's acceptance speeches, McCain's was far worse. McCain just doesn't know how to use the inflections of his voice or the decibels of his voice at the right time to accent what he wants to say. The best part of McCain's was the end and his own accounting of his captivity and torture but he would have been much better served if many other speakers had not covered the same ground, if not as effectively. Similar to John Kerry's over-emphasis on his service in Vietnam. The worst part of McCain's speech was his litany of various people that had lost their jobs, had difficulties due to the economy, etc. I thought for a few minutes I was listening to a nanny-state Democrat. I don't think McCain did very much to help himself with his speech nor do I think he did very much to hurt himself. In this convention he was greatly overshadowed by Palin.

[thebin]

I think it's time to retire the convention speech "Joe Blow from Springfield has to work two jobs" schtick. It's tired.

[kchoya]

Sept 4, 2008 18:29:05 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

KC--

First of all, Bando already owned you on the hypocrisy front. A fine job as always by Mr. Stewart. Doesn't it suck when you say something and then say the total opposite a few months later. Those pesky TV cameras always seem to record what you say.

But as far as the DNC set, I must agree. Columns always do make me think of emperors, and Greeks, and such. Oh, and this place: tinyurl.com/5jejen

Oh my god, I got "owned" on an internet message board. I guess I'll go hang my head in shame now. Poor me.

[thebin]

"3. His lines after the early protests was very good. On a side note, I'll repeat what I mentioned in a separate thread: while it may be a feel-good moment for the far left, I think Obama supporters should cringe whenever stuff like that happens. Screaming banshees do not reflect well on anyone, least of all Democrats and Obama. You can disagree if you want, but I don't think independents and undecided voters are swayed by such vulgar displays."


I disagree, I think they are swayed, toward the candidate who is being interrupted in sympathy. If any Obama people feel good about those moments they are morons. It hurts their cause for sure. Of course for the protester it is really about his/herself, not the cause. I love it everytime a left wing thug makes their presence known in such an agressive and inappropriate way. It absolutely turns off middle of the road voters to their cause. Most Americans who are undecided abhor anarchy. It is curious that the camera feeds bother to show them even when it's just the back of their head about to exit the arena. You would think if the networks won't show us someone running across a baseball field (which takes effort) on a dare they would also not show this- which is not only much easier to avoid showing us, they have to actually go out of their way to find them in a hurry.

[kchoya]

Sept 4, 2008 22:46:33 GMT -5 Boz said:

Things John McCain did well tonight:

1. His personal story. OK well, he always does that well. It's nearly impossible NOT to do well with such an inspiring story. But tonight in particular, telling the story about how his experience changed him from a cocky young kid, and built his character and love of country was very moving.

2. Criticizing his own party. It's the Republican convention, so he's not going to trash Republicans, even if he really wanted to, which he probably doesn't, but he did a good job of explaining where Republicans have gone wrong (and then of course, saying how he would change that).

3. His lines after the early protests was very good. On a side note, I'll repeat what I mentioned in a separate thread: while it may be a feel-good moment for the far left, I think Obama supporters should cringe whenever stuff like that happens. Screaming banshees do not reflect well on anyone, least of all Democrats and Obama. You can disagree if you want, but I don't think independents and undecided voters are swayed by such vulgar displays.

4. He did pretty well on outlining his approach to some key issues, particularly education, energy and foreign policy. No, he didn't provide ten-point plans, but that is not what a convention speech is for. Again, you may not agree with those approaches, but he was pretty clear, albeit at a very high level.

5. The end of the speech was outstanding.

For all of that, this is not McCain's forte. He flubbed a few lines and a few transitions. He didn't speak in enough detail about Iraq (and I really thought he would, with the successful Anbar transition this week). And, with the exception of the end of the speech, he's not very inspiring as a speaker. That's just the way it is.

Yes, I laughed and shook my head a little at the green lawn in front of the school at the beginning of the speech, but I don't think it was that big a deal.

Obviously, I'll leave it up to those who don't like him to point out most of the negatives, but those are some of the good points. Overall it was a successful speech, but I think McCain is looking forward to the debates much more than he was looking forward to this night.

It'll be interesting to see if and how much the numbers move next week. For its inauspicious beginning, it was a pretty good convention for the Republicans, Wednesday night being the highlight (again IMO).

I agree completely. McCain has never been good at giving speeches and never will be. He doesn't do well off the teleprompter and he doesn't have the feel for the cadence, timing, etc. I thought the style and the theatrics of the first 90% of the speech was average -- pretty good for McCain, but nothing like Obama, or even Palin.

However, I thought the last 10% was incredible. It was better than anything Obama has ever done, including last week. It was great because it was heartfelt, personal and you knew that it was coming from his core - these were things he really believed in.

I thought he did pretty well on the policy issues - a lot of bread-and-butter conservative stuff. Aside from the end, the best part of the speech is when he talked about his experience on foreign affairs and how he knows what the military needs. THAT was how he should distinguish himself from Obama.

The most amazing thing about all of this is he's trying to win as a Republican in a time where the President and GOP are not well liked. The Dems are well-placed to make big gains. Generic Dem vs. generic GOP wins in a landslide. The only way McCain can win is by getting people not to talk about Bush and the last 8 years and to focus on McCain/Palin individually and not simply as representatives of the GOP. It would seem like an impossible task, but they seem to be doing a good job pulling off so far.

[TC]

I liked how the slide that was supposed to represent Walter Reed Army Medical Center was actually a picture of Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, CA.

[williambraskyiii]

Sept 5, 2008 10:35:32 GMT -5 TC said:

I liked how the slide that was supposed to represent Walter Reed Army Medical Center was actually a picture of Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, CA.

Ha, wow - that is really, really embarrassing.

[Jack]

Sept 5, 2008 11:13:56 GMT -5 williambraskyiii said:

Sept 5, 2008 10:35:32 GMT -5 TC said:

I liked how the slide that was supposed to represent Walter Reed Army Medical Center was actually a picture of Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, CA.

Ha, wow - that is really, really embarrassing.

This never would have happened if Karl Rove was still alive.