Someone get John McCain a new shirt, cause his belly is YELLOW.
Mr. McCain wants to postpone the debate so he can return to Washington? REALLY?! Wow, it's amazing how McSame always feels the pull of "non-partisan patriotism" towards a crisis when it's politically convenient.
Let's take the Republican National Convention, for instance. Mr. McCain goes to aid in the destruction of Hurricane Gustav and has to postpone the convention. Oh, what a shame...that's exactly when the Republican kryptonite was supposed to speak! WHAT...A...SHAME. But, hey, COUNTRY FIRST.
Now, in the midst of the Wall Street debacle, Super-John must rush to save the day! He's so brave! He's gonna get right in there, forget the partisan politics, to Hell with the campaign, and somehow single-handedly correct the mess which he helped create! WOW. It is, of course, pure coincidence that the debate would be postponed. PURE COINCIDENCE. This isn't just some political stunt and photo-op. This is in no way, in any relation to the fact that the debate would be moved in the place of the Vice-Presidential debate. It is especially in no relation to the fact that the McCain camp is terrified to let Sarah Palin even say her own name in public. Nope. No way. COUNTRY FIRST.
Hey remember that time that Katrina wiped out the Gulf area and all those people were dying/drowning/starving? Remember that? Remember how on the day Katrina hit John McCain reacted with such bravado and non-partisan leadership? Yeah, I do...I think I have a picture of it...
WOOPS!
What a joke. I have a new name for John McCain: McChicken. Luckily, the CPD has seen through this load of spin and stated that there will be a debate. See ya there, McChicken. You bring the cake.
Self-proclaimed pitbull Sarah Palin delivered a speech with real bite at the Republican National Convention. This campaign newcomer rallied the audience at the RNC with her verbal punches and had them reeling with electrified cheers and laughter.
On the basis of what, though? On a base speech, crafted to appeal only to extreme conservatives, attacking Obama and the Democratic party in the most divisive of ways.
There's a term in Law called "Ad Hominem", "to the man or person". It refers to this: When the law is against you, argue the facts. When it's the facts that are against you, argue the law. But if both the facts and the law are against you, abuse your adversary.
This, without a doubt, is the mistaken course Sarah Palin took with her entire speech. That in juxtaposition with major distortions of the truth about her own service, that is. For example, she states she rejected the so-called Bridge to Nowhere, failing to mention she had actually previously supported it. She also failed to mention that after she finally said "No thanks" she didn't return the money.
This sort of hypocrisy, disappointingly, is that to which many supporters of the McCain/Palin ticket are resorting. Many of the same extremists who had used rough language toward Hillary Clinton now say those sorts of comments are off limits to Sarah Palin. Many of those same extremists who pried into Obama's personal family life now say that sort of prying is off limits when it comes to Sarah Palin. McCain has exhibited this hypocrisy very blatantly in his on-again, off-again support of Bush. His choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate is an example of his hypocrisy, as well. His claim to be the Maverick is weakened by the fact that she was not his top choice. He picked her because the party pressured him into it. I shudder to think what else he might be pressured into by this eight-year stranglehold.
In stark contrast to the McCain ticket, Obama and Biden have facts on their side. Obama doesn't need to attack anyone personally. And he doesn't. He responded from the beginning that Palin's daughter's out-of-wedlock teen pregnancy is "off limits".
Yes, as Palin pointed out, Obama has indeed served as a community organizer. And that's what our country needs. Someone to lead us as though we are a united community. To address issues regarding our economy and education. To avoid lagging behind the rest of the world when it comes to technological advancements and energy alternatives.
In the real world a pitbulls really don't make good diplomats. Problem-solving requires more thought and substance than can come from the involuntary response of gnashing jaws. In the real world Obama is who I vote to have in my corner.
- Woman for Obama
Richmond, VA
Republicans have a knack for deceptive election strategies. In their world, a lie becomes the truth simply by repeating it over and over again. I like to call this the "Jingle Effect," because it capitalizes on basic human nature--that is, the tendency of ordinary people to remember catchy little phrases and soundbites, like those use in commercials to sell us products. Gov. Sarah Palin's VP Acceptance Speech, while tissue paper thin on substance, had a jingle effect on many Americans, especially the Republican base. One of the ways Obama supporters can combat such tactics is to create our own jingles. The better tactic, in my opinnion, is to know the facts and make sure we call the McCain campaign out every time they stand before the American peple and misrepresent the facts or blatantly lies. That being said, the following are excerpts from Gov. Palin's VP Acceptance Speech and then there is the TRUTH.
And the beehive hairdos? Well, as you can see I spent part of last week watching--ahem--the Republican National Convention and to really see what the NeoCons have to say about Obama and the Democrats. I realized it was nothing new: only rhetoric and no specific plans to turn our country around. Oh, I expected some swipes, but nothing prepared me for the snide remarks, nasty and sarcastic comments made by the many GOPers. I really wanted to watch Sarah Palin to see what she really has to offer. I realized that she is really a venomous snake clothed as a pious Christian mother and wife. People, don't be fooled by looks. She's really nasty. Obama and company should be careful and fight back. I'll talk later about that.
I also realized that while watching the RNC convention that these people are truly out of touch with Americans and the rest of the world. I just saw a sea of white and blonde hair. Of course CNN tried to focus on an African-American or Hispanic delegate, but that's it. It was mostly white people with bowties and beehive hairs. They dress to make people think that they are righteous and upright people. But when they hear speeches by the likes of Fred Thompson and the sarcastic a****e by the name of Giuliani, I saw how they're really like. They bask in sarcastic comments, nasty remarks and they respond so blindly that it reminded me of a rally set in WWII Germany, only instead of showting "Heil Hitler" they yelled "Country first" or "USA, USA, USA". Please, as if they own the American flag and "USA". Nobody owns anything. It belongs to us, the people. I was quite surprised to see a few brave CodePink protesters and one lone Iraq War Veterans Against the War vet/protester inside the Xcel Center. How they got in is beyond me, but their actions exudes bravery and patriotism (yes, Repubs, patriotism!). How the delegates reacted to them was pure immaturity and disgust. They just shouted out "USA, USA, USA" to clamp down the protesters' rights to freedom of speech. The Iraq War veteran said that he was accosted and grabbed by delegates. Unbelievable, and these are the same people who call themselves Christian?
As for Sarah Palin, well a good friend of mine e-mailed me an excellent article from the laprogressive.com website. A courageous reporter went to Alaska to try and find people to tell him about the real Sarah Palin behind those classy-looking glasses and colorful powersuits and heels. Well, surprise, surprise! She's known to be racist, sexist (yes, Sexist!), vindictive and outright mean. She's Bush, Karl Rove, Cheney rolled in to one. I'm trying my best to spread the word about her, I even posted this article on my Facebook profile for everyone to read. Definitely, as a woman myself, she is no role model for me! She calls Alaska's natives "Arctic Arabs", called Obama "Sambo" and referred to Hillary Clinton as the "bitch". She tried to get a librarian fired because she refused to ban books, for example, and well, does that sound familiar? Troopergate? Does that ring a bell? She's definitely someone who can break people that don't follow her ways. If you disagree with her, watch out! You'll be burned. This is the person that McCain chose for Vice Presidential candidate, and it is quite scary! So was watching the RNC convention, but I'm so glad it is over! I couldn't handle to watch any more garbage on TV, it almost made me hurl. Come on, people, spread the word! Don't be afraid of Sarah Barracuda! Open people's eyes about her, and yes we will win the White House! Go Obama/Biden!
Over this week we had the Republican National Convention (RNC) scheduled to gather in Saint Paul, the capital and second largest city in Minnesota. An unexpected guest crashed the party as Gustav headed toward Louisiana.
Hurricane Gustav came almost exactly three years after Katrina. The botched response and insensitivity during Katrina was something the Republican party wanted to avoid this time.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/print_gop_convention_spin_part_ii.html
September 4, 2008
Palin trips up on her facts, and Giuliani and Huckabee have their own stumbles on Night 3 of the Republican confab.SummarySarah Palin’s much-awaited speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night may have shown she could play the role of attack dog, but it also showed her to be short on facts when it came to touting her own record and going after Obama’s. We found Rudy Giuliani, who introduced her, to be as factually challenged as he sometimes was back when he was in the race. But Mike Huckabee may have laid the biggest egg of all.
Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was a hit with the party faithful at the GOP convention, but some of her claims were amiss. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee also delivered a few faulty remarks.
A Bridge Too Far
Palin claimed to have stood up to Congress on the subject of the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere,” the Gravina Island bridge in Ketchikan, Alaska, about which we wrote last November.
Palin: I told the Congress, "Thanks, but no thanks," on that bridge to nowhere.
This is not the first time Palin has cited her choice to kill the bridge in 2007 as an example of her anti-waste stance. It’s true that she did eventually nix the project. But the bridge was nearly dead already – Congress had removed the earmark, giving the requested money to the state but not marking it for any specific use. Palin unplugged its life support, declaring in 2007 that the funds would not be used for the Gravina bridge.
When she was running for governor, however, Palin expressed a different position. In 2006, the Ketchikan Daily News quoted her expressing optimism and support for the bridge at a Ketchikan campaign stop.
Palin, 2006: "People across the nation struggle with the idea of building a bridge because they’ve been under these misperceptions about the bridge and the purpose,” said Palin, who described the link as the Ketchikan area’s potential for expansion and growth. … Palin said Alaska’s congressional delegation worked hard to obtain funding for the bridge as part of a package deal and that she “would not stand in the way of the progress toward that bridge.”
Palin also answered "yes" to an Anchorage Daily News poll question about whether she would continue to support state funding for the Gravina Island bridge if elected governor. "The window is now," she wrote, "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." It was only after she won the governorship that Palin shifted her position. And even then, it’s inaccurate to say that she “told the Congress ‘thanks, but no thanks.’” Palin accepted non-earmarked money from Congress that could have been used for the bridge if she so desired. That she opted to use it for other state transportation purposes doesn’t qualify as standing up to Congress.
The bridge reversal is not the only matter throwing doubt on Palin’s credentials as a government waste reformer. Watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense has reported that the small town of Wasilla, Alaska, which had not previously received significant federal funds, hauled in almost $27 million in earmarks while Palin was mayor. (McCain has explicitly criticized several of the Wasilla earmarks in recent years.) To help obtain these earmarks, Palin had hired Steven Silver, the former chief of staff for recently indicted Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, as Wasilla’s lobbyist.
And Palin continued to solicit federal funds as governor. A request form on Stevens’ Web site shows that she requested $160.5 million in earmarks for the state in 2008, and almost $198 million for 2009.
Tough Grader
Palin disparaged Obama’s legislative record, both in Illinois and in Washington:
Palin: 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 even a reform, not even in the state Senate.
Of course, we can’t say what Palin considers “major.” But if Palin’s own ethics reforms in Alaska were important enough to highlight in her convention address, then it’s only fair to credit Obama’s efforts on that topic. In 1998 in the Illinois Senate, Obama cosponsored an ethics overhaul that bars elected officials from using their campaign funds for personal use and and was called the the first major overhaul of Illinois campaign and ethics laws in 25 years. It also bans fundraisers in the state Capitol during legislative sessions. Obama’s Republican cosponsor Kirk Dillard even appeared in an Obama ad last summer describing Obama’s skills working with members of both parties to get legislation passed.
In Washington, Obama was instrumental in helping to craft the 2007 ethics reform law that ended gifts and meals from lobbyists, cut off subsidized jet travel for members of Congress, required lobbyists to disclose contributions they “bundle” to candidates, and put the brakes on other, similar common practices.
In addition, we already noted in a recent article Obama’s efforts with Republican senators to help detect and secure weapons of mass destruction and to destroy conventional weapons stockpiles around the world, and to create a publicly searchable database on federal spending.
Overburdened?
One area where we note improvement is the way Palin attacked Obama's tax proposals – as a burden "on the American economy" rather than, as McCain has been falsely claiming, a direct tax increase on middle-income workers:
Palin: And let me be specific: The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, and raise payroll taxes, and raise investment income taxes, and raise the death tax, and raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. ... How are you – how are you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to the American economy?
Her tax remarks still cry out for context. Obama proposes to cut taxes for most individuals (81.3 percent of all households would get a tax cut), while raising them only for a relative few at the top, which she did not mention. But she avoided the false claims that McCain continues to make, most recently in a TV ad that wrongly accuses Obama of planning "painful tax increases on working American families." Instead, Palin spoke of the effect of an overall tax increase on jobs and the economy.It's quite true that Obama's plan would increase taxes overall, by a total of $627 billion over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Economists may debate how large or small an effect such an increase would have on jobs and businesses; it's certainly a topic open for discussion in a political campaign.
Riffing Wrongly
In attacking Obama, Palin reeled off a few statements that had a nice cadence, but were light on facts.
Palin: America needs more energy; our opponent is against producing it. Victory in Iraq is finally in sight, and he wants to forfeit. Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay; he wants to meet them without preconditions. Al Qaida terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America, and he's worried that someone won't read them their rights.
We have factual problems with three of these statements.
In a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in June, Obama elaborated, saying that he would take an aggressive diplomatic approach – carefully preparing for such meetings, setting a clear agenda, coordinating with U.S. allies, and not conducting the meetings at all unless they were clearly in the U.S. interest. He also stressed he would "do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon."
In recent months, the Bush Administration has been more open to beginning a dialogue with the same nations that it once referred to as the “axis of evil.” In July, the president sent a high-level official to Geneva to sit in on nuclear talks with Iran and authorized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to speak with North Korean diplomats about ending that country’s nuclear weapons program. Reports in the Washington Post and the New York Times noted the stark contrast between the administration’s current position about meeting with “foes” and its attitude several years ago.Further, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in May that we should "sit down and talk" with Iran. So did former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in March. As did Sen. Dick Lugar, then chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as far back as 2006.
In recent months, the Bush Administration has been more open to beginning a dialogue with the same nations that it once referred to as the “axis of evil.” In July, the president sent a high-level official to Geneva to sit in on nuclear talks with Iran and authorized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to speak with North Korean diplomats about ending that country’s nuclear weapons program. Reports in the Washington Post and the New York Times noted the stark contrast between the administration’s current position about meeting with “foes” and its attitude several years ago.
Further, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in May that we should "sit down and talk" with Iran. So did former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in March. As did Sen. Dick Lugar, then chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as far back as 2006.
Cookin' with Gas
Palin talked about standing up to oil companies and oil lobbyists, citing her work on getting a gas pipeline built in Alaska:
Palin: I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.
Actually, construction hasn’t begun on the pipeline, and the project isn't quite a done deal. Palin signed legislation just last week that authorizes the state to give a license in 90 days to TransCanada to start developing the project. The state also can provide $500 million as seed money. She gets credit for moving the pipeline closer to realization after many years of talks. Palin pushed for legislation that would allow a private company to build the 1,715-mile natural gas pipeline, instead of oil companies, which she said were moving too slowly on the issue.In an Aug. 27 press release, Palin indicated that there was still work to be done before the project would become a reality:
Palin, press release, Aug. 27: After dreaming of a natural gas pipeline for more than 30 years, Alaskans have now created the framework for the project to advance. This legislation brings us closer than we’ve ever been to building a gas pipeline and finally accessing our gas that has been languishing for so many decades on the North Slope.
Washington Post energy correspondent Steven Mufson wrote that the major oil companies have opposed the pipeline project, saying it wasn’t economically feasible. Yet, ConocoPhillips and BP have proposed their own gas pipeline that would compete with the state-backed project. TransCanada estimates it will take 10 years to finish the pipeline, according to its application to the state, and it will cost about $26.5 billion – not $40 billion as Palin said. As for Palin having “stood up to ... the Big Oil companies,” as she said in her speech, she has on this issue, not on others. Oil is, after all, incredibly important to Alaska’s economy. About 80 percent of the state budget comes from oil and gas taxes and royalties. Palin is in favor of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and offshore areas, a position she shares with oil companies.
Obama, Aug. 8: …the United States, the United Nations Security Council, and the international community should fully support a peaceful resolution to this crisis.
McCain, Aug. 8: The U.S. should immediately convene an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to call on Russia to reverse course.
Naked Gun
Giuliani also bungled a reference to McCain's Navy record:
Giuliani: And being a "Top Gun" kind of guy, he became a fighter pilot.
Actually, McCain wasn't a fighter pilot at all, much less "top gun" among that very specialized group. McCain was a bomber pilot, and he himself makes this clear on page 173 of his book "Faith of my Fathers": "I trained exclusively in the A-4 Skyhawk, the small bomber that I would soon fly in combat missions." The aircraft is formally called a "Light Attack Bomber" by Boeing, successor to McDonnell-Douglas, the company that made it. It's true that a few A-4s were flown by the Navy Fighter Weapons School at Miramar, California – but they played the role of "bogies," which the fighter pilots in training were supposed to intercept and shoot down.
Giuliani might be forgiven for his mistake, as he never served in the military himself.
Too Good to Check?
The biggest whopper of the night may have come from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who charged that Palin “got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States.” It may sound like a great line, but it’s not true – not even close. Palin garnered 651 votes in 1996 and 909 votes in 1999 in her two races for mayor of Wasilla, according to the city. Biden, despite withdrawing from the race after the Iowa caucus, got 79,754 votes in the Democratic primaries.– by Viveca Novak, with Brooks Jackson, Jess Henig, Lori Robertson and D'Angelo Gore
SourcesBowlen, Scott. "Palin: It's about service to people." Ketchikan Daily News. 9 Aug. 2006.Anchorage Daily News. "Where they stand; Running for Governor 2006." 22 Oct. 2006.Taxpayers for Common Sense. "Wasilla, Alaska Benefited from Nearly $27 Million in Earmarks from 1996 to 2002." 2 Sep. 2008.Hamburger, Tom, Richard Simon and Janet Hook. "McCain had criticized earmarks from Palin." The Los Angeles Times. 3 Sep. 2008.Hamburger, Tom. "Palin relied on earmark system she now opposes." The Los Angeles Times. 1 Sep. 2008.Long, Ray and Christi Parsons, “Campaign Finance Reform not Without Its Loopholes; Edgar calls Ethics Legislation ‘Significant Step’”. Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 1998.Cooper, Helen. “A New Openness to Talks With That ‘Axis of Evil’.” The New York Times, 22 July 2008Eggen, Dan. “U.S. Talks With Iran Exemplify Bush's New Approaches.” The Washington Post, 20 July 2008 Sciolino, Elaine and Steven Lee Myers. “Policy Shift Seen in U.S. Decision on Iran Talks.” The New York Times, 17 July 2008Obama, Barack. “Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: AIPAC Policy Conference.” Barackobama.com, 4 June 2008, accessed 4 Sept. 2008 The New York Times. “Transcript: Fourth Democratic Debate,” 4 June 2007 Yen, Hope. "Two Senators Say U.S. Should Pursue Nuclear Talks with Tehran." Associated Press, 17 April 2006.Bender, Michael. "Obama Would Consider Off-Shore Drilling as Part of Comprehensive Energy Plan," Palm Beach Post, 1 Aug. 2008.DeYoung, Karen. "Gates: U.S. Should Engage Iran With Incentives, Pressure," The Washington Post." 15 May 2008.Hall, Camilla and Mike Schneider. "Kissinger Backs Direct U.S. Negotiations With Iran." Bloomberg.com. 14 March 2008.McCain, John and Salter, Mark, "Faith of my Fathers," Random House 1999; 173. Williams, Roberton and Gleckman, Howard. “An Updated Analysis of the 2008 Presidential Candidates’ Tax Plans." Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, 15 Aug 2008. Boeing Corp. "A4D/A-4 Skyhawk Light Attack Bomber," Web page giving description and brief history of A-4 Skyhawk, accessed 4 Sep 2008. The Skyhawk Association, "Navy Fighter Weapons School, 'TOP GUN'" Web page accessed 4 Sep 2008.Application for License, Alaska Gasline Inducement Act. Project Cost Estimate. TransCanada, 30 Nov. 2007.“Palin Signs AGIA License Bill,” press release. State of Alaska Governor’s Office, 27 Aug. 2008.Ordonez, Isabel and Cassandra Sweet. “Conoco Proceeds With Alaska Gas Pipeline; Wants Exxon To Join.” Dow Jones Newswires, 8 Aug. 2008.Mufson, Steve. “Sarah Palin and Big Oil.” Energy Wire, PostGlobal, washingtonpost.com, 30 Aug. 2008.Sutton, Anne. “Alaska gov. backs license for natural gas pipeline.” The Associated Press, 23 May 2008.1996 Election Results. City of Wasilla, Alaska. Cityofwasilla.com, accessed 4 Sept. 2008.1999 Election Results. City of Wasilla, Alaska. Cityofwasilla.com, accessed 4 Sept. 2008.2008 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses and Conventions. Democratic Convention. The Green Papers, accessed 4 Sept. 2008.Vock, Daniel C. "Obama's record in the Illinois Senate." Stateline.org, 25 Aug 2008.Vock, Daniel C. "Obama; He puts ethics on the agenda." Illinois Issues Online, Feb 2007.
Related Articles
Maverick MisleadsA McCain ad comparing Palin to Obama isn't all above board.
GOP Convention SpinLieberman and Thompson make misleading claims about Obama on Day Two of the party in St. Paul.
Earlier in the day, McCain's campaign advisors had promised CNN that the Republican candidate's acceptance speech would address the economy and other issues in detail. Instead, Americans heard a speech that - except for a few diversions - contained little of either. Although McCain hammered on the fact that the Republican party had lost the trust of Americans, he also began his speech by thanking George Bush for 'protecting America'.
Unfortunately, this verified what many Americans have said about McCain all along, that he still supports the idea of the Iraq war, as well as the policies of one George W. Bush.
At the very start of the speech, when McCain mentioned his concern with the number of Americans out of work, a woman stood up and began a loud protest. She was quickly led from the building. No one seemed to know who she was, although she had the usual credentials hung around her neck. Another person held up a banner against the Iraq war. He was also removed by security staff.
Read the remainder of this great article, along with its images and photographs, at Robert's MSNBC/Newsvine column.
...to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies.I wasn't planning on sending you something tonight. But if you saw what I saw from the Republican convention, you know that it demands a response. I saw John McCain's attack squad of negative, cynical politicians. They lied about Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and they attacked you for being a part of this campaign. But worst of all — and this deserves to be noted — they insulted the very idea that ordinary people have a role to play in our political proces. [...]
The title and quotes are from an email from David Plouffe referring to the hate fest formerly known as the Republican National Convention.
First to acknowledge Sarah Palin – she gave an historic speech for the Republican Party that has so long been the bastion of aging white men. Progress and change that is good. As noted in my earlier blog entry, Sarah Palin is intelligent and fresh – I simply disagree passionately with her social conservative world view.
This blog isn’t about Palin’s speech which I found predictable – and especially in the second half generic Republican. And given her background as a sports reporter for KTUU in Anchorage back in 1988 I expected her presentation skills in front of a camera to be engaging.
What I want to focus attention on is the hypocritical speech by Mitt Romney and vicious speech by Rudy Giuliani. I had the pleasure of listening to both during my commute home to pick up my daughter (who heard the tail end of Giuliani’s diatribe and asked why he was being so nasty)..
Starting with Romney – his theme was classic liberal bad / conservative good (stereotypes like Spy vs. Spy from Mad Magazine). “Is government spending - excluding inflation - liberal or conservative if it doubles since 1980? -- It's liberal”, Romney cried, “We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington -- throw out the big government liberals and elect John McCain!” Mitt… haven’t we had a Republican President for 8 years? And a Republican dominated Congress for most of those 8 years? Didn’t the Republicans inherit a Democratic surplus and turn it into a massive Republican deficit? How many jobs have been lost under Bush? Perhaps start with and own up to the failures of the Republican Party during their mandate.
For the full text of Romney’s speech visit here: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS15/80903125/1215.
Regarding Giuliani I was very disappointed because I respected his leadership, calm and selfless approach after 9/11. The sarcastic, dismissive, viciousness of Giuliani’s speech surprised me – perhaps it will work and that’s part of the script. Perhaps it will backfire. We’ll know November 4. The full text is available here: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS15/80903128 but the words don’t provide the full picture. Giuliani stated: “This is not a personal attack....it's a statement of fact - Barack Obama has never led anything.” Make no mistake – Giuliani’s speech was a vicious and very personal attack. You have to hear the delivery (available on YouTube soon) to fully appreciate how nasty this election is going to get. Giuliani’s message (unstated but there) – if you vote for Obama you are foolish – you are crazy. Sorry Rudy – this time you got it wrong.
Obama responded today and I believe effectively: http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=11130@cbslocal.dayport.com.
Vice Presidential Nominee To Address the 2008 Republican National Convention
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored to be considered for the nomination for Vice President of the United States...I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America. I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election... against confident opponents ... at a crucial hour for our country.
And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much harder missions ... and met far graver challenges ... and knows how tough fights are won - the next president of the United States, John S. McCain.
It was just a year ago when all the experts in Washington counted out our nominee because he refused to hedge his commitment to the security of the country he loves. With their usual certitude, they told us that all was lost - there was no hope for this candidate who said that he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war.
But the pollsters and pundits overlooked just one thing when they wrote him off.
They overlooked the caliber of the man himself - the determination, resolve, and sheer guts of Senator John McCain. The voters knew better. And maybe that's because they realize there is a time for politics and a time for leadership ... a time to campaign and a time to put our country first.
Our nominee for president is a true profile in courage, and people like that are hard to come by.
He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years, and refused to break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight. And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief. I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.
Our son Track is 19. And one week from tomorrow - September 11th - he'll deploy to Iraq with the Army infantry in the service of his country. My nephew Kasey also enlisted, and serves on a carrier in the Persian Gulf.
My family is proud of both of them and of all the fine men and women serving the country in uniform. Track is the eldest of our five children.In our family, it's two boys and three girls in between - my strong and kind-hearted daughters Bristol, Willow, and Piper. And in April, my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical. That's how it is with us.
Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys. Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. And children with special needs inspire a special love.
To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House. Todd is a story all by himself.
He's a lifelong commercial fisherman ... a production operator in the oil fields of Alaska's North Slope ... a proud member of the United Steel Workers' Union ... and world champion snow machine racer. Throw in his Yup'ik Eskimo ancestry, and it all makes for quite a package.
We met in high school, and two decades and five children later he's still my guy. My Mom and Dad both worked at the elementary school in our small town. And among the many things I owe them is one simple lesson: that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity.
My parents are here tonight, and I am so proud to be the daughter of Chuck and Sally Heath. Long ago, a young farmer and habber-dasher from Missouri followed an unlikely path to the vice presidency. A writer observed: "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty, sincerity, and dignity." I know just the kind of people that writer had in mind when he praised Harry Truman.
I grew up with those people.
They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America ... who grow our food, run our factories, and fight our wars.They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America. 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. I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening. We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.
As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man. I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment.< br> 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. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people.
Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests. The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it.
No one expects us to agree on everything. But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and ... a servant's heart. I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States.
This was the spirit that brought me to the governor's office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau ... when I stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good-ol' boys network. Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests and power brokers. That's why true reform is so hard to achieve. But with the support of the citizens of Alaska, we shook things up. And in short order we put the government of our state back on the side of the people.
I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law. While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay. I also drive myself to work.
And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef - although I've got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her. I came to office promising to control spending - by request if possible and by veto if necessary. Senator McCain also promises to use the power of veto in defense of the public interest - and as a chief executive, I can assure you it works.
Our state budget is under control. We have a surplus. And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes. I suspended the state fuel tax, and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere.
If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves. When oil and gas prices went up dramatically, and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged - directly to the people of Alaska. And despite fierce opposition from oil company lobbyists, who kind of liked things the way they were, we broke their monopoly on power and resources.
As governor, I insisted on competition and basic fairness to end their control of our state and return it to the people. I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly forty billion dollar natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence. That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers that do not have our interests at heart. The stakes for our nation could not be higher.
When a hurricane strikes in the Gulf of Mexico, this country should not be so dependent on imported oil that we are forced to draw from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And families cannot throw away more and more of their paychecks on gas and heating oil.
With Russia wanting to control a vital pipeline in the Caucasus, and to divide and intimidate our European allies by using energy as a weapon, we cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers. To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of world energy supplies ... or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia ... or that Venezuela might shut off its oil deliveries ... we Americans need to produce more of our own oil and gas. And take it from a gal who knows the North Slope of Alaska: we've got lots of both.
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 new-clear 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. 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.
My sister Heather and her husband have just built a service station that's now opened for business - like millions of others who run small businesses. How are they going to be any better off if taxes go up? Or maybe you're trying to keep your job at a plant in Michigan or Ohio ... or create jobs with clean coal from Pennsylvania or West Virginia ... or keep a small farm in the family right here in Minnesota. How are you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to the American economy? 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. They're the ones whose names appear on laws and landmark reforms, not just on buttons and banners, or on self-designed presidential seals.
Among politicians, there is the idealism of high-flown speechmaking, in which crowds are stirringly summoned to support great things.
And then there is the idealism of those leaders, like John McCain, who actually do great things. They're the ones who are good for more than talk ... the ones we have always been able to count on to serve and defend America. Senator McCain's record of actual achievement and reform helps explain why so many special interests, lobbyists, and comfortable committee chairmen in Congress have fought the prospect of a McCain presidency - from the primary election of 2000 to this very day.
Our nominee doesn't run with the Washington herd. He's a man who's there to serve his country, and not just his party. A leader who's not looking for a fight, but is not afraid of one either. Harry Reid, the Majority Leader of the current do-nothing Senate, not long ago summed up his feelings about our nominee.
He said, quote, "I can't stand John McCain."
Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no accolade we hear this week is better proof that we've chosen the right man. Clearly what the Majority Leader was driving at is that he can't stand up to John McCain. That is only one more reason to take the maverick of the Senate and put him in the White House. My fellow citizens, 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.
And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely. There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain.
In our day, politicians have readily shared much lesser tales of adversity than the nightmare world in which this man, and others equally brave, served and suffered for their country. It's a long way from the fear and pain and squalor of a six-by-four cell in Hanoi to the Oval Office. But if Senator McCain is elected president, that is the journey he will have made. It's the journey of an upright and honorable man - the kind of fellow whose name you will find on war memorials in small towns across this country, only he was among those who came home.
To the most powerful office on earth, he would bring the compassion that comes from having once been powerless ... the wisdom that comes even to the captives, by the grace of God ... the special confidence of those who have seen evil, and seen how evil is overcome. A fellow prisoner of war, a man named Tom Moe of Lancaster, Ohio, recalls looking through a pin-hole in his cell door as Lieutenant Commander John McCain was led down the hallway, by the guards, day after day.
As the story is told, "When McCain shuffled back from torturous interrogations, he would turn toward Moe's door and flash a grin and thumbs up" - as if to say, "We're going to pull through this." My fellow Americans, that is the kind of man America needs to see us through these next four years.
For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words. For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.
If character is the measure in this election ... and hope the theme ... and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause.
Join our cause and help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States.
Thank you all, and may God bless America.
Country First
John McCain, George Bush and related Republicans get their propers for truncating their National Convention rituals as Hurricane Gustav threatened the gulf coast, particularly New Orleans, so hard hit during Katrina.
Their support of the coalesced efforts of LA governor Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and FEMA may have saved thousands of lives. Together with MS, Al and TX officials, nearly 2 million folks were safely evacuated over the weekend. (To date, seven hurricane-related deaths have been reported in LA, in comparison to the bloodbath of ‘05.)
And with official RNC business beginning just yesterday at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, the vibe of the Convention...
http://blogs.uptownlife.net/sonyarose/
While the Republicans are in town promising another four years of the last eight years, the Minnesota Campaign for Change is talking to voters across Minnesota about Barack Obama's plan to jumpstart the economy and help American families.
From FOX 9, click here for a video of the segment:
On the second day of the Republican National Convention, Minnesota Democrats are trying to regain last week's momentum by hitting the streets, going door to door spreading Obama's message.Pat Zeddie is one of 400 volunteers who went door to door Tuesday. The effort was geared towards the Illinois Senator's plans on improving the economy."I think it's really important for people sitting on the fence or uncommitted they hear things in the media and Obama's voice also being heard," said Zeddie.On Monday, Obama volunteers suspended the campaign in order to keep attention on Gustav. But now that the RNC is in full swing, Democrats are stepping up their efforts."It's very important for us to have our own direct conversation with voters as the RNC is here in town generating attention of their own," said Jeff Blodgett, part of Obama's Minnesota campaign.Obama supporters have reported Obama signs being stolen from their yards. They blame Republican delegates, who are feeling the strong Democratic presence in Minnesota.
We can bring change to Minnesota and America, but we need to reach as many Minnesota voters as possible with Barack's message of change. Click here to doorknock in your neighborhood during the RNC.
Republican Convention--At the Republican Convention tonight, Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman informed us that things need to change in a Washington that has become overly partisan and that John McCain is the one to take on the establishment.
Thompson said that McCain "led battle after battle to change the acrimonious, pork barreling, self serving ways of Washington."
Lieberman said, "John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead America forward."
What both Thompson and Lieberman failed to mention was that the Republican Party has controlled Washington (and deliberately increased this level of acrimony) for 6 of the last 8 years, and of course, they have held the presidency for that entire period.
It seems the Republicans are running against themselves!
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our friends in the Gulf Coast region. As we all come together to help in the recovery efforts (click here to donate), the Campaign for Change also plans to get volunteers out into the community and talk with their neighbors about Barack Obama's ideas to bring the change we need.
Click here to sign up for a Week of Action event near you.
It's not a coincidence that the Republicans chose St. Paul as the site of their convention this year.
From CBS News:
In much the same way the Democrats went to Denver with thoughts of recapturing Colorado, the Republicans are in St. Paul with hopes of finally snapping Minnesota’s blue streak: for eight consecutive Presidential elections, Minnesota has voted Democratic.
Sign up to talk to your friends and neighbors this week about Barack Obama and Joe Biden's plans to bring real and immediate relief to Minnesota families.
Go to http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Amy_Goodman_and_producers_arrested_at_0901.html
