Likewise. I was always going to support Obama -- I didn't hold he or his campaign responsible for many things I thought were unfair about the Dem primary (that's for another thread, of course), but there was definitely a twinge of resentment I held toward Democratic party leadership that prevented me from being as active and motivated as I was four years ago. Tonight, the lies, the bullying, the continued absurd oversimplicity -- it all became crystal clear. I've seen this before, and I've seen the ultimate result. Thanks to Gov. Palin, I'm more motivated than ever for Barack. If that was her goal, she succeeded.
The delivery was fine. She's ready for prime time. Prime time TV anyway. We have no idea what else she's ready for. She has so far refused to answer a single question about foreign policy, for example. She has, after previously saying she believe abortion should be illegal even in the case of rape or incest, not answered a single question about social issues since being picked. She hasn't given a single interview. She hasn't shared her thoughts on a single issue other than energy (I don't count a Republican saying she's against taxes - that's a given). How is it that anybody can decide she would make a good VP when they have no idea where she stands on the issues? When they have no idea what. so. ever. what she would do? Liking someone is not a good reason to support them. Not if you don't know anything about how they'd govern. But the speech itself, not its delivery, was quite foul. After the cutesy family story, which we've all heard, it was nothing but cheap shots. She not only didn't talk about where she stands, she turned the thing into a mean-spirited comedy routine instead. I'd read a lot about the speech before the replay came on and I'd read excerpts, but I started to watch it anyway. When she made that stupid, ridiculous comment about the "Greek columns," I turned off the TV. I guess McCain/Palin "forgot" that Bush used the same "Greek" (err, AMERICAN) columns in his acceptance speech. What a weird coincidence, huh? Not really. Those "Greek" columns stand in front of virtually every building in our nation's capital. I guess McCain/Palin will have them all removed. These people are liars. And they are angry, dirty, hateful liars masquerading as normal, God-fearing folk. They know that the smears they use to charge up their base aren't true and they use them anyway. Half of Palin's speech tonight was the beginning and end of my GOP Convention viewing experience. Unless and until they agree to cut this "lose a war to win a campaign" dishonest bullcrap, they are on my ignore list.
So I guess it was ok for the late Gov. Anne Richards to Bash Bush Sr. in 1988 with the "Silver Spoon in his mouth speech" at the DNC but not ok for Palin to take on Obama. Wow what a double standard by the Libs!
Ann Richards was not the VP nominee. I also find it hilarious you have to go back 20 years to find a Dem making a joke about a Republican. It happens at every convention of either party. I'm not upset that Palin bashed Obama - VP nominees do that. That's fine. I'm upset that she and the rest of the party continue to question his patriotism (that is a dishonorable move - way past over the line) and I am upset that their criticisms are such intellectually dishonest bullcrap. I also think it will ultimately be seen as a less than good speech strategically. She just opened the door to every attack that comes her way, by being not just critical but disrespectful and nasty. Guess what? VP nominees usually don't do that. And Biden certainly didn't. He criticized McCain on policy, not on bogus crap like "love of country." Who runs for president (who even gets into a position to run for president) and doesn't love the freaking country? It's BS. But of course you love it, RICH. You love all gutter politics. That's the only kind you're interested in. Also, point of order, you accidentally voted in the neutral category above. That joke about you being neutral is getting tired.
You do know McCain has missed more votes than Obama in the Senate over the last 4 years? (thanks surrender, I later found you had the data). Who has done the most campaigning in this apparent pinnacle time of national and international crisis? When McCain has voted he has had 95% agreement with GWB. What is not fair about McCain as another term, or nearly one, of GWB. It is policies that matter--not the "experience" (how many bad old entrenched senators do we have), whether one is a war hero over 40 years ago, ones sex life, etc. That is what gets me about Hillary voters who are skeptical about Obama (and I still know a few). They agree about 95% of the time, they are center-left politicians who share the same core principles and only differ in very minor policy details compared to Bush/McCain.
I agree with you on one thing...the whole patriot issue is tired. I think it is safe to say we are all tired of hearing that. I didn't expect any specifics from Palin tho. My expectations were pretty low. She wasn't going to lay out McCain's economic plan or anything else. She was just thrust into this. Did you really think she was going to give some kind of inspirational speech? Did you want her to Cry? What did you want? Now if McCain doesn't make his case tomorrow night, which by the way, he's gonna have to compete with Thursday Night Football, this election is over. I already conceded to your candidate. What is your problem? By the way, ALL POLITICS IS GUTTER! Your candidate included!
ironically, the palin pick not only energized the republican base, now she has energized the democratic base.
I wanted her to give us the first hint as to why she should be trusted with the presidency if it came to that by telling us where she stood on the issues, since she is the only candidate in this race that has not done that and seemingly has no plans to do that. I wanted her not to repeat BS lies. But I already said what I wanted in my first post in this thread. The fact that you come back with "Did you want her to cry? What did you want?" is why I find it so irresistible to make you look like the doodyhead you are in this forum. Why don't you support everything about Obama, RICH? Do you want him to give you a backrub? A blowjob? What do you want? Do you have any idea how stupid you sound when you argue like that? Maybe if you had a point, you would find it easier to stick to it. And all politics is not gutter, Rich, no matter how much you wish that was true. There are people in politics for the right reasons, to make this country better. But you'll never even have the chance to know that. Jesus Christ or Mahatma Gandhi could show up to run for office in our country and you'd be chasing them around with a camera trying to prove they were frauds.
I think that is probably very, very true. It is also true that there are way more of us these days than there are of them.
I'm in the same boat. I was always going to vote for Obama, and I voted for him in the primary, but was disillusioned by his movement to the middle and his FISA vote. However, the DNC and tonight's speech from Palin motivated me more than over.
i think it was good for Republicans and the people who needed to hear something like that from a Republican. But personally for my wife and I, it was more of the same. The same low tax, small government non-sense that the GOP has be spewing for a while now when history says different. For me personally I was disappointed because it was more of a "Lets Divide Them" type speech than a speech on TRUE issues. It attacked Americans who dont agree with Dubya's policies as Un-Patriotic. It just sounded like something straight from Fox News. Of course I feel like I know better, but alot of people with blinders or to lazy to research issues them self will fall all over it. However she did accomplish the job she wanted to for the GOP. There is no doubting that. Game On..... P.S. Her family looked out of place even at the Republican Convention, and I do not like the way she used her youngest child. It was classless IMO.
again, i doubt the base in general will win this election. 2 hillary spokesperson came onto larry king saying hillary is expected to respond to palin anytime now. and that will further solidify the base, if not already so. the point is, both parties are trying to reach the independents. i thought the DNC did that well, when obama to biden to the clintons talked about the #1 issue concerning america--the economy a lot in their speeches (along with the obvious red meat as expected). but obama also tried to appeal to indepndents by saying things like ("we don't agree on abortion, but we do agree on reducing unwanted pregnancies...). however, at this RNC, not one speaker has tried to do that. every speaker has definitely done his/her work if it was to energize the audience inside the convention. but their speeches had no substance/details regarding the primary issues facing this election. again, i'm really interested in the polls next monday/tuesday just to see the public's general reaction to this convention.
It's hard for me to believe Obama is in politics for the right reason when he spent the majority of his time in Politics raising money, writing books, and running for President since he got to the senate. Now if he had run in 2012, maybe I'd think differently. I just don't think Obama is quite ready yet. But since you are bringing up Gandhi and Jesus into the mix of this discussion, I guess I need to change my ways now before the Political Gods damn me for talking sacraledge about the chosen one!
I do agree that this speech wasn't for the Independents that McCain needs to win over. Palin and McCain are stuck in 2004 thinking that West Virginia and the other blue collar states are going to carry them to the White House without the Indies.
Yes, I got that about you, Rich. That's why it's hard for me to see you post and not give you a little slap. You're what's wrong with politics in this country. Voters (and non-voters) like you. I don't care that you don't like Obama, even though I recognize it as the usual, lazy, shallow, cynical take masquerading as someone who pays any attention at all. You don't like anybody, so I don't take it personally that we aren't on the same side in this election. What bugs me so much about you is your rabid enthusiasm for scandal and your utter disinterest in anything to do with policy or issues. You only want to tear stuff down. You're not for anything at all. (How could you be? You're not even interested in anything except catching people acting like assholes.) You are only against everything. And not even in a burn it down kind of anarchy way, which at least has a point of view. Your cynicism is just mall-brand everything sucks style. It is thoughtless, boring and lame.
I didn't waste 5 hours of my time voting for Hillary Clinton. I did believe in something. I believed she was the better choice.
One of two things is going to happen in this election. Either people are going to vote their issues and their interests, in which case the Democrats win easily. Or people are going to agree with the GOP that they should really hate Obama, and hate him enough to vote against their issues and their interests, in which case the Republicans win barely. These are the strategies the parties are going with. The Democrats are trying to get you to think about the issues and The Republicans are trying to get you to think Obama's a dick. The base is pretty much necessary to that strategy.
the thing that perplexes me is that the palin pick ALONE (without her saying a single word) would already solidify the base. they were excited the moment her name was announced. furthermore, from the likes of it, she won't be exposed to a lot of interviews, if at all, to the press even when she campaigns. therefore, i thought they would use this prime-time event where most eyes would be solely on her (i expect high ratings) to talk about certain issues that hit hard with americans right now. so if she doesn't talk now about her stances on those issues, she won't get another chance to impress the independents later on until the debate. i'm flabbergasted that this election is close (but obama's inexperience does scare a lot of voters and this country is undoubtedly VERY divided) but it is. it is there for the republicans to take it. and they didn't do that tonight at least.
IIRC approximately a day or a week after you voted for her you were bashing her too. But "all politics is GUTTER," right?
mccain's spokesperson today said the same thing. "we're not running this campaign on issues, but the personalities." they definitely attacked obama's character and personality at this convention that's for sure.
