By Daniel from @ the front lines
John McCain made a surprise appearance after Gov. Palin’s speech last night, and asked what amounted to a rhetorical question: “Don’t you think we made the right choice for vice president of the United States?” The audience certainly agreed, and showed it with their deafening shouts and applause.
Chants at the convention included “ZERO,” whenever Obama’s experience was referred to, as well as “SARAH,” and “USA.” The convention last night was full of funny one-liners, including many from Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, and, of course, Sarah Palin. Other speakers included former EBay President and CEO Meg Whitman, former Hewlett-Packard Chairwoman and CEO Carly Fiorina. Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams electrified the crowd by suggesting that the same questions being asked about Gov. Palin’s experience be asked about the top of the Democratic ticket, Barack Obama. Williams expressed his desire for people at the gas pump and grocery counter to put more change in their pocket. “That’s change we can believe in,” he said. He also pointed out that McCain would not support the brutal murdering of unborn babies.
RUDY GIULIANI
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani delivered an impressive speech Wednesday night, saying that “tough times require tough leadership, and this is no time for on-the-job training,” making it clear that he could agree with Joe Biden on one thing. Giuliani also pointed out the fact that Palin has more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket combined. “I’m sorry that Barack Obama feels that her hometown isn’t cosmopolitan enough… Maybe they cling to religion there.” He further went through the qualifications of John McCain and Barack Obama, as if he were reviewing two applicants for a job. When he announced that one had been a ‘community organizer,’ the crowd simply started laughing, and so did Rudy! “Well, I guess that’s the first problem with his resume,” he said, chuckling. At another juncture, Giuliani said, “He’s never run a city, never run a state, never run a business, never run a military unit. He’s never had to lead people in crisis. This is not a personal attack… It’s a statement of fact: Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada.” Of course, Rudy obviously forgot that Obama co-chaired a foundation with William Ayers, a domestic terrorist. That is okay, because Obama seems to have forgotten it, as well. Giuliani pointed out many flip-flops of Obama, including on campaign reform, America’s support of Israel, and surveillance on the enemy. “If I were Joe Biden, I’d want to get that VP thing in writing,” he quipped. The crowd seemed to agree.
MIKE HUCKABEE
Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke earlier, and although he admitted having originally desired the acceptance slot on Thursday night, he expressed his deep support and admiration for John McCain and Sarah Palin. He said that he was “so tired” of the questioning of Ms. Palin’s experience, first as mayor in Wasilla and then Governor of Alaska, stating that “she got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla than Joe Biden got running for President of the United States.” Unfortunately, for Biden, this is the truth, and the crowd loved it. Huckabee also thanked the “elite media for doing something that, quite frankly, I wasn’t sure could be done, and that’s unifying the Republican Party and all of America in support of Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin. The reporting of the past few days has proven tackier than a costume change at a Madonna concert.” Keeping the ‘CHANGE’ theme prominent, he stated that McCain “doesn’t want the kind of change that allows the government to reach even deeper into your paycheck and pick your pocket, your doctor, your child’s school or even the kind of car you drive – or tell you how much you have to inflate your tires.” Huckabee also spoke regarding social issues, saying that McCain “doesn’t want to change the definition of marriage. And, unlike the Democratic ticket, Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin believe that every human life has intrinsic worth and value from the moment of conception.”
SARAH PALIN
Of course, the biggest speech of the night was that of Alaska Governor and VP nominee Sarah Palin. According to a USA Today article, “Palin was the featured speaker and Obama the designated target.” And target him she did. “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,” she said. “But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of the crowd fades 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.” Earlier in the speech, Palin defended her small-town mayoral experience, saying, “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.” Palin, acknowledging that she is “not a member in good standing in the Washington elite,” gave the “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 great country.”
She joked earlier, “You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.” According to the Detroit Free Press, “She dismissed her critics, mocked the media and got in more than a few good shots at Barack Obama.” Other media outlets, including NPLR and AirHeads of America (otherwise known as Air America), dismissed her speech as ‘tacky,’ and ‘mean.’ Yes, the Free Press is correct. She placed well-placed and absolutely legitimate shots at Obama.
As Mike Huckabee said, the Party is united. We love our nominees and will fight hard until November to elect them. Yesterday’s convention really highlighted the incredible unity in the GOP. Now, we must fight for our country and get McCain and Palin elected. Country First.
Oh, and stay tuned for John McCain’s acceptance speech tonight!
