Sarah Palin's acceptance speech

[Savaric]

First time I saw this lady speak. I was extremely impressed. She struck me as real, as compared to Hillary who just reeks of good ole' boy politics. I think the gop made a very smart choice....

[Darion]

You mean as opposed to Hillary, who would eat her young and sell her soul for the presidency? Why mince words, really...

[Aristotle]

That's encouraging I guess.

But right about now, I'd like to go with the late William F. Buckley's suggestion:

Toss all 535 (537 in this case - 435 Reps, 100 Senators, 1 Pres, 1 VP) elected, national representatives out, and replace them with people selected randomly from the phone book. We would probably be better off.

[Dalaena]

We'd be better off because all the special interests group wouldn't know where to put their money.

[Cyrinne]

She must be on the charismatic side, because I have noticed something. Those who watched the convention and heard her speak found the speech far more impressive than those who didn't watch and read the transcript of it.

I was one of the latter, and I didn't find anything especially compelling or interesting or unique about what she had to say. But others I know who heard the delivery seemed far more impressed.

[Deokoria]

Originally posted by Cyrinne
She must be on the charismatic side, because I have noticed something. Those who watched the convention and heard her speak found the speech far more impressive than those who didn't watch and read the transcript of it.

I was one of the latter, and I didn't find anything especially compelling or interesting or unique about what she had to say. But others I know who heard the delivery seemed far more impressed.

I'm pretty sure that I would wager that is true about the speeches of most politicians or anyone else, for that matter, whose success depends a lot on public speaking.

[Cyrinne]

I dunno. I read a lot more print media than I watch news. I've always been more of a visual learner so I get more out of it that way. There are some politicians whose transcripted speeches I find interesting or inspiring or wise, and some who I don't. While I'm sure that the delivery helps, I find myself pretty capable of reading and appreciating a well crafted speech even if I can't hear it.

[Savaric]

Originally posted by Aristotle
Toss all 535 (537 in this case - 435 Reps, 100 Senators, 1 Pres, 1 VP) elected, national representatives out, and replace them with people selected randomly from the phone book. We would probably be better off.

I like this idea.

[kestra]

Sarah Palin's speech very well delivered. I was almost convinced. I was, however particularly disappointed how Palin, 9ui11ani, and Huckabee trivialized Obama's community organizer roots. That was in such poor taste IMO, and contradicts their speeches about giving power back to the people. Do Palin and the rest of the GOP not realize that's how women's groups began that earned them the right to vote, and how MLK, Harvey Milk and many other famous, and respected American historical figures got their start? Why is being a mayor of a small (very small) town better?

According to the Associated Press, Palin was quite liberal with her "facts" about her experience and Obama
http://news.yahoo.com/story/ap/20080...ct_check/print

Also, speaking of the Washington elite, Cindy McCain's outfit on the first night of the convention is reportedly worth close to $300 000.
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/pol...00-outfit.html

It suddenly dawned on me tonight that these party conventions are very much like giant churches, much like the giant evangelical ones you see pop up all over the country. Ideals of altruism, ethics, and national love and pride are suddenly the only things the candidates ever think about.

If I were able to vote, I'd vote for Obama, not because I'm particularly in love with the guy, but because quite frankly I don't see how a 73 year old man, who despite his long tenure and service to the nation, doesn't really seem to me, to have a grasp on the modern age. I'm sorry, but I don't see how a septuagenarian is the future of the nation.
As Ari mentioned before, McCain has parted ways with his republican camaraderie many times, especially Bush (who's fucked him over on many occasions), and I genuinely liked many of his centrist ways.
McCain has now been put in a position where he has been forced to change his rhetoric to appease the far-right christian conservatives, who's vote is critical, as well as figure out how not to alienate his centrist voters, and at the same time, not alienate the independant voters. He also has to convince the rest of America that he's not Bush re-mixed.
How do you acheive all of this and maintain integrity?
I'm starting to wonder if this is all just a convoluted plan to re-invent the republican label by getting a conservative woman in the White House, thereby sticking it to the Clintons and robbing Hillary in the process.

[Aristotle]

Originally posted by kestra

Also, speaking of the Washington elite, Cindy McCain's outfit on the first night of the convention is reportedly worth close to $300 000.
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/pol...00-outfit.html

That is a bit disingenuous to phrase it that way. At least $291,000 of that is supposedly the value of jewelry she wore.

Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000–$25,000

When you say "outfit", most people think clothes, and then wonder "how in the hell does someone spend $300,000 on clothes?" Jewelry can easily cost that much. Do I think that's insane? Yeah. But Cindy McCain's family is super wealthy, and I doubt John McCain is poor in his own right.

If the point is "how can they be in touch with Americans when they have that kind of wealth", I counter with this: are there ANY major political candidates or office holders who are "in touch" with regular folks? I think there is not a single one.

Originally posted by kestra
It suddenly dawned on me tonight that these party conventions are very much like giant churches

The implied pejorative there is unnecessary and misplaced. I am sure an analogy could have been thought up that didn't disrespect people who respect religion. I'm not religious, but I can still respect people who are.

But if I understood the point you were driving at, it is true that these conventions are an absolute waste of time. It is just a bunch of pandering to the faithful, telling them what they want to hear, and engaging in some of the worst sophistry possible.