To Ilusan: Yes, yes and yes. The response in the RNC was zealous and energetic, but I wouldn't really expect anything less. I'd personally wager a slim chance of any official party member switching sides (unless you're Leiberman), but it definitely rallied the base, and the religious right is eating up the 'pro-life' candidates.

However, I'd love to poke holes in McCain's character. When half the ticket is engaged in such deplorable behaviour as agent to McCain - I don't think his hands are clean. Obama has been pretty cautious to rein in his constituents in several situations where third parties have taken cheap shops, or have atleast been accused of taking cheap shops - I'd call that a measure of his character. When McCain decided it was okay to degrade Obama in an ad that compared him to Paris Hilton - a degenerate, spoiled porn star - and Britney Spears - a recently spazzed out, child neglecting drama queen - I hardly call that dignified, mature, or civil. I'd actually call that hateful, heinous, and immature. It also makes me suspicious of his other emotional appeals such as one third of his speech being about his experience as a POW.

Now that's dangerous ground to tread, because I'd hardly want to take away from his hardships in Hanoi, or cheapen his service to this Nation. But I'll also call it like I see it, and with absolute respect to McCain as a servant to this Country in Vietnam, my respect for him as a politician and my confidence in him as a moral person is waning hard away.


Anyway, yes, the speech certainly rallied the base. For me, it takes a great deal more effort than cheap and petty insults and distortion to garner my vote. Unless something miraculous occurs, this is one fence sitter's vote they ain't gettin'.