Photo of the campaign so far from Doug Mills of The New York Times, showing Barack Obama at a rainy rally Saturday at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
The other photo, from the AP, is from a rally today in Hockeytown.
I can't remember a more highly-anticipated debate; like everything else this year, it just feels bigger, like a society-wide event (the way politics always should be). McCain's theatrics the last few days of course only pumps up the interest--if this was deliberate, he better destroy Obama, cause any kind of tie is going to go to the one who didn't try to pull out.
The non-traditional format--9 segments of 9 minutes each, with opening questions on each topic and then a free-form where the candidates can really debate each other--means there could be fireworks. I'd say the potential for a flash of temper or big gaffe is the highest in years; McCain doesn't like playing it safe in any case, and with his recent big polling deficit I think he's gonna roll the dice, again.
Not that Palin or the 'suspend campaign' gambit worked.
ABC's crew looks positively giddy; more Americans could be watching tonight than for any other scheduled event in U.S. history. 22 debates for Obama, 15 for McCain (none of which had him matched up against 1 other candidate).
Jim Lehrer gets us going; he's the perfect moderator, steady and sober. Man, I have butterflies; this is really quite exciting. Lehrer stands to welcome the candidates, the audience does too. Holy height differential, Batman.
Lehrer starts quoting Eisenhower; economic strength the foundation of military strength. Asks where do you stand on the financial recovery plan. Obama first, per coin flip. Looks at the camera; has 2 minutes here, starts out a bit like a stump speech, then gets more relaxed. Lays out his principles--oversight, taxpayers should get something back, nothing to CEO salaries, 4 is helping homeowners. Also have to recognize this is the verdict on 8 years of failed policies from Bush and McCain. Trickle down hasn't worked--middle class should be the measure.
McCain, wearing a horribly striped tie (first rule of TV: wear nothing stripey, it creates signal noise); mentions Senator Kennedy in the hospital. Been not feeling too great about a lot of things lately, but feeling better tonight. Speaks more deliberately than Obama, to Lehrer not the camera. Makes joke about having been around for a while, which falls flat. Man, he seems sedate; Obama was punchy, energetic; he totally seems feeble--has a cold or something.
Very morbid-seeming; no eye contact with the camera. So weird. Lehrer wants to go back to the question. Obama takes over, how did we get here--says he warned 2 years we were potentially going to have a problem, last year told the Secretary of the Treasury a problem was brewing. Why didn't we set up a 21st century regulatory framework.
McCain says he hopes he'll vote for the plan; I also warned about Mae/Mac, all that--a lot of us saw this train wreck coming. Reference to Eisenhower, wrote 2 letters before D-Day, congrats and resignation. We've lost accountability. Wants SEC head to resign.
Obama says we need more responsibility--but not just when there's a crisis. Years ideology has been what's good for Wall Street, not Main Street; 10 days ago John said the fundamentals of the economy are strong; Lehrer tells him to say it directly to McCain, trying to get them to engage a little. McCain goes off on how great the American worker is.
Lehrer is getting a bit energized; asks McCain the differences between him and Obama. He says spending is out of control, even under Republicans. Goes after earmarking and corruption.
Man, he looks grim; holds up a pen, says he's gonna veto spending bills. Hits Obama for earmarks. Obama says that's why he suspended all requests for his home state. Obama hits back, McCain wants $300 billion in tax cuts for wealthy corporations. Tax cut for 95% of working families.
McCain ignores Obama, goes back to earmarks again. Obama interrupts him, he's not raising taxes. Very forceful. Closes loopholes, pays for priorities as he goes. Let's go back to the point; $18 billion is important, but that's not how we're going to get the middle class back on track, your tax policy is aimed at people who are doing well, that's just the last 8 years.
Lehrer asks McCain to respond. He says he wants to cut the business tax to get jobs here. Goes on for a while; Obama says if you make less than $250,000 a year, you won't get an increase. The business tax problem is real, but there are so many loopholes that businesses pay one of the lowest tax rates in the world. Hits his health credit idea--he intends to tax health benefits, for the first time in history. An example of the notion that the market can always solve everything.
McCain is hammering on his fight against spending. Obama interrupts McCain, says it's not true, goes after him on oil companies. Obama's demeanor is pretty good, forceful and direct and calm.
3rd question, Lehrer asks what will you have to give up because of the outlays for the rescue plan. Obama says we can't do everything, but we have to have energy independence. Have to reform health care system. Have to compete in education. Have to rebuild our infrastructure.
McCain says we have to cut spending. Obama has the most liberal voting record. Eliminate ethanol subsidies. Cut cost plus contracts in defense spending. This is McCain's strong suit, he's coming across as consistent. Saved $6.8 billion by fighting Boeing contract.
Obama says John's right that we have to make some cuts, private insurers through Medicare shouldn't be getting subsidies. Mentions he set up Google for government, so taxpayers can see spending projects.
Lehrer asks again, how will this crisis affect your policies? McCain says spending freeze on everything; Obama says you're using a hatchett when you need a scalpel. $10 billion a month in Iraq--let's save some money there.
McCain says we're sending lots of money overseas in foreign aid; need offshore drilling and nuclear power. 45 new nuclear power plants; linked to climate change, along with Senator Clinton have done lots of work. Lehrer goes back to is the bailout going to affect your policies; Obama says yes, tough decisions ahead--but you've got to know what your priorities are.
McCain says don't hand the health care system over to the federal government. Let families make the decisions. They're letting each other speak; if I were Obama I'd slice into this.
Obama says you said you agree with Bush 90% of the time--you voted for almost all of his budgets, to stand here after 8 years and say you're going to lead, is hard to swallow. McCain says it's well-known I'm not Miss Congeniality.
Lehrer shifts to lessons of Iraq. McCain says you can't lose a conflict. We're winning in Iraq, this strategy has succeeded. Wow, it's like he's speaking off the top of his head here as he ticks off the possible impact if we had not 'won.'
Obama says first question is should we have gone to war to begin with. We've spent nearly a trillion in Iraq, lost more than 4,000 lives, and al-Qaida is stronger than any time since 2001. Looks into the camera, we have to use our military wisely, and we didn't in Iraq.
McCain says next president will have to decide how we'll leave. Obama recently said it exceeded our expectations. Obama says violence has been reduced; but that was a tactic to contain the damage of four years of mismanage. They war didn't start in 2007. McCain's trying to cut in, Obama is citing what he was on wrong on, ticks them off. Obama reframes it as judgment.
McCain says Obama doesn't understand the difference between a tactic and a strategy. Talks about speaking to troops in Iraq, says they said let us win, we don't want our kids coming back here. Obama refuses to acknowledge we are winning in Iraq. McCain says Obama voted to cut off votes for the troops.
Obama clarifies the vote was on whether there should be a timetable or not. Says McCain said Afghanistan not a threat, in rush to go to Iraq. Not enough troops in Afghanistan.
The best Obama can hope for is to talk about Afghanistan; and that's where Lehrer moves it. Says again, it was a strategic mistake to go to Iraq not Afghanistan. Hits Pakistan too.
McCain says he won't repeat the mistake that he regrets, abandoning the people after we helped them drive Russians out. That's a good point. Says he's not prepared to cut off aid to Pakistan, so I'm not prepared to threaten Pakistan, or strike them--you don't say that out loud. New strategy in Afghanistan is a surge, just like in Iraq.
McCain's really improved as the debate has gone on, his somberness works here where it didn't on the economy. His body language and tone conveys credibility. Obama says he didn't talk about attacking Pakistan--he says we'll attack al-Qaida with or without Pakistan. Obama says you have to be prudent about what you say--coming from you and your crazy remarks on North Korea and Iran, that's not credible.
Hmm, interesting, Obama now pivots, we shouldn't have propped up a dictator in Pakistan like you supported. McCain says he doesn't think Obama understands the situation in Pakistan when Musharraf came to power.
McCain says I voted against sending Marines to Lebanon. Gulf War, I supported. Bosnia, supported going in too. Odd, these are contradictory points--what's he saying, he supports intervention, or not? Getting a bit meandering. I have a record of being involved in these high level decision-making, about sending our troops into harm's way.
Talks about wearing bracelet of soldier killed in combat, his stock story. McCain says he knows what it's like when an army is defeated. Lehrer cuts him off, he keeps going on. Obama jumps in. I have a bracelet too--make sure another mother's not going through what I'm going through. The question is for the next president are we making good judgments precisely because sending our military into battle is such a big deal--the original point is we took our eye off Afghanistan.
Nobody's talking about defeat in Iraq, but we are having big problems in Afghanistan because of that decision--it's not true you've been concerned about Afghanistan, you said we could muddle through.
Wow, Obama is taking him to the woodshed on this. McCain's remark is he's never gone to Afghanistan. I've been there, I know what our needs are.
New question to McCain, what about the threat from Iran. If Iran gets nuclear weapons, it's a game-changer, so we can't let Iran go there. Wants to form a league of democracies; Russians are preventing action in the UN. Impose painful sanctions on Iran--they have a lousy government, so bad economy despite oil revenues.
The tone of this section has been different; words really matter here. McCain links Iran to Iraq insurgency; hits Obama on revolutionary guard terror amendment. Obama says let's correct something, the guard is a terrorism organization, what McCain's talking about is broadening the mandate in Iraq to include Iran. That war has helped Iran. Policy over the last 8 years has not worked.
Obama actually uses the word gamechanger; says McCain is right, we can't tolerate a nuclear Iran. Tougher sanctions--but we can't do that without the Russians and the Chinese, they're not democracies but trade with Iran. Major difference, we need to talk to them--by not talking to people we're punishing them is a failed strategy.
McCain says Obama would talk to everyone without precondition, has trouble with Ahmadinejad's name, says we shouldn't just talk to him. McCain says Reagan wouldn't talk until the Russians reformed, I'll sit with anyone but there has to be preconditions.
Obama says Ahmadinejad's not the most powerful person in Iran, so we may not talk to him; I reserve the right to talk to anyone. One of his advisers, Kissinger, said we should meet with Iran without preconditions. It doesn't mean you invite them over for tea. Of course we have to do preparations; it may not work. Raises North Korea as what happens when you don't engage a country; when Bush reversed course, we made some progress at least. Obama says McCain wouldn't even meet with Spain's prime minister. Wow, he really went after him.
McCain says what Obama doesn't understand is you legitimize comments when you sit down across the table from someone. McCain says he's known Kissinger for 35 years, Obama's wrong on this.
Next question, Russia to Obama. He's held his own so far, it's all back and forth; as long as he's on equal footing he's won. Goes through his talking points on Russia. We can't return to a Cold War posture on Russia, we have a lot in common, brings up his loose nukes actions. His answer is okay, you'd have thought it'd be better.
McCain says Obama again doesn't understand what happened with Russia vs. Georgia. I hope Obama hits him on this trope. McCain says no Cold War, but Putin's eyes are all K-G-B. Odd lines from him every so often. Keeps saying he's been to all these places. Watch Ukraine, McCain lectures, this whole thing has a long to do there.
Obama says actually we mostly agree here, but I immediately said it was illegal for Russia to go into Georgia. We have to have foresight and anticipate some of these problems, in April I said Russian peacekeepers shouldn't have been in Georgia. Obama's very good at controlling time, says in advance 2 points, which them means McCain listens to both. 2nd issue here is energy policy.
We can't drill our way out of the problem. So much of this is about demeanor and credibility, Obama oozes confidence. Hits McCain on his energy record. McCain hits Obama on nuclear, then says drilling is a bridge, at least temporarily. Obama's gonna jump in here, McCain keeps talking about Nunn-Lugar on nuclear waste. Obama hits McCain, they're talking over each other.
Last question: liklihood of another 9/11 attack on the U.S. McCain says we're safer now, but a long way from safe. I've worked across the aisle on first responder. Obama's gonna hit him on that; McCain says we'll never torture again. We're safer today than we were on 9/11, but still have a way to go. Ha, says Homeland Security employees are doing a great job.
Obama says safer in some ways. Transit, ports, chemical sites, biggest threat is nuclear proliferation. Doesn't make sense to spend billions on missile defense, but not enough attention to suitcase nukes. We also need to focus on al-Qaida, Iraq focus isn't enough. One last point: the way we are perceived in the world is going to make a difference in cooperation and rooting out terrorists. I'm going to restore our standing in the world, we shouldn't be less respected; gives McCain credit on the torture issue. McCain says Obama doesn't get that if we fail in Iraq, it encourages al Qaida, they'd have a base there.
Obama says Bush and McCain have just been focused on Iraq. In the meantime, al-Qaida is stronger. Challenges from China. Then pivots, ties our deteriorating economy to national security, spends the last part of his time talking about domestic policies. Nobody's talking about losing this war, next president has to look at the big picture.
McCain says I've been involved in everything for 20 years. I don't think Obama has the knowledge or experience, has made the wrong choices; have seen this stubborness before in this administration, refuses to say he was wrong about the surge, we need more flexibility in a president.
Wow, that's kind of a crazy point. Goes on to talk about how he'll take care of the veterans, I love them, they know that I'll take care of them. Reform, prosperity and peace; I don't need any on-the-job training.
Obama says let me make a closing point--will be hard to follow up that soundbite-friendly compilation from McCain. My dad came to Kenya, that's where I got my name; in the 60s he wanted to come here. Our standing in the world isn't what it used to be; we need to send a message to the world.
I don't think his closing is good, it sounds too liberal and wooly-minded. McCain finishes with when he came back from prison, he worked on POW-MIA issues, I know how to heal the wounds of war, I know how to deal with adversaries, and our friends.
And that's it; Obama says good job to McCain, caught on microphone. Michelle comes up on stage, then Cindy. Whoah, wives shake hands.
George Stephanopolous says both candidates played on each others' turf; McCain on economy, Obama on foreign affairs did well. Charlie Gibson said Obama strong on judgment, McCain hammered Obama on experience. Diane Sawyer says Obama campaign wanted to show fight and passion, and he did.
On NBC, they also say both did well, expressing themselves. Tom Brokaw says McCain really went after Obama, we're all looking at the same polls; surprised Obama didn't work harder at pinning McCain to Bush.
CBS has voters and their dials; during Iraq war talk, Obama scores with his list of things McCain was wrong about on the war. Few think McCain won, more think Obama won.
I think McCain did well tonight; he really owned the last few minutes, those soundbite-ready comments are going to be what a lot of people hear the next few days.
Throughout, he was clearly comfortable and familiar with all of these issues, and although I disagree with his philosphy, he at least has a well-thought out world view to apply consistently to foreign policy. McCain has also done well to avoid being tagged as Bush III, totally seemed his own man tonight except during the economic section.
Obama also did well, didn't get hammered on surge, and simply went toe-to-toe with McCain. His demeanor and tone were presidential. I don't think he 'won', but he didn't lose either, which given the polls and what people want him in office for, is a win.
Don't think the polls move much out of this; people will pretty much hear what they want to. McCain's lost one of his last best chances to move the numbers; he's going to have to pull another maverick moment.
Watching ABC to start, they say Mark Salter finished this speech 3 weeks ago and John McCain's been practicing ever since. They've got McCain on a runway that goes into the audience, so he'll have supportive people on three sides of him.
A clip from Cindy McCain's speech earlier tonight, looking scary in some crazy green outfit with big blonde hair. They go right into McCain's bio film, his mom saying he's a 'momma's boy'.
Some technical issues, video flickering green. POW comes right up. Lot of black and white footage. Music is very dramatic, announcer is even more so. Hmm, photo of him shaking hands with Richard Nixon.
His mom says noone else in U.S. history has ever had as much experience as him. 'Common-sense conservative' is what they call him. "He's not in it for the glory", "he's seen too much to think petty."
Pivot to Iraq, ties it to our security here at home. Father of 7, his youngest was 'discovered' as a baby in Bangladesh. They show some photos of non-whites, wonder where they got them from. "Change will come from strength".
His mom again, he'll renew America, he loves our country. Film ends, hall goes dark, words reading from his memoir ring out. "When you've lived in a box". Goes on for a minute, then spotlight, and out he comes; film narrated by Senator Thompson.
Dark suit, gold tie. Crowd gives him a loud ovation, now chants of USA. The visuals aren't stunning, like they were with Obama. He accepts the nomination, without mentioning the Republican party. One of his houses flashes on the backdrop; that's weird. There are protestors in the hall, I think--McCain votes against vets.
Hmm, that weird green background is back. Starts by talking about the candidates who opposed him; there's a young guy, Iraq veterans against war, he's off by the side holding a big sign. Thanks Bush, I think. Keeping us safe from another attack. The guy is heckling him, you can hear him in the silences, crowd tries to drown him out with USA chants. This is pretty interesting.
Thanks George W. Bush too. Odd beginning, meandering. He's squinting to read the teleprompter at times. That weird green background is still there, it's the lawn from his house or something--there are people walking up the sidewalk. So dumb.
Thanks his wife, she has the weirdest smile. Praises his mom, who stands up. 96 years young. Background changes to something else, blurry and dirty looking--ah, cornfields. I won't let you down, he says.
A very rocky beginning. Mentions Obama, you have my respect and my admiration, to tepid applause. Much more unites us than divides us, we're fellow Americans. Reads like it was just stuck in there.
Hmm, honors Senator Obama and his supporters for his achievements, but leave no doubt my friends, we are going to win this election.
He's low-energy, oddly subdued. "After we've won, we're going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot." Odd, Kentucky right up front. I know, these are tough times for many of you. Some woman is protesting, the crowd is booing her, she's fighting; crowd drowns her out, USA, USA, USA. Code Pink, as she's wrestled out. "Please don't be diverted by the ground noise and the static".
"These are tough times for many of you"--another protestor, crowd chants USA again, drawing more attention to it. I've found the right partner, big cheers for Palin. Man, this speech is really not going anywhere, he seems out of it. Talks about Palin--hey, where's her infant, anyway? "She stands up for what's right, and she doesn't let anyone tell her to sit down".
He says 'change is coming' with an arm gesture, it really looks pathetic, like he's trying on someone else's clothes. Applause, he looks down, waits, continues. Wow, it's really quite a bad speech. "I understand who I work for. I don't work for a party, I don't work for a special interest, I don't work for myself. I work for you."
Okay, now--tell us what you would do! Funny, this comes right after he references being a maverick, who usually are just out for themselves. Says he's fought big spenders, pork. McCain's in a very odd position, he could wind up looking second-best on his own ticket, with the constant prod of a younger, more articulate running mate reminding voters of Obama.
So far, we're 20 minutes in, it's all biography. The Dow plunged 340 points today on more bad economic news, no clue from this speech. Now on Iraq; then talks about how he's had a few tough fights in his life. Matters less that you can fight, what you fight for is the real test.
Okay, now--tell us what you would do! Names a couple from Michigan, who lost their real estate investments. Pennsylvania couple, with an autistic son. Just highlighting their woes so far, it's like he's a Democrat. Another--white--family, from New Hampshire, mentioned, now it's about how their son died in Iraq, will make sure we remain safe from our enemies.
Said Republicans were elected to change Washington, lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to corruption. Haven't freed ourselves from a dependence on foreign oil--tries to claim Obama passed a corporate welfare bill for oil companies! Wow, that doesn't wash.
Party of Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Reagan is going to get back to basics. Lieberman is in the audience, laughing--not a good image.
We're all God's children and we're all Americans, he says--actually, the immigrant Latina girl he mentions, many Republicans don't see her as American. This is a very broad speech; culture of life gets a big hand. No specifics, people in the audience, including Palin, are talking during it.
It's like a laundry list of core GOP applause lines. Can't imagine any independent tuning in and finding any of it persuasive, let alone any Democrats. I wonder if the Republican spinmeisters will blame the protesters for this.
My opponent will raise taxes, my opponent will close markets, my opponent will increase spending, he'll eliminate jobs, his health care plan will force families into a government-run health care system. People in the hall boo each line, people at home wonder why none of this worked under George W. Bush. This speech is seriously a Democratic dream come true.
Now says he knows some of you feel like your government has left you behind, says he's gonna change Social Security essentially. "We'll help workers who lost a job that won't come back find a new one that won't go away."
Now he's reading the speech like he's newly-acquainted with it. It's too late, shoehorning in these economic things, tone's already been set. "Education is the civil rights issue of this new cenutry". Oh?!
Wants to shake up schools with competition, choice; "help bad teachers find another line of work." Hmm, not sure with schools just starting for the year, attacking teachers is the way to go.
Misreads a line on the teleprompter, starts over and rereads. His eyese are watering, it's odd. Crowd is a bit dispirited; Obama wants schools to answer to unions and bureaucrats, I want them to answer to parents and students. Weird that he keeps talking about Obama. Then a weird smile.
"When I'm president, we're going to embark on the most ambitious national project in decades", stumbling over the words. Ah, time for energy talk--crowd starts applauding, big cheer for this. "Drill, baby, drill." And we'll drill them now. We'll build more nuclear power plants, etc. 'Electric aut-o-mo-biles'. No energy independence without more drilling and more nuclear power.
And restore the health of our planet is thrown in there as a last line. "It's an ambitious plan, but Americans are ambitious by nature, it's time to show the world again how Americans lead."
Wow, holy stolen from Obama!
Stumbles over reading the word 'today'. Al-Qaeda's not defeated; Iran remains the chief state sponsor of terrorism; Russia's leaders have rejected democratic ideals. Wow, he's not really going to make this the key issue?! Goes on about Georgia, 'the brave people need our solidarity and our prayers.'
He's still talking about Georgia; a Democratic line will be he cares more about people in Georgia overseas than Americans in Georgia here. "I know how the world works. I know the good and the evil in it."
My god, now talking about how when he was 5, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Are you kidding, is he really going to end with this?! Talks about Vietnam, "I hate war, it's terrible beyond imagination".
"I will draw on all my experience... and all the tools at our disposal, to build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace." Delegates are openly checking their cell phone and emails.
"We change things that need to be changed." Then, "we need to change the way government does nearly everything," starts listing a bunch of things that were designed before the rise of the global economy and the information technology revolution.
You have to be kidding me! He thinks people will see him as a competent steward for the information age?!
"I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not", as he's talking about his ability to change things. I cannot believe he's mentioning Obama near the end of his speech. "Let's use the best ideas from both sides", instead of fighting over who gets credit.
He'll be bipartisan, transparent, and accountable. The whole speech sounds like a me-too thing, and is really one of the worst major speeches we've heard in a while.
"I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years." But I've always been a servant. He's winding up now. "I was blessed by misfortune". "I mean that sincerely". Oh my god, he's actually finishing by talking about his POW days.
Talks about how he was a selfish rebel before that day in October when he flew over Hanoi. "I was dumped in a dark cell and left to die." He's actually very sincere here, but he should've started with this and finished with what he'll do for the country economically.
Democrats have already innoculated themselves against this, by calling him a hero, but not the man we need for these times.
Talks about how he turned down a chance to go home early, crowd gives him an ovation. Talks about being tortured, and being broken. McCain is getting very emotional, the hall is totally silent; says one of the other prisoners said nobody can ever make it alone, now get up and fight again, for your country.
Lists what he discovered he loves about America, was never the same again, "I was never my own man anymore--I was my country's." Not running for president because he thinks he's been annoited to save our country in its hour of need; people laugh. My country saved me, and I will fight for her so long as I draw breath.
He'd make a good Cabinet official in an Obama presidency. He's showing his decent side here, but it doesn't make up for his campaign and his speech to this point. Gets energized, ticks off a bunch of ways people can act to help this country.
It's 11:02, must be time to wrap up. "Fight with me, fight for what's right". Keeps talking as the crowd cheers. "Stand up, stand up and fight". Wow, this is getting weird. "We never give up, we never quit, we never hide from history, we make history." Crowd's in a frenzy, and he ends.
Very, very odd speech. A bit over 45 minutes says Charlie Gibson; it was like two different speeches. George Stephanopolous says the second part where he told his story and called people to service brought him to life.
Bob Schieffer is saying he could win, if he gets people to believe he can form some sort of unity government. Tom Brokaw says giving a big speech like this isn't really one of his strengths, but he has a lot of courage, and a compelling story. What was missing, obviously, was a lot of details. And he talks about change, but his own party has run Washington for 8 years.
Palin's out there with him now, they're waving to the crowds. Brian Williams talks about the protestors, and about how his background was again green, with the lawn. Down come the balloons.
Chuck Todd says this was supposed to be non-ideological--ha! Claims there were few barbs at Obama. Used the word change 10 times, versus 15 times for Obama. Wow, there's a lot of white people up on the stage all at once now. Todd says like most recent Republican presidents, not a great speechmaker.
Fireworks on the big screen behind them--fake fireworks for a fake convention, I guess.
An interesting postscript, from the always-insightful David Gergen writing over at CNN:
.A few thoughts as John McCain takes his bows: one cannot leave that speech without having enormous respect for him as a war hero and patriot. His retelling of his story tonight was extremely moving. I have long been a fan of John McCain the human being and I came away even more impressed tonight. It is worth remembering that a McCain has fought in every American war since 1776.Wow; that should just be what McCain says in his ads.
Rudy Giuliani's at the podium; a huge image of the NYC skyline's on the screen behind him. He starts with a bunch of jokes about his own failed presidential run. Blasts the media right off, this is an odd strategy the Republicans are pulling--nobody cares about media bias except the rabid faithful, if you don't have those guys you're in trouble anyway.
Rudy casts it as two good and patriotic men applying for the same job. One guy's been tested time and again, and has passed. John McCain's a true American hero. The other guy--oh, whoops, Rudy goes on about McCain. Well, this analogy doesn't work.
McCain's mom is in the audience, looking stone cold angry. Rudy is tossing off applause lines, he's really a bad speaker.
Now, on the other hand, a gifted man with an Ivy League education, who worked as a 'community organizer'--what? The audience laughs. Immersed himself in Chicago machine politics, nearly 130 times couldn't decide whether to vote yes or no, voted present. Wow, Rudy's just mocking Obama, and the crowd loves it. Am pretty sure how non-Republicans are going to see this.
You have to make a decision, says Rudy. Hmm, this only works if people think of Obama as indecisive; I don't think that's the case. He spent most of his time as a 'celebrity senator'--it's the kind of thing that can happen only in America. He's never run anything, or lead people in crisis, Rudy says. The most inexperienced candidate in at least 100 years. Obama's never lead anything.
Wow, he's really piling it on; crowd is chanting something. Rudy keeps laughing; this is coming across pretty badly. This is no time for on-the-job training. Odd that this is how they're introducing Sarah Palin. Rudy's treating this like it's a big joke.
We can trust McCain to deal with anything that's thrown in his way, we'll all be safe in his hands. So odd, is this really what the GOP is running on still? There's good change, and bad change, Rudy says, then waits for the crowd to applaud. Change is not a destination, like hope is not a strategy.
"Let's talk briefly about specifics". Lower taxes, less government, more free trade, energy independence. Wow, so specific; and why hasn't Bush succeeded in any of this? Nuclear power, and offshore oil drilling. He cackles again. Drill, baby drill. Oh wow, this is crazy. The entire crowd is actually chanting it.
Rudy says McCain will keep us on offense, against Islamic terrorism. Rudy says Democrats think it's politically incorrect, it'll insult someone. Dems aren't mentioning 9/11.
Democrats had given up on Iraq, just like they've given up on America. McCain was right on Iraq, Obama was wrong, on the biggest policy decision of this election. Obama changes his position, Rudy says--on public financing, on wiretapping, on an undivided Jerusalem.
Then, in a line that could turn out to be truly hilarious, Rudy says if he were Joe Biden, he'd want to get that VP thing in writing.
McCain said 'we are all Georgians' when Russia rolled in; Obama blamed both sides, just like he has when talking about Palestinians and Israelis, then changed to have the UN get involved. The crowd boos this for some reason--yeah, let's get into another war; Rudy says apparently Obama doesn't know Russia has a veto.
Like Reagan, McCain will enlarge our party--in choosing Sarah Palin, he's chosen for the future. The other guy looks back. Palin's the most popular governor in America, says Rudy, a few minutes after he talks about how McCain doesn't care about the polls.
Rudy loves that she's been a mayor, mocks Obama for not thinking her hometown is cosmopolitan enough, not flashy enough; maybe they cling to religion there. Audience rises up for that one. Wow, Rudy is really ripping Obama.
As governor she's cut taxes, encouraged energy exploration, one of the best governors in the country. An 80% approval rating. Took on corruption, has no fear. They're gonna shape up Washington.
How dare they, Rudy yells, question whether Palin has enough time to spend with their children and be vice president? Crowd applauds that. When do they ever ask a man that question?
Rudy says we're the party that ended slavery?! Wow. All about expanding freedom, parents should choose where their kids go to school. (But women shouldn't choose what happens to them).
Now the job is up to us, let's get McCain/Palin elected, and let's shake up this country and move it forward.
Wow, what a bizarre speech. Stephanopolous calls the attacks tough, well-thought-out; but maybe too nasty, too ugly.
GOP sends out Sarah Palin right afterwards, no time to discuss Rudy. Was to be a film, but Rudy ran long so no film. She's in a short black skirt, tan top, pearls. Big liberty bell behind her. Blue tinted glasses. Big standing ovation--husband's got the infant now, went from daughter to Cindy to him.
She accepts the nomination--pretty strong and steady in her opening line. She's actually doing a pretty good job with her first few lines. Crisp, straightforward.
Out comes her accent; last year experts counted out McCain. Okay, now she's delivering this thing like she's on a tv drama--overlooked the resolve and guts of McCain. Weird facial expressions, like someone on Saturday Night Live. She looks nervous. Points to her son when talking about Iraq, he stands up.
Oh, she's gonna introduce her family. Ticks them off by name, then waves at them. The girls stand. Trig, too. She keeps raising her right arm, says our family has the same ups and downs as anyone. To the families of special needs children, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House. Now St. Louis arch is on the screen behind her.
Talks about hubby, a fisherman, snow machine racer. He hands off the baby, ready for his moment; mentions his Eskimo ancestry, says they met in high school and he's still my guy.
Awesome! Great! She's doing the up-talking too; introduces her parents. She's a pretty good speaker--no greater sense of the moment, just simple and direct. She talks about her people, who do the work and are always proud of America. I've lived most of my life in a small town, hockey mom and signed up for the PTA. A bunch of identical hockey moms 4 Palin signs go up.
She's going to explain to us what the job of mayor involves. In a mocking tone, like a community organizer, except you have actual responsibilities. She's got some steel in her, that's for sure. Not sure what we think of people who say small town people cling bitterly. We prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and one way in San Francisco. Hmm, that's a pretty strong line. McCain is the same man, no matter where he goes.
Not a member of the permanent political establishment--some in the media think you're unqualified for that reason alone. To big boos. Hmmm, this is a pretty effective speech. I'm going to Washington to serve the people, not to get your good opinion.
She winks at the crowd. Totally at ease. Politics for the right reason is to challenge the status quo, leave this nation better than we found it. Big smile, light tone. Govern with integrity, good will, and a servant's heart. I will carry myself in this spirit.
Now she's using Obama's speech--reform hard to achieve, with the help of the people of Alaska we shook things up. Sold off the luxury jet--put it on eBay. Like driving myself to work, got rid of the personal chef. Says she's vetoed nearly half a billion dollars in spending. Thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere. Well, she's lying, but it sounds good.
Insisted on competition among oil companies. Build natural gas pipeline, to help lead America to energy independence.
She's the kind of politician that talks about basic things as if she's just discovered them. She reads a part of the speech about Russia that she obviously didn't write. Goes on about foreign control of oil, with some geographic names thrown in there, we need to pump more oil, we have lots of it.
Interesting, she's also arrogant. Simple-minded, and arrogant; what a combination.
Drilling won't solve every problem, but that's no excuse to do nothing at all. She's definitely going to infuriate people with that tone of hers, built on so little.
Talks about 'our opponent' and his dramatic speeches, there's much to admire about him. But this is a man who's authored two memoirs, but not a single major law. When the stadium lights go out, what exactly does our opponent seek to accomplish after he's turned back the waters and healed the planet. Wow, she's very snarky.
Some, like McCain, use their careers to promote change; she's really throwing in a lot of stuff, makes fun of the presidential seal thing. Says McCain's record is why so many entrenched interests have fought his candidacy, from 2000 on. Not looking for a fight, but not afraid of one either.
Quotes Harry Reid, who said he can't stand John McCain, says that's proof we've chosen the right man--he actually meant he can't stand up to John McCain. Wow, she really gets in these little digs.
The American presidency isn't supposed to be a journey of personal discovery. This world isn't just a community, doesn't need just an organizer. Obama and Biden say they're fighting for you, but only one man in this election has ever really fought for you.
McCain will bring the compassion of someone who was once powerless, someone who's seen evil and seen how it was overcome. A fellow POW, from Ohio--she blows him a kiss as he stands up--says after he came back from torture every day he'd flash a grin and a thumbs up. That's the kind of man America needs to see us through the next four years.
If character is the measure in this election, hope the theme, and change the goal we seek, I ask you to join our cause, elect a great man as the next president of the United States. Thank you, and god bless America.
Brian Williams--if they didn't know her before, they'll know her now. Stephanopolous says she's one tough cookie. Tom Brokaw says she makes a very auspicious debut, could not have been more winning or engaging, made the case for her candidacy strongly. Bob Schieffer says it works for the base, how about the rest? Jeff Greenfield says she has a perfect populist pitch, putting the big shots in their place, a strong first impression. Dan Bartlett says he thinks the McCain campaign is giving each other high fives.
And out comes John McCain. Tough rhetoric was necessary, Bartlett says, she's ready to play with the big boys.
McCain takes the mike, don't you think we made the right choice? Stephanapolous says in her first speech to the country, she spent a lot of time attacking; but a lot of beautiful and effective lines in the speech.
ABC on the floor with an undecided delegate, says she was real--funny, came out there swinging, talked about her record, she was fantastic. Greenfield on CBS says she cut Obama, but with humor, unlike Rudy and his sword.
It was a great debut for Palin, about as good as the GOP could've hoped for. She had to be tough, and she was; she had to be a good speaker, and she was. She didn't self-destruct, and she left the delegates energized.
And voters at home feeling like she belongs.
Watching the Republicans in St. Paul--they really are tone deaf, McCain's friend Wes Gullett is standing up there with their adopted daughter 'Mickey' from Bangladesh, who was unexpectedly brought back for them by Cindy McCain.
The girl just stands there the entire speech, beaming, as he talks about how great Cindy is for bringing her the blessings of a life in the U.S., including her now being a 'naturalized U.S. citizen'.
She is literally a prop--isn't allowed to speak at all, just stands there while her father talks about her, and in a truly ludicrous moment, reads from an essay she wrote. Likewise, the McCain's daughter from Bangladesh, Bridget, sits next to Cindy smiling, holding her mom's hand.
It's somehow entirely fitting for the GOP; delegates applaud throughout.
Next, a firefighter from the area who was a hero during the bridge collapse last year--Jim Lehrer tells us afterwards--speaks about service to your community. It's a pretty good speech, the timing is a bit screwed up; she stands there for quite a while waiting for George H.W. and Barbara Bush to sit down; the crazy big screen behind all of the speakers shows flowing water as she speaks.
Wow, next, a non-white person! A Mexican-American. People in the crowd look restless; then he says Jesus Christ and the Virgin of the Guadalupe are at the center of our home.
Refers to McCain as a 'maverick' Senator, is the godfather of their son Jimmy. "You're probably asking, why does a Hispanic Democrat support John McCain"?
First, faith--no one can survive a prisoner of war camp without God's protection. Oh? I think some people from Auschwitz have a different perspective on this. He's not just a public servant when the lights are on and the cameras are running, it's a way of life. Vs. Barack Obama, and all the TV crews when he was working in community service in Chicago, I guess.
Quotes the Bible, then says McCain sees immigrants as also God's children. Wow, want an amazing thing! Talks about sanctity of human life from conception. Ends, Viva America! Crowd is forced to cheer.
Judy Woodruff interviews McCain's cellmate, says he had a great sense of humor even in jail, refused to come home early. He's 83; says McCain's got everything going for him, will be president--has the experience, no on-the-job training, decisive as proven during the Saddlebrook interview.
Wow, Lehrer points out the veteran has the Medal of Honor hanging around his neck, the highest military honor any American can get.
Now, Christine Todd Whitman is talking in advance of George W. Bush's 8-minute speech via satellite, says nothing really. She's okay, one of those politicians who seems more impressive on paper than in person/reality.
Michael Gerson, who's an ex-Bush speechwriter, is also on to pump up the president; he's the definition of a fop, his words are ridiculous and the way he comes across is comical.
They're now running some sort of video, it's telling the story of a soldier in Iraq, keeps referring to him and his 'teammates'. Okay.... Michael Mansoor, saved his fellow soldiers by throwing himself on a grenade. He's Lebanese American, wonder if that made it into the video. Won the medal of honor, the third to get it during 'the war on terror'.
Now Orson Swindle, who was Ross Perot's spokesperson, and also a POW. Hmm, now Mansoor's family is sitting next to Cindy McCain, wonder what happened to Bridget? They stand, get a looooong ovation from the crowd. Next, the five Medal of Honor recipients stand and are recognized. Then, other former POWs stand and are recognized. And then G.H.W. Bush is told to stand, and be recognized.
And, that's it. Swindle leaves, his entire job was to ask people in the audience to stand. Lehrer thinks we're taking a break, but then Laura Bush shows up, so he says first mistake I've made. She's in a red dress; will be introducing her husband--conveniently, 15 minutes before the networks go on the air.
Interesting, when was the last time a sitting president wasn't scheduled for prime time?! She calls Sarah Palin a "strong executive and proven reformer." Wow, next she highlights the non-white members of the Cabinet! Elaine Chao and Condoleeza Rice.
Laura says we haven't heard very many facts recently, so she's sharing a little straight talk. Goes on for a while, then says no one knows better what this job requires than the person who holds the job, and President Bush comes on.
He says his duties regarding Hurricane Gustav keeps him from attending, thanks everyone for their work. Shout out to his parents. Then, McCain is ready to lead this nation. It's funny, they're timing this so it ends right before the networks come on air, 4 minutes left.
Bush reads off McCain's story. Says if the Hanoi Hilton couldn't break McCain's resolve, you can be sure that the angry left never will. Adoptive parents, defender of human life.
Talks about McCain being there from the start on Iraq. We need a president who understands the lessons of 9/11, to protect America was must stay on the offense, and not wait to be hit again. McCain will have a strong leader at his side, Sarah Palin. And that's all on Sarah.
Says he's optimistic that at the end, Americans will look at the judgment, experience, and policies of the candidates, and will vote for McCain-Palin. Thanks Laura for being a fantastic first lady. And that's it--10:01 EST.
Seems like CBS and NBC are rerunning the speech in its entirety, looks like ABC will too. Interesting, so the first thing Americans now tuning in will see is Bush. Hmmm, something interesting--on CBS, there's no crowd noise early on, it's just the video apparently; so it's bizarre when he stops for 'applause', you just get silence.
Laura is speaking live on PBS, she's still not a great speaker. Wonder if Cindy is speaking at this shortened convention.
On NBC, Tom Brokaw says the whole convention's been improvisational, like how Bush's speech ended before prime time. That wasn't by happenstance, Tom.
Dan Bartlett on CBS says this is an emotional time for Bush, a lot of support here, trying to transfer that to McCain. CBS then runs the first photos that have been released of Palin in the last couple of days, a staged photo with Cindy McCain. They then do a story on the vetting.
NBC goes to Chuck Todd while Senator Fred Thompson talks; ABC and CBS are running talking heads over the speech as well, ABC now cuts into it on tape, the part where he talks about Palin being a breath of fresh air, how the media is unfairly going after her. Odd to hear a Senator like him tout the outside-the-Beltway selection, says the other side and their friends in the media are in a state of panic. She knows how to field-dress a moose--with the possible exception of Teddy Roosevelt.
Hmm, McCain's top operative Steve Schmidt's on CBS; they're bringing out the big guns. He says he's been asked outrageous questions by the national media. Smear, after smear, after smear. Katie's the perfect person for this, they can't accuse her of being sexist; asks about her raising the sales tax, and earmarks.
He just says when she was mayor she fought for her city, now she'll join McCain. Hmm, Katie at the end is just palling around, maybe she wasn't the perfect person for this.
NBC is running Thompson live, RNC is running a slideshow of McCain photos behind him. NBC cuts out of it, as Thompson talks about Iraq. Hmm, Senator Olympia Snowe on the floor with NBC. Haven't heard her speak about Palin before, she says it's a historic choice. Says she trusts McCain's judgement, in terms of what he's decided is important for his ticket.
Jeff Greenfield on CBS says Palin has the potential to appeal to the broad middle of the country, that doesn't care about her resume. Bob Schieffer says but she's so anti-choice she won't get Clinton votes.
I guess Sen. Joe Lieberman's speech is the only one tonight they'll carry in full. NBC back to Thompson, he keeps clearing his throat, it's odd. Totally disjointed speech, just spewing out lines here and there, no internal logic at all. Keeps repeating 'our country', while the cameras keep panning an all-white audience.
Visuals aren't great on his speech, audience seems half there. Says earlier--now watching ABC's tape--we need a president who sees no need to apologize for America. Sure, cause we never do anything wrong....
Wow, what a screw-up by ABC--Lieberman is speaking, and they're still showing Thompson on tape. Joe's a bad speaker, seems ill-at-ease. We're all Americans, references Gustav. Talks about how senseless partisanship is. Hmm, this all feeds into Obama's message, especially post-Palin nobody thinks of McCain as non-partisan.
Delegates aren't attentive, applause is tepid. What's a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this? Well, given that he won his last race as an Indepedant.... Hadassah's up next to Cindy, looks very uncomfortable.
Says McCain's the best choice; only McCain has actually broken through partisan politics. Says John doesn't think we need a natural disaster to take off our partisan hats... well, it seems like for McCain's campaign, it did.
Man, Lieberman really must have exacted a guarantee from John that he'll invade Iran if he wins. Says they've worked together to make every American safer since 9/11. Don't be fooled by the political statements and advertisements, God made only one John McCain, and he is his own man.
That's odd--Obama thinks that too, the problem is the man is erratic, angry, and not fit to lead....
Recites a list of things that make McCain stand apart from another partisan Republican. I think if Lieberman were a better speaker, and if he said something like hey, I don't agree with you on abortion, but this election is about bigger issues, than this would be an effective speech; as it is, it isn't.
Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man, he says--but eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times for America. Hmmm, and how did these tough times come to be?!
Says Obama hasn't reached across party lines, or done anything within the Democratic party. Whereas Bill Clinton actually did do some of those things, like welfare reform, free trade agreements and a balanced budget. He seems a bit like Dana Carvey, actually.
Mentions Palin, calls her a great lady. She's a reformer. The real ticket for change is McCain-Palin. An oddly energy-less hall. DC won't be able to build a pen that will hold in these two mavericks. Ok.... America needs more national unity, not party unity. Especially because we're a nation at war--need someone to fight, not just when it's easy but hard.
Says McCain sounded the alarm about the mistakes we were making in Iraq. Others wanted to retreate from the field of battle, when colleagues like Obama were voting to cut off funding for our troops on the battlefield, McCain stood against the tide of public opinion, supported the surge--and that's why today thousands of troops are coming home, with honor.
My friends, he says wrapping up, McCain is respected and liked by our allies around the world, he'll be feared by our enemies--and that's what we need. Yeah, he'll convert everyone from friends to enemies, too.
Wants to speak directly to his fellow Democrats and independents. This is no ordinary election, this is no ordinary times; McCain is no ordinary candidate. Hmm, that's persuasive!
You may not agree with McCain on everything, but he'll be straight with you on where he stands, and he'll stand regardless of politics. He'll be what he is naturally--a restless reformer, he'll clean up Washington. When you vote for president, vote for the person you think is best for president, not the party you happen to belong to.
Wow, how's that for polishing the Republican brand! Vote for the leader who's always put America first. Let's come together in November to make a great American patriot our next great president.
Williams claims Lieberman was elected a Democrat--actually, he wasn't, ran and won as an independent. It's been 40 years since a sitting president didn't appear before his own party's convention.
Mark Shields over on PBS says he's never seen a convention like this, where they're running against their own party, making it all about McCain's biography.
Anyone still doubting that Barack Obama is a different type of politician should see his answer to a question about Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter being pregnant, via Atlantic's Marc Ambinder:
Jake Tapper: Governor Palin and her husband issued a statement today saying that their 17 year old daughter Bristol who is unmarried is 5 months pregnant. Do you have a comment?I actually disagree with Obama, because Palin's made so much of her strong Christian values and is so strongly against teaching safe sex.
BO: I have heard some of the news on this and so let me be as clear as possible. I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics, it has no relevance to governor Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know my mother had me when she was 18. And how family deals with issues and teenage children that shouldn't be the topic of our politics and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that is off limits.
