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One of the best speeches I've heard in a long time.  There's no doubt he's going all the way.

Comments

[phil]

No doubt, Kruger. Started out a little slow, not for long.

One highlight was "this campaign isn't about me, it's about you." Might have brought that into his outline of priorities, that sounded at least ambitious, maybe even grandiose. But, what candidate doesn't do that to some extent. Really was an awesome address.

[Ocho Ocho]

The headline should be SOLD. If McCain wins, it can only be because of race or fear of higher taxes. Kennedy and Clinton were not experienced. Reagan was an actor. There is no doubt that he is the brighter of the candidates.

Can anyone mount a serious McCain argument? He is a patriot and a prisoner. I guess he refused to cave which is impressive. He has lots of senate experience. But seriously, if B.O. were white, McCain would drop out of the race and other countries would be trying to get him to emigrate and waive their natural born citizen requirements in a effort to get him to be their leaders as well.

[Ocho Ocho]

Additionally I cannot wait for the debates. Who advised McCain to debate Obama three times? It should be high comedy.

[Jack Klompus]

"If McCain wins, it can only be because of race or fear of higher taxes."

Those may be reasons. But not the only ones. Obama's lackluster precision of historical knowledge is another example. And, he's proven not to be the grassroots type of politician he's tried to portray himself as.

"There is no doubt that he is the brighter of the candidates."

Disagree. He's certainly the more charismatic of the two. He's an amazing public speaker. But that doesn't necessarily translate to intellect.

"Can anyone mount a serious McCain argument?"

Yep. Where do you want to start?

"I guess he refused to cave which is impressive"

For the record, he did cave -- the torture got to him at one point and he made recorded remarks sympathetic to the VC's (while in the prison camp). However, when it was time to go, he didn't abandon his brothers, nor did he throw any of them under the bus when he got back on American soil.

"Additionally I cannot wait for the debates. Who advised McCain to debate Obama three times? It should be high comedy."

Don't get too carried away. A lot will depend on the formats (town hall, questions in advance, etc.). Remember, it was McCain who has been pressing for debates all this time while Obama has been wisely avoiding them (why risk his lead?). Secondly, Obama is not nearly as smooth when he's away from a script or a teleprompter, whereas McCain tends to thrive when he's off-the-cuff.

[Ocho Ocho]

"Disagree. He's certainly the more charismatic of the two. He's an amazing public speaker. But that doesn't necessarily translate to intellect."

Intelligence: HLR President. Hard to refute.

[Ocho Ocho]

Lincoln Douglas format for at least one event. No moderator. Will be like Ali/Liston.

[Ocho Ocho]

McCain hails from a state that only recently made MLK day a holiday. What's up with that?

Don't even get me started on his wives and his social climbing.

[bethany]

Totally agree. Substantive and strong.

One thing that I did notice is that he said "I" alot, which I kind of liked. Politicians are always saying "we" are going to do this to describe their campaigns and their initiatives, but Obama said "I" which was strong.

Will be interesting to see who McCain's VP is.

[Vandelay]

It was the type of goosebumpy thing he usually produces but it seemed to have a little more meat to it. I think my favorite line was "John McCain said he'll follow Bin Laden to the gates of hell, but he won't even follow him to the cave that he lives in." Klompus makes a good point about Obama. He can say some shit that I'm not even sure what it means and it still comes off as brilliant.

[jackie]

"Will be interesting to see who McCain's VP is."

Reports are that it is Sarah Palin.

[Jack Klompus]

"Reports are that it is Sarah Palin."

She looks like Tina Fey just got semen injected into her cheek scar.

[Jack Klompus]

"Intelligence: HLR President. Hard to refute."

Wasn't saying he's not intelligent. Just saying he's not necessarily the most intelligent candidate we've seen this election cycle.

[jackie]

She looks like Tina Fey just got semen injected into her cheek scar.

McCain's? He is a philanderer.

[Crazy Joe Davalo]

McCain can only win because of racism or fear of higher taxes? Really? I wasn't going to vote for Obama because he's black. Now that you mention he might raise taxes, I'm definitely not going to vote for him.

[jackie]

The purported McCain intellect is not translating to the campaign.

[jackie]

Palin confirmed.

The McCain camp has stong feelings about the handicapped demographic.

[Ocho Ocho]

"Wasn't saying he's not intelligent. Just saying he's not necessarily the most intelligent candidate we've seen this election cycle"

I said "brighter", not "brightest". Brighter refers to comparing the two remaining candidates.

Aside I think he and Hilliary are both bright. But only one was president of their respective law rewiew

[Ocho Ocho]

Its interesting that this is a close race, but I personally dont know many outspoken McCain fans and I work on Wall Street. Its like republicans are obstinate yet embarrassed.

[Jack Klompus]

"Its interesting that this is a close race, but I personally dont know many outspoken McCain fans and I work on Wall Street. Its like republicans are obstinate yet embarrassed."

I like McCain. But as I've said before, I don't believe either man will be able to supercede the mess we have in Congress.

[Assman]

It's easy to not vote for Obama if you don't like his stance on the issues or his policies. I suspect that'll be a large percentage of the populous - specifically those that want to make abortion illegal, drill for oil all over the show or generally prescribe to very conservative economic theories.

But just speaking as a man, he's been dominant. He rises to challenges, presents ideas (despite the charge that he doesn't) and identifies root causes of issues before determining his solutions to them.

Plus, of the 2 guys left, he's the one saying "no more war" and "no more of this Bush/Cheney bull."

[Ocho Ocho]

Do the people who want to make abortion illegal really think they will stop? Rich kids will go on vacation and poor kids will die. We saw this pre Roe v Wade.

This is Xenophobia and Racism at work. I think the abortion people are actually trying to increase the white population in the face of disproportionate immigrant reproduction. I know I love the race card, but consider this in the same week the LPGA mandated English. Can you imagine if they mandated English in MLB?

[Mr. Kruger]

I think he laid it all out there perfectly last night. He didn't say any more than he had to and what he did say was direct and unambiguous as almost all political speeches tend not to be. He needs to get the Clinton hardcores in his corner- I'm sure he did that judging from some of the interviews of them after the event. He needs a good percentage of the independents also- I think because that speech last night was so different from anything the country has seen in the last 40 years there's high likelyhood that he accomplished that too. Plus, bringing out Ike's grand daughter dressed in bright red and looking like American royalty probably didn't hurt either.

[Assman]

Didn't know much about Sarah Palin so I had to look some stuff up.

She was the 1984 runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant...

Word? So, the man likes to divorce women that get into car accidents, marry trophy wives with millions of dollars, then choose beauty pageant VP's to stand next to him? What a champion for the women's movement. This is going to sew up the votes of all of those Hillary supporters.

Or maybe he chose her because of her years and years of experience that Obama doesn't have?

...elected governor in 2006...

Oh. Well maybe experience doesn't matter as much as being uniquely qualified to tackle a tough situation and lead with intelligence and strong decision making.

I mean, she's running a tight ship up in Alaska, people seem to like her, she's a bit of a 'celebrity' to her people. And, hey, she was probably editor of the Yale Law Review or something.

...Palin holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Idaho where she also minored in politics.

Well. I'm certainly looking forward to the VP debates.

[Ocho Ocho]

McCain speaking live on running mate

[Mr. Kruger]

I like McCain. But as I've said before, I don't believe either man will be able to supercede the mess we have in Congress.

Back in Klompusville where the US Congress is responsible for an unprovoked war that has lasted six years and broken the military and bankrupted the country and responsible for the rising carbon levels in the atmosphere causing the planet to overheat and is responsible for allowing an entire city to be washed into the sea and is responsible for giving billions of tax payer dollars to private corporations and bailing them out after they break the law and still fail and is responsible for bringing the practice of torture into our body of laws and is responsible allowing religious groups and industry insiders and lobbyists control of the government and is responsible for trying to raid the social security coffers and is responsible for giving health insurance companies the right to drive people into bankruptcy while denying them the services they are supposed to deliver and is responsible allowing Bin Laden to enjoy another year of freedom and is responsible for making a mockery of international relations and is responsible for the dollar bottoming out and is responsible allowing energy industries to make up there own pollution control regulations and is.......

Gee, I guess what we need is another four years of this crap to see if, maybe, it could work.

[Dr. Tim Whatley]

Well. I'm certainly looking forward to the VP debates.

With a journalism degree, I might say that she can certainly hold her own in that regard. I mean she did win the gubernatorial race in the USA's least populous state, after all.

As for Obama, well, I liked his speech. He's a great orator for sure. However, due to my excessive adult ADD, I zoned out after 3 minutes and went on to catch the Cubs five run 8th, which only proves that this is the year! Then I came back a half hour later and the guy was still rambling. But, from what I caught, not too shabby.

See? I always find a way to add nothing of value on here, except for...
McCain's? He is a philanderer. The man's so old he fires dust.

[Ocho Ocho]

McCain speaking live on TV

[phil]

The question is: Is Sarah Palin qualified to be President? Don't think so.

I see McCain's strategy here; how transparent! But, sorry, not someone who should be a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Do the people who want to make abortion illegal really think they will stop?
You had eight years of Reagan, four of Bush Sr, eight of Bush Jr... and yet abortion is still legal. Jesus, with twenty years of pro-lifers, you'd have thought abortion would be punishable by public stoning by now.

I don't believe either man will be able to supercede the mess we have in Congress.
Depends on how the Senate/House elections go. If the Dems keep their hold on the House and maybe pick up a couple of seats in the Senate, and a Democrat is in the White House, they could actually get some shit done, as opposed to holding their dicks as Pelosi moans about 60 votes in the Senate.

That being said, I'm surprised with the Palin pick. A friend of mine suggests it's a ploy to pick up the Hillary supporters that are still sucky-baby enough to think about voting Republican out of spite. Your thoughts?

[Assman]

With a journalism degree, I might say that she can certainly hold her own in that regard. I mean she did win the gubernatorial race in the USA's least populous state, after all.

I wouldn't be surprise if, by the end of the debate, Biden was making her apologize to him for things.

A friend of mine suggests it's a ploy to pick up the Hillary supporters that are still sucky-baby enough to think about voting Republican out of spite. Your thoughts?

Umm... yeah? What the fuck else could it be?

[H.E. Pennypacker]

What the fuck else could it be?
Well, she's pro-life, a member of the NRA, not a "Washington insider"... uh... a carbon-based life form...

Oh, and she didn't fight in the Boer War like McCain did. That's gotta be something, right?

[Ocho Ocho]

Serriously what do the anti abotion people think? Do they think that there would be fetuses in the street and wanton abortions all over the place?

[Ocho Ocho]

Seriously

[Mr. Kruger]

Umm... yeah? What the fuck else could it be?

This is the Republican version of the Mondale/ Ferraro ticket.

[Ocho Ocho]

Hopefully with same ending

[soupnazi]

if obama wins, i really hope all of you dumbacraps are right about him, but i doubt it-if mccain wins, i really hope all of you repubes are right about him, but i doubt it.

[phil]

Soup;

Are you voting for Nader?

[Jack Klompus]

"Back in Klompusville where the US Congress is responsible for an unprovoked war that has lasted six years and broken the military and bankrupted the country and responsible for the rising carbon levels in the atmosphere causing the planet to overheat and is responsible for allowing an entire city to be washed into the sea"

I'm sorry, you distracted me at "unprovoked" and completely lost me at "planet to overheat." You must have Klompusville confused with Grapenuteatinfucktown -- where not only do the tinfoil-hat wearin' residents believe your list of shit is true, but they also believe a particular faction is responsible for it all.

[Jack Klompus]

"The question is: Is Sarah Palin qualified to be President? Don't think so."

That's okay, neither is Biden. He's proven that on his previous attempts.

[phil]

That's okay, neither is Biden. He's proven that on his previous attempts.

Whatever your opinion is of Biden, he clearly has more experience and range and Palin. I know you support McCain, but can you really sit there and feel this was a good choice, and that you would be OK with her as President?

[phil]

than Palin. God I hate typos...

[Newman]

The argument isn't that Republicans cause global warming, it's that they don't want to do anything about it. I personally want electric cars because they will be awesome, not because it's going to help some more trees grow in Iowa.

[Dingo]

Whatever your opinion is of Biden, he clearly has more experience and range (than) Palin.

Actually, her age and inexperience rivals Obama's.

[Art Vandelay]

Grapenuteatinfucktown

That's awesome.

[kim]

Has anyone realized that John McCain is an idiot? He graduated the Naval Academy near the bottom of his class, can't speak, and never produces well thought-out ideas (drilling for oil will lower gas prices?).

[phil]

Actually, her age and inexperience rivals Obama's.

That's ridiculous.

[phil]

Oh, and an afterthought. I may have had some feeling of security knowing McCain was a pretty solid candidate, so wouldn't be completely disappointed if Obama lost the election. I have liked McCain in the past as well (oh, and Klompus, gee, who else hasn't done so well in prior attempts?).

But, what kind of lapse of reason is this pick for a running mate? An obvious attempt, as we've all said, to lure the female vote. But, Christ, did he just pull this out of his ass? Conde Rice would have been an excellent pick, except for the Bush connect. She's a woman, black, AND she's got some large brass ones, and a resume that doesn't involve Denny's (or the Waffle House).

WAY done with John McCain. Can't trust someone who went this way, his plan for America, to not be putting his immediate political goals ahead of concerns ensuring competent leadership in any eventuality.

[Jack Klompus]

"Actually, her age and inexperience rivals Obama's.

That's ridiculous

Not at all. A mother of 5, she's 4 years younger than Obama but has been chief in command at both the state and local level. The every bit (and more) the Beltway outsider Obama has claimed to be.

"oh, and Klompus, gee, who else hasn't done so well in prior attempts?"

Please. McCain was at least a serious contender in a prior attempt. Comparatively, Biden barely made it onto the radar.

"An obvious attempt, as we've all said, to lure the female vote."

She's also there to provide a young, pretty face, as well as a more conservative record (for the ring wingnuts). And don't forget the sex addict vote. David Duchovny's jerked off to her at least 25 times in the last 24 hours.

More importantly, she has a stronger background on energy -- no small issue -- than McCain, Obama, or Biden.

"Conde Rice would have been an excellent pick,"

No way. Aside from being cast as a stunt to get the female AND black vote, it would undermine any attempt by McCain to dissociate himself from Bush.

[phil]

A mother of 5, she's 4 years younger than Obama but has been chief in command at both the state and local level.

I could argue this point in more detail (like the fact she was mayor of a town of 5,000), but it becomes just a matter of what you want to believe. I think you really want to think this is a good choice because you support McCain. In the absence if this, you'd probably have to vote for Nader (OK, maybe not...).

Bringing up Conde Rice was an example of someone he could have chosen that might actually be qualified. I should have said better choice rather than excellent.

Aside from being cast as a stunt to get the female...vote...

And picking Sarah Palin isn't??

Back to the fundamental issue, whatever you want to believe about her and the choice:

Do you want this person to be the President?

[Jack Klompus]

"I think you really want to think this is a good choice because you support McCain."

I don't think it's an awful choice -- it's clear it was a calculated risk. Obviously we won't know if it's a good choice or not until it's over. It's certainly an interesting one -- especially to see if her relative youth helps downplay his age or if it ends up magnifying it.

"And picking Sarah Palin isn't??"

Yes, that was part of my point. Just to clarify, by "cast" I meant "portrayed as by her rivals." I don't think Palin was chosen as part of a stunt. But it is obvious that much of her appeal to the McCain camp is her gender.

" I should have said better choice rather than excellent."

Well, degree of qualification and electability are not necessarily proportional. Certainly not a first with this election, nor with either party. Where do you really think Obama's appeal stems from -- qualifications or electability?

"Do you want this person to be the President?"

Is she my first choice? No. Neither is McCain. But if my choices are Palin, Obama, or Biden -- yes, I want Palin to be President.