McCain's Acceptance - Liveblogging
After a video hagiography lasting about ten minutes, McCain has now taken the stage. The crowd is giving him a warm ovation, but not the frantic reception they gave Sarah Palin.
7:14 - First chants of USA.
7:15 - McCain accepts the nomination in words very similar to Obama's. Second chants of USA.
7:17 - Invokes 9/11. Third chants of USA.
7:21 - Praises Obama, sort of. Acknowledges that he's an American and says that's "an association that means more than any other."
7:23 - Protester infiltrates the hall, is shouted down with chants of USA. A bizarre spectacle. McCain plays it smart, with a genuine laugh. He tries to get back to the speech and at the same point is interrupted--sounds like another protester (chants of USA again). The line is about economics and it rings somewhat hollow in this hall where 51% of the delegates (who are 93% white) earn more than $500,000.
7:25 - Recognizes Palin, precipitating the roars lacking for McCain.
7:27 - Two canned jokes provoke McCain into that strange strangling smile he has. After the second, "Change is coming!" he gargles as he grins.
7:29 - "I don't work for special interests, I work for you." He probably doesn't intend this to mean his base, who cheer in front of him, but the meaning strikes me. He's going into a rant about pork-barrel spending he'll veto. (Spending that has ballooned under Bush/Mccain since 2000.)
7:32 - Talks surge and repeats for the 732nd time that line about being willing to lose an election to win a war. He's hitting his stride now--all that reform crap was pro-forma. War is his comfort zone.
It occurs to me that we still haven't heard a single policy point--just bland bromides about fighting corruption and working for the workin' man. Wasn't this supposed to be the knock against Obama?
7:34 - We're in that ubiquitous section of GOP speeches where the candidate names random Americans who inspire him. "The kind of man I'll be fighting for!"
7:35 - Going through a litany of mistakes leadership has made, but he tries to blame it on both parties. Then blames Obama by name. Yes, this guy who has "less experience than Sarah Palin" is responsible for the catastrophe of the past eight years. Go with that one.
7:37 - Begins a list of GOP pablum--old lines cobbled from speeches of yore like families, small government, "culture of life," low taxes, etc. It's all so vague and tired. Apparently Mark Salter wrote this thing three weeks ago and McCain has been practicing it since. Really? You sure this isn't from Bush Senior's '88 acceptance? New motto: by doing the same things we've done since 1980, we offer change!
7:40 - He's going into a long section about retraining workers with what sounds like a long list of big-government programs. Cool. I approve. (Crowd applauds tepidly.)
7:43 - Goes after teachers. Now there's an applause line Republicans can get behind. A lot of this school section is so boilerplate, they seem not to recognize that Obama has wandered off the reservation on that one.
7:45 - Spasms of USA are now occurring at various points almost continuously. They gain coherence as McCain gets to oil drilling. Here he gets excited again--the GOP has one issue they thing they're winning on, and by God, they're going to hit it in every. single. speech.
7:48 - Russia section. I'm bored enough that I can't think of anything catty to say.
7:50 - He's rattling on about how "I know the military; I know the world; I know how to secure the peace." Another Republican offering a "trust me" foreign policy. He promises to "build a stable and enduring peace." (Trust him.) I will be mighty interested to hear how this plays in comments. Is it as boring as it appears, or is it just because I'm trying to liveblog it?
7:52 - Conclusion section where he decries partisanship. Instead of tryinig to take credit so often, McCain suggests, why not share it? I agree; Obama will be president and McCain can work with the Democratic majority in the Senate. When we pass univeral health care, you can take some of the credit.
7:55 - He brings together the "country first" theme by contrasting cocky youth with time as a POW. "I was beginning to learn the limits of my selfish independence." This is a theme Christians would recognize, but McCain goes a different direction--he depended on his fellow prisoners.
8:00 - The truth is that McCain's narrative is incredibly compelling. No one should take this away from him. Everyone can take pride in his service. Will he be the third war hero in a row to lose the Presidency?
8:01 - Ouch, right after making a nice comment about country first, he takes dig at Obama that seems to sully everything about his story--"I don't think I'm the annointed one who has come come along at the right time" (roughly).
8:02 - Whiplash. After the Obama cheapshot, he now encourages all Americans to do something greater than themselves (not community organizing, though!). "Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight! Nothing is inevitable here!" This provokes a curiously ragged cheer from the audience. The point is clear--he's the underdog and the GOP is going to take their lumps this year. The crowd supports him, but there's something a little weird about it.
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September 4, 2008 |
Jeff Alworth | Comments (79 so far)
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Comments
Posted by: Stephen Holland | Sep 4, 2008 7:32:49 PM
I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed the terrible green backdrop. The staging at this whole convention has been terrible.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 7:33:04 PM
McCain just said he couldn't wait till he gets to "introduce Palin to the Washington big spending crowd", but they're already fast friends. No state in the country receives more pork spending per capita than Alaska.
The backdrop now appears solid blue, but has an American flag in the wide shot.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 7:36:19 PM
My wife and I have been playing a drinking game based on "USA! USA!" chants and the term "my friends" ..... so looks like I won't be driving or operating any heavy machinery tonight.
Posted by: leinad | Sep 4, 2008 7:37:02 PM
This is a snoozer. The American people are smarter than anecdotes about supposed real people living in swing states.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 7:38:25 PM
Where are the new ideas? This is a speech that could have been given in 1996.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 7:42:04 PM
My token bipartisan comment of the night: it's hard not to like McCain's mom.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 7:43:29 PM
Posted by: Bob | Sep 4, 2008 7:38:56 PM
Livetrolling. Even better!
Posted by: YoungOregonMoonbat | Sep 4, 2008 7:46:42 PM
I turned this piece of dung off after the 25th exploitation (may be more but I lost count) of McCain's POW experience during Vietnam.
Sounded like Fred Thompson narrating that "box" bit.
Make me puke.
Continue talking about the past success in Iraq and the issue of 2004 (national security), in order to dodge time talking about the top 2 issues of this election: 1. The Economy and 2. Health Care.
The 1994 economic plan of less government and lowering taxes has been killed by Bush's two terms. You are 14 years late, you freaking loser.
The health care plan of medical savings accounts (MSAs) will never fly and are laughable because they allow the health insurance industry to exploit the individual consumer as opposed to the business. It will not fly even if you get elected as the Dems pick up damn near 60 seats in the Senate and keep their majority in the House.
You suck and your plans for the top 2 issues suck McCain.
Thanks for the remake of a 1996 Convention. You lose. Haha.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 7:47:06 PM
"We'll drill for more oil and we'll drill now!" Camera cuts to handmade "Environmentalists for McCain" sign. Oops.
Posted by: Katy | Sep 4, 2008 7:58:26 PM
"Drill baby drill?" Seriously? Shudder.
Obama had his biggest fundraising day yet after Palin's speech last night.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 8:08:12 PM
So did McCain.
Maybe people saw the True Value Hardware production values of this convention and felt kinda sorry for the campaign.
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Sep 4, 2008 8:11:14 PM
They're playing Heart's "Barracuda" as the outro music. More strnageness.
Posted by: NL | Sep 4, 2008 8:13:02 PM
Bob,
I hadn't heard that. Are you just saying that or can you back it up? How much did McCain raise?
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Sep 4, 2008 8:13:04 PM
A big section of balloons is stuck in the rafters. Green screen, balloons stuck. Metaphor?
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Sep 4, 2008 8:13:53 PM
8:13 - The balloons finally fall!
Posted by: Katy | Sep 4, 2008 8:13:54 PM
Bob, Obama raised 10 million, RNC raised 1 million. I don't know, 10 million seems a little more impressive?
Maybe pissing of the Democratic base isn't such a good idea?
Posted by: NL | Sep 4, 2008 8:17:22 PM
Thanks for bringing the facts to the thread Katy. Now if we can just keep Palin on the Obama fundraising beat, it will all be alright...
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 8:19:08 PM
Andrea Mitchell looks like a five year old burried in a balloon pool at Chuck E. Cheese.
Posted by: Katy | Sep 4, 2008 8:25:00 PM
haha, you're cracking me up tonight. I want to know what you're drinking every time those words are said!
Oops, I better stop typing, it's time to pray...
Posted by: Jenni Simonis | Sep 4, 2008 8:28:58 PM
I love their digital fireworks.
Thanks. I really needed a laugh... it's been a bad day.
Now back to my job of pulling together the endorsements and money I need for Monday's voter pamphlet deadline...
Posted by: John Dingleheimer | Sep 4, 2008 8:30:02 PM
we still haven't heard a single policy point--just bland bromides about fighting corruption and working for the workin' man...
You might as well be liveblogging Obama-Biden with that observation. It's hardly unique to John McCain.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 8:34:00 PM
Tom Ridge: "Democrat Congress....."
Someone needs to create a "What's my name?" PAC that automatically gives money against each Republican who says this on national television.
Posted by: bill | Sep 4, 2008 9:01:37 PM
I didn't know that professional blogger was an actual job. Does that pay well? I would like to be able sit on ass all day, getting fat eating doritoes and acting like a know-it-all but unlike I actually have to work to support myself. Get a life losers. Pry your hands of the keyboard and get out of the basement and see what it is outside the vacumm called blogging.
Posted by: Bill R. | Sep 4, 2008 9:03:07 PM
The Speech
"I was a POW. I suffered. You owe me the presidency before I croak.(which could happen at any time)"
Posted by: Jenni Simonis | Sep 4, 2008 9:03:13 PM
You might as well be liveblogging Obama-Biden with that observation. It's hardly unique to John McCain.
Straight from Obama's speech:
That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am president.Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.
You know, unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.
I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.
I will, listen now, cut taxes -- cut taxes -- for 95 percent of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class.
And for the sake of our economy, our security and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as president: In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East. We will do this.
There are multiple policy points there, and that's just the beginning of the section of his speech on policy. There's a few dozen more paragraphs of policy points.
From Biden's speech:
Barack Obama's going to deliver that change, because, I want to tell you, Barack Obama will reform our tax code. He will cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people who draw a paycheck. That's the change we need.Barack Obama will transform the economy by making alternative energy a national priority and in the process creating 5 million new jobs and finally, finally freeing us from the grip of foreign oil. That's the change we need.
Barack Obama knows that any country that out-teaches us today will out-compete us tomorrow. That's why he'll invest in the next generation of teachers and why he'll make college more affordable. That's the change we need.
Barack Obama will bring down health care costs by $2,500 for the average family and, at long last, deliver affordable, accessible health care for every American.
That's the change we need.
Barack will put more cops on the street, put security back in Social Security, and he'll never, ever, ever give up until we achieve equal pay for women.
Same thing on this speech - it goes on for quite some time on policy points.
As my neighbor - who is not politically active - said the other night - at the DNC convention, she heard about what they're going to do. At the GOP convention, all she heard was bashing others and the past - nothing about what is going to be done.
You guys really got to get better about your attacks. With Wikipedia, copies of speeches available online, etc., it is so easy to debunk this stuff.
Posted by: Chemical Ali | Sep 4, 2008 9:12:09 PM
"...chants of USA, USA"
don't ya just hate that? Makes me absolutely SICK!
Amerika is the Great Satan! ALLAHU AKBAR!
Posted by: Dena | Sep 4, 2008 9:20:15 PM
"Pry your hands of the keyboard and get out of the basement and see what it is outside the vacumm called blogging."
Apparently there are charmers such as yourself to meet.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 9:32:00 PM
I actually have to work to support myself.
Maybe one day you'll forget how many houses you own.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Sep 4, 2008 9:32:07 PM
OK, I'm watching this on DVR - and I'm stuck rewinding over and over and over at roughly 7:36 p.m.
Would someone - perhaps a pro-McCain troll - explain what the frak this means?
"We believe everyone has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach their God-given potential from the boy whose descendants arrived on the Mayflower to ..."
OK, the Mayflower arrived in North American in 1620. So, the boy whose descendants arrived then would have to have been born sometime in the 16th century - or earlier.
I knew McCain was old, but really? He's fighting for the right of some 16th century British kid to contribute to our country?
And no, this wasn't a delivery mistake. It was in the prepared text. This was on purpose.
Posted by: nadja s | Sep 4, 2008 9:34:08 PM
"I did... I did... I did that... I was a POW... I was a POW...me, me, me, me, me..."
Well, I couldn't bring myself to watch the entire speech, but flipped back to it now and then. Sounded the same each time. Looking backwards, not forward. Crowd looked as if they were forcing their enthusiasm.
Posted by: bill | Sep 4, 2008 9:36:13 PM
Dena
No, you rather be in the black hole called blogging bashing others who don't agree with you, insulting each other and general being downright nasty. I guess that is par for the course when you are accountable to no one. You can say whatever you want however vile and hurtful and suffer no consequences.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Sep 4, 2008 9:40:10 PM
Is it just me, or does this crowd seem particularly unenthused?
Lots of golf-clapping, bored faces, and the random "USA! USA!" chant just to liven things up (kinda like the GOP version of a wave at a football game.)
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 9:40:32 PM
K--
You can be born today and your descendants may still have arrived on the Mayflower. It's short-hand for privilege. It was also a throw-away line in the forgettable 1991 John Cusack movie, True Colors.
Posted by: bill | Sep 4, 2008 9:44:18 PM
Charlie Burr
I unlike John McCain know how many houses I own, zero. And for your information I don't feel inspired by either candidate therefore you can have my vote. My favorites Rommney and Huckabee neither made the cut therefore I am sitting this one out.
Posted by: Dena | Sep 4, 2008 9:45:06 PM
Can someone please get Bill a tissue ? Vile ?
Bill writes: "I would like to be able sit on ass all day, getting fat eating doritoes and acting like a know-it-all but unlike I actually have to work to support myself. Get a life losers. " Pot, meet kettle.
Posted by: Jenni Simonis | Sep 4, 2008 9:45:49 PM
It would be your ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower, not your descendants.
Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 9:50:14 PM
Yes, of course. Ancestors. Forebears. Nice catch.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Sep 4, 2008 9:56:51 PM
At 7:57, he tells his story about his two cellmates in the POW camp saved his life.
Seems odd to me that he didn't learn a lesson that we're all in this together, that when the chips are down, we need each other. We can't survive alone.
How does he wind up a conservative after that experience? I just don't get it.
Posted by: Kari Chisholm | Sep 4, 2008 9:58:43 PM
It would be your ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower, not your descendants.
Exactly. It was in the prepared text. Bizarre. (Especially after all the advance chatter by the talking heads about how fantastic his speechwriter, Mark Salter, is.)
Posted by: Jenni Simonis | Sep 4, 2008 10:03:41 PM
Yea, I had to go and read it for myself. Way too funny.
Posted by: Katy | Sep 4, 2008 10:14:05 PM
Apparently "Barracuda" was Palin's nickname in highschool.
Posted by: Jeff Alworth | Sep 4, 2008 10:24:03 PM
I was mostly ignoring Bill's whingeing until it occurred to me that they're an instructive metaphor. The modern GOP has built its power (such as it was) on the foundations of lies and personal attacks--pretty brutal, ugly stuff. Whenever anyone called them on it, they said, effectively, "suck it up, politics ain't for the wimpy." But the reality is that no one whines more than a Republican, especially in this cycle. It has now become sport for Chris Matthews to demand evidence whenever a Republican expresses outrage at some perceived attack (there is none).
Bill, earlier in the thread, writes "I would like to be able sit on ass all day, getting fat eating doritoes and acting like a know-it-all but unlike I actually have to work to support myself. Get a life losers. Pry your hands of the keyboard and get out of the basement and see what it is outside the vacumm called blogging."
This is in response, apparently, to my post, which has as far as I can tell no personal attacks on McCain. (I did praise him personally: "The truth is that McCain's narrative is incredibly compelling. No one should take this away from him. Everyone can take pride in his service.")
No one responds to him, except Dena, yet he writes an offended response. Cripes.
Posted by: Bill R. | Sep 4, 2008 10:24:47 PM
Michael Gerson, the Republican pundit on MSNBC, panned the speech, said it was devoid of any economic policy points at a time when the public is asking for a statement of direction, standard fare.
Jeffrey Toobin on CNN called it the worst nomination speech he has heard since Jimmy Carter's 1980 speech.
Posted by: Chris Lowe | Sep 4, 2008 10:31:36 PM
Ah, thanks Katy. And thanks for the song title Jeff, I couldn't remember it. Since she graduated in 1982, there might be a direct connection to the nickname.
Of course, Heart came from Canada. Is getting to use it at the RNC another benefit of NAFTA?
--------
And bill wins the best-in-show Republitroll prize for unselfconscious self-referential irony:
No, you rather be in the black hole called blogging bashing others who don't agree with you, insulting each other and general being downright nasty. I guess that is par for the course when you are accountable to no one. You can say whatever you want however vile and hurtful and suffer no consequences.
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Posted by: Charlie Burr | Sep 4, 2008 7:21:00 PM
What is it with McCain and those green backdrops?