RNC Hockey Mom Speech Night: She Shoots, She Scores!

Self-described hockey mom Sarah Palin skated aggressively through a defensive line of media critics to score a hat-trick-of-a-speech before a fired-up crowd inside the Xcel Energy Center.

Like or loathe her stand on the issues, now we know why "Sarah Barracuda" is considered a game changer. "She really did hit it out of the park," said CNN's Wolf Blitzer, who would benefit from a crash course in hockey terminology before the upcoming debates.

As usual with political conventions, the evening's activities started out slowly. But then just as I was dozing off, CNN's Campbell Brown doltishly asked the panel, "Besides abortion and gay rights, what other women's issues are there?" Whoo hoo! I'm wide awake now. Did you see the blood drain from Blitzer's face? Gloria Berger jumped in to inform Brown that women are also interested in education, health care, energy costs, and dozens of other ditzy issues.

Former Ebay president Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina (the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company) took the first shifts at the podium, but the crowd paid little attention to them.

Former candidate Mike Huckabee used storytelling to score points about everyday Americans, stealing a page from the Bill Clinton playbook. Huckabee was likeable and comedic, for example telling of growing up poor in a rented house in Arkansas and using Lava soap: "I was in college before I found out it's not supposed to hurt when I take a shower."

Rudy Guiliani played the enforcer, calling Obama "the least experienced candidate for president in the last 100 years." Then he asked the Xcel crowd, "How dare they question whether Sarah has enough time to spend with her children and be vice president? How dare they do that? When do they ever ask a man that question?"

I'd be surprised if anyone even remembers Guiliani's speech today because it was Palin's night. We knew it would be from the get-go because CNN put a "Sarah Palin Speech" countdown clock in the corner of the television screen, just like they do for the NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show.

Palin spoke of "the determination, the resolve, and the sheer guts of Senator John McCain," all the while demonstrating her own. "I love those hockey moms. You know what the difference is between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick." The crowd roared. Palin also showed she wasn't afraid to use her elbows, pointing out that "our opponent authored two memoirs, but no reforms."

I disagree with Palin on many of the issues. Yet the hockey mom in me couldn't help thinking, "You go girl!"

Heads up!...Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Game on.

Comments

[RobinLandseadel]

I realize that what I'm writing here can be considered "Politically Incorrect." If you prefer you may use the term my mother, a veteran of hundreds of protests and political actions, would use---"PF". In any case, when Sarah Palin said:

"You know what the difference is between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."

. . . .I can now assume that we can safely, and without fear of reprisal from Karl Rove's minions, refer to her using the generally accepted term for a female dog---you know, the "B" word?

And that if she assumes the posture of an attack dog and starts foaming at the mouth [like she was last Wednesday night] that we are obligated, as a matter of public safety mind you, to 'put her down'?

Just asking. Understand that Jonathan Swift, H. L. Mencken and Voltaire would have asked the same questions. In any case, now that the GOP has opened the barn door it's too late for them to cry "foul play."

"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
Voltaire (1694 - 1778)

[lewes17266]

Palin and her family are messed up, terrible role models. I hoped McCain would choose someone smarter and higher class than the average hockey mom! Biden is qualified and experienced to be second in line, has an excellent record for his work on behalf of women, and has foreign relations experience. The Republicans don't like gays but a sixteen-year-old having sex is not so bad??? Michelle is a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law and makes sure her children are supervised and does not try to tell other women how to live their lives, AND she dresses her age. Barack graduated from Columbia and then Harvard Law while Palin has a college degree from a small college, transferred in and out of five colleges, and it took her six years to graduate. McCain finished the Naval Academy near the bottom of his class.
Obama is black, Biden does not teach hate and they do not bow down to the Religious Right so we will miss out on decent healthcare, the war will continue, double-standards will reign and the needy will receive little compassion for another four years. I pray McCain does not die while in office and this Pentecostal Holiness lady won't be the leader of this nation! The Right's crying and groaning about "family values" and the "moral downfall of this nation" and the invoking of God and of scripture is nothing but manipulation of its gullible base. The hypocrisy is sickening.

[sillyjilly]

I find the hypocrasy of the republicans appalling. As a woman who worked her way up from working on a manufacturing line to corporate management, I find it irritating that they passed over more qualified men and women to pick her. She is a purely political pick. I'm so tired of the MSM gushing over her and her family. Her speech was snipy and inappropriate. It pushed this independent voter into the Obama column. I can't wait until Nov 4!

[liberalskillbabies]

BTW - Obama doesn't write his speeches, so what are those comments about Palin? Obama even plagerized a speech last year. Wow, are there any intelligent Dem's??? Looking bad with these comments. Quit watching MSNBC and try CNN or ABC for real news once in awhile.

[liberalskillbabies]

Thank you for being honest and fair. I've been through this site and couldn't believe all the mistruth's and abusive language towards Palin. Thank you for at least being honest, I hope to read more of your posts. Journalism seems to be dead in America these days, especially on this site.

[RBN]

When did Hockey become the national sport? I thought it was baseball and apple pie not hockey and moose burgers.

[CapsFan78]

So she's a Hockey Mom? I now know the reason that one of the greatest sports in the world is soooo unpopular.

- Washington Capitals fan until I die.

[ugaimee]

Regarding this whole "heartbeat away from the presidency thing",
nobody has even talked about the fact that the old boy doesn't have
to actually die - he could merely have a fourth recurrence of
malignant melanoma and be unable to assume daily duties and
guess who is in the driver's seat?? In my opinion that's a LOT closer
than a heartbeat away...

[jackstpaul]

Reading words written by others wth affect for hoped-for effect is acting. That's what Palin did last night. She gave a great acting performance.

She didn't write it. It presented no policy insights or postions--hers or of others. The jokes were recycled, and not hers to boot anyway. The highlights were sarcastic comments.

Waht did she do?

She read a speech written by others.

That qualifies her for Hollywood, not the White House.

The further debasement of public discourse, McCain campaign example 99.

[PhDiva]

So you think this person represents American mothers? If so, our country is in more trouble than I thought. If you think she's so great, go ahead and vote for her. But don't complain when she takes away your daughter's right to choose.

[LibbyLoon]

Hockey moms belong in the stands and not on the bench. There is a reason they aren't coaches.

Palin is easy on the eyes and certainly delivers her message well, but lets look at what she said:

The most blatant error was the fact she completely dissed community organizers. Look, we can vote whoever we want to be president, but its the people on the ground, in the small towns and neighborhoods, who really make a difference. She alienated them all last night.

She also said Barack was going to raise everyone's taxes. I guess that means all the republicans in the room were making over 250k. Must be nice.

It's funny how she's also saying she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere, when in fact, she was all for it until it was determined her state - and not the U.S. government - would be footing most of the bill.

Palin may be new to the national scene, but she sure knows how to drop some popular mistruths her party is so good at.

She'd make a great first lady but a horrific president.

[seamikej]

You're right...Wolf Blitzer SHOULD get his sports metaphors correct. As a "hockey mom" (and by listening to you, a "hockey mom" supporter), Palin, and her double-standard, should understand the game that she's entering into, as well.

You know what happens in hockey when somebody takes pot-shots at the other teams star? They get their asses checked into the boards. Which is all that's been going on as Mrs. Palin gets some Sunlight on her life and her record.

I hear the "You go, girl" now. That's fine. You have every right.

But, make no mistake, the blows go BOTH ways. Biden's been pretty quiet this week. He'll get his turn at Mom.

Don't cry sexist and unfair when she gets a little more blood on her pant suit.

[Mostro]

I don't understand most women, and I am one: Why is it that they get all giddy and 'empowered' when they see another woman just speaking loud?
Are we really equal to men or do we need another woman reminding us?

[beautifuldisaster]

Good point...

[arthur2008]

At what point in the convention do the Republicans plan to address the woeful economy they have foisted on us while lining the pockets of their Bear Stearns and Halliburton overlords? Or any other issue of substance -- and critical importance. With no way to defend the record that he and Bush have posted over the past eight years, John "Country First" McCain and his minions have nothing to say except to try to foster fear and impugn character. There is no longer any doubt that John McCain is ready on Day One -- to BE George Bush!

[GetSome]

"Nailed it" - really??? What speech did you watch?

Although I must concede that there were some real good shots at Barack, (real good shots!) the speech was empty. She clearly lacked timing and really sounded as a read speech.

Compare Michelle's or Hillary's speech and Palin really pales in comparison.

As for the "Hockey Mom" schtick . . . that is a smart tag line. But that's all she has.

She has no substance, she has no education, no experience, no leadership gravitas, she is simply a gimmick. She is looking like a good gimmick, but a gimmick nonetheless.

GETSOME!

[OrlandoMom32]

Unfortunately, this speech resonated well with the female voters in Florida. And I am guessing
in the Midwest as well. Let's stop tearing down a successful, female Governor and Vice President
candidate and talk about Obama's strengths. If not, we are going to lose the White House again!

[swift goat pet for truth]

Focus on Judgement.
Focus on Issues.
Even on Palin's record, which is not good.
$27 mil in Fed earmarks, and still left Wasilla with $20 mil in long term debt.
In with Abramoff lobbyists. In with Ted Stevens.

Took the money from Bridge to Nowhere, plus oil company windfall tax money, and gave it to Alaskans, about $1200 in cash - how do middle class Americans feel about that?