McCain Fails to Deliver Any Tropic Thunder
For all the hullabaloo about whether John McCain would match Sarah Palin's performance at the Republican convention, it wasn't even close. Where was the tropic thunder? McCain may have ended his speech with a Knute Rockne-like cry for Americans to fight and fight some more -- for what he never really said -- but most of his speech was a snooze, delivered in the tone of a kindly old uncle reminiscing about World War II before fretting about how how those pesky Russians are stirring up trouble again.
McCain's answer to America's woes seems to be a program of self-improvement -- "serve a goal greater than yourself," he suggested. But he never really explained what that goal might be. After eight years of the Bush administration running two wars without demanding an iota of sacrifice, indeed passing lavish tax cuts, McCain's exhortations could hardly have sounded more empty. In fact, to judge by McCain's talk, the only problem America seems to suffer from is that "some Republicans" -- once again, no names here -- succumbed to the temptation of "corruption." Well, yes. But it was the Bush administration's disdain for government that turned the Iraq War, among other things, into a free-for-all for contractors.
America's economic troubles barely even merited a nod, apart from vague promises to somehow emancipate America from Middle East oil. No doubt Sarah Palin will be offering some pointers in coming days about how Alaska can single-handedly solve that conundrum.
McCain clearly implied that he would like to resurrect the GOP in his own image. But so far, the only thing he has been resurrecting is the religious right by selecting Palin as his sidekick. He tried to make a virtue out of her ignorance, depicting her as a kind of freedom-fighter ignorant of Washington's corrupt ways who would help cleanse it. But for the most part, it hardly seemed like McCain's heart was even in his speech. Was tonight's more moderate version the real McCain? Maybe even he can't tell any longer.
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To quote Bill Kristol: "Tepid. I thought it was a very tepid speech."
McCain reminds me of the Hall of Presidents ride at Disney Land. Animatronic.
McSames, speech was as exciting as watching grass grow! He needs to beat something besides his own drum! Being a prisoner of war is not a qualification for the most powerful office in the world! And, i don't mean governor of Alaska! Even tho that gives world class experience in only two years. Or small town mayor, Which also makes points for foreign,and economic dominance. I think Sarah is crossing the "Bridge to nowhere"
So true, McCain wasn't really the first choice for president this year, but he became their nominee anyway. And,8 years ago, Bushie ate him up and spit him out in one breadth! Now, how's that for friends!
"it hardly seemed like McCain's heart was even in his speech."
I correlate any loss of heart on McCain's part to the loss of heart experienced by the Duchovny character in the movie, "The TV Set", which is about a writer who watches the TV show he created gradually altered in crass ways to satisfy someone else's concept of more commercial. McCain comprises everything that ever made him a little palatable. This entire election has turned into an indulging of those among us who want to see a fusion between politics and "The Donna Reed Show". CNN and the rest of the media seem to be loving the ratings bump, so we get stuck with this absurd angle on matters that in reality could impact on the very survival of the planet.
eh, McCain even made me sleepy
Anyone bothered by questions re Palin's pregnant daughter and whether candidates' children should be off limits, should consider a couple of things:
First, all of the McCain/Palin children (the sons who are soldiers, the adopted daughter, the Downs Syndrome baby) who reflected good or noble things were shamelessly exploited.
Second, John McCain should be questioned regarding his abhorrently joke calling Chelsea Clinton ugly at any time he has the nerve to suggest "laying off" the children.
With all due respect, we've been "fighting" for the last 8 years. I'm tired of hearing the words "fight" or "war" or "terror". It's nice and refreshing to hear words like "hope" and "change" and "peace".
If McCain and his supporters want to fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight fight so bad, then they can all go to his 7 houses and fight all they want. Meanwhile, the rest of us sane, informed, and educated Americans will be busy actually rebuilding this country.
GWB is such a bad and embarrassing speaker that I can't bear to listen to him.
McCain is such a bad and embarrassing speaker that it tickles me to watch him, unless he gets elected. I couldn't take FOUR MORE YEARS of another president who can't speak.
John McCain did not do any changes for 26 years in the house. He was asleep like Rip Van Winkle and now he woke up and wants to make changes.
McCain, like most veterans of war, said last night that he hated war. But the only time he gets excited and raises above a monotone is when he talks about war or fighting. He seems to think that all foreign policy objectives can be achieved by military action or intimidation. Yet we fought an unwinnable war in Vietnam and Nixon signed a barely disguised surrender in 1973. The same is true of Iraq. We can't really win like we did in Germany and Japan because Sunni and Shiites will continue to kill each other and Islamic jihadists will raise their ugly heads regularly, especially if we keep troops there indefinitely as McCain want to do . Although it makes sense to redouble our efforts in Afghanistan, history tells us that we can't expect a victory there either. Now McCain with his Cold War mentality wants to take on the Russians over Georgia. We are not all Georgians. And we have absolutely no leverage against oil-rich Russia at this point.
Notice how McCain ended his speech with his favorite word repeated endlessly, "fight, fight, fight," though we're not sure for what. Is his main fight with the incumbent party, his? Or does he intend to fight to enact the Republican platform, more of the same and worse.
McCain says he has scars! Those scars are the scars of America as well. They remind people of what America is not! Why should this great country, a country standing for our highest aspirations, dreams and hope of men, choose someone who represents those historic moments of division, bloodshed and pain? Why shouldn't we elect someone who can finally move us all beyond our injuries, scars and hateful times?
Bravo, you said it. McCain cries about his scars and time as POW. Poor, poor McCain, huh? All disabled and deceased veterens of all wars deserve more concern than Pitty party McCain. YES, definitely, we need a President to take us away from this God awful war that McAwful would like to keep for 100 years. YES, also, keep McAwful very uncomfortable with stuffing his Bush policies down his throat or in the other end, wherever it fits best.
A real boring speech, it put me to sleep, I sure wouldn't want that white hair old dude to be my president and have the lipsticked pit bull for back up!!!
McCain has lost all credibility and only those who put party ahead of country will vote for him.
He has been all over the map regarding issues throughout his campaign. His mind is a maze with no plan.
He has proven the lack of original ideas by borrowing from Obama's campaign and working them into his. He's been "copycat jack" from the beginning but the problem is who will he turn to for answers when he's president? Will he expect Obama to direct him? No, like Bush with Cheney, he will lean on Palin's influence.
And for judgement? His first major judgement for VP was not only a thoughtless and careless decision but put our country's security in jeopardy should he not live through his presidency.
Anyone who is thinking of voting him into office should seriously consider the problems that would result by this action.
what's up with this part of the speech?
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