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.

Comments

[Tommygun264]

McSame said that we had won in Iraq and now the surge troops have returned home victorious. Then why are there STILL more troops in Iraq than there were when the surge began? No one I know who was sent over for the surge has returned home and Patraeus just announced further reductions in troop levels in Iraq will be suspended, at least until he conducts another review in January 2009. When is the mainstream corporate media going to put down their moose burgers and ask McSame to account for the disparity between his claims and the facts on the ground?

[SEQUOIABISON]

What last night’s speech gave the world is a new very effective sleeping bromide; insomniacs no longer have to take powerful narcotic sleeping pills they can now play a copy of John McCain’s speech and in less than 5 minutes they will be sound asleep.

Great job Big John very uninspiring, I witnessed most of your base yawning uncontrollably instead of cheering enthusiastically.

Obama/Biden

For a return to sanity in America.

[Audrey85]

Please tell me how a man who was born with nothing, encouraged mostly by the strength of his grandparents and the encouragement of his mother be Uppity, Elitist, or any of the other fake names the Reps come up with. When you want to win at all costs, lie, cheat, and steal. Ooops even that resembles the last 7 plus hears. Sarah, not the image I want my daughters to follow.

[thefringecenter]

It was an effective speech. It fired up his base, the MSM. They have been down lately but have found a second wind.

[Tommygun264]

Palin was meant to distract. It worked on the short-term, but now that they are tucking her away from the press to keep the public from finding out how much of a corrupt, far-right lunatic fringe nut job she really is, the focus will return to where it should be - on Obama and McSame. Just compare Obama's speech last week to McSame's torturous, empty meandering last night. Even if the pubs rig the vote in a few key counties, the landslide for Obama will be as historic as everything else he has been associated with in this campaign. But we can't be complacent - EVERYONE must vote as if it were neck-and-neck to the bitter end.

[provgrays]

The GOP can only see rich people. The non-rich literally don't exist for them. Why would McCain deign to speak to or about people who don't exist?

[husker4life]

Were McCain/Palin trying to impress each other or this country? For what it's worth, they knocked it out of the park - so to speak - while being each other's cheerleader during their speeches. As for the rest of the country, it was an insult. Have these elections become a game of who can dumb things down the best. If that's the case, Democrats are in trouble!
What is this team trying to do to fix the economy? Healthcare? Education? Preventing future unnecessary wars? Listening to their performances, I can assume that attacking Mr. Obama and using McCain's worn-out, inconsistent POW story is more important that covering the issues. No substance whatsoever! (Before people come down on me about his service to our country, let me say that he did make a sacrifice. With that said, there are thousands more men and women who have sacrificed and ARE NOT using this issue as a crutch in order to get some votes. I'd prefer to see Jessica Lynch in the White House if we were to use this kind of logic!)

[dadw5boys]

Mc Cain picks a V.P. whose good life and time to play politican came from her husband getting good pay because he is a Union Member and get insurance along with that good pay.

Funny she would have been working to pay off medical bills without that insurace and not even been able to be a hockey mom.

What Hypocritcs !!!!!!!!

[Grundibular]

If the thought of 4/8 long, hard years as POTUS is tiring John McCain to the extent that he doesn't really want the job, this is exactly how I'd expect his nomination acceptance speech to look: tired, old, lacklustre.

He's 72 - most people have retired 5 whole years before this point. He doesn't really want to be President. He was only running in the Republican primaries to have one last moment in the limelight and to get a few digs at W before his time is up. This has somehow backfired for him.

The LAST thing McCain wanted was to actually get nominated. Even he thought it was a long shot when the primaries started. Now, he's doing his best to sabotage his own chances with wacky VP selections and pedestrian speeches. However, he wants to do this without drawing the ire of his own party, so the show must go on (and on and on) till November. Quite a skillful feat in its own right.

[harriscrl3]

I'm NOT impressed with his speech or Palin's speech for the party that always accuse of Obama of lacking substance they are the ones who lacke substance who lacks plans who lacks vision. At times I couldnt figure out if Sarah Palin was running for President or John McCain. They dont have a clear distinction about who is in charge which makes McCain looks lame and weak. Contrast that with the democrats there is a clear distinction between who is President and VP and Biden is comfortable in the role and Obama isnt overshadowed by him even though you can see there is a good amount of respect between the men. Now it might come with Obama being a natural leader. You get that feeling about him anywhere he goes he is comfortable in the leadership role. McCain isnt I dont get that feeling from him so I'm guessing if these two manage to get to the white house god forbid Sarah Palin is going to be in charge.

Carol

[bee7]

fight,fight,fight!, POW 40 years ago,Russian Empire but theme was to be about PEACE. When Are reporters going to investigate the relationship between Sen. McCain and the President of Georgia. Georgia's own citizens were amazed at the timing of the attack on South Ossetia the breakaway province of Georgia. Cindy McCain mentioned this conflict in her speech last night and so did McCain. Would a leader of another nation put their own citizens in harms way to influence the election in the USA? Could neo-cons be working their magic again? 1 Billion sent to Georgia as an aid package. wink, wink.

[orianna]

Since Mccain and Palin use the same speech writer, one must assume her success yesterday had to do with an ability to deliver a speech and not much else.... I mean, what does she know about America? Apparently Alaskans are a separate country... one that benefits from a lot of hand outs.

[CambridgeTL]

Well, there was just nothing there. Nothing at all, but loosely strung together statements without an overarching theme. He just went from vague statement to vague statement. No real ideas. It is only speaking about being a POW that he shows any passion and that is not a reason for being elected.

McCain just wants to be president and is either delusional about change or hopes no one notices that it has been the Republicans in charge the last 8 years. How can they think anyone will think that they have not been in charge and the call to change is nothing more than a slogan designed to fool people. If elected, it will be Bush 3, because McCain has sold his political to the far right.

Obama 08!

[mezz]

If McCain is elected, it will be the end of America as a major player in the world. His archaic patriotism is what has the rest of the world hating America. If you want respect, stop thinking you are better than everyone else.

[Jimco]

It was like watching an animal being tortured , That was absolutely tha worst , most pathic excuse for a speech I have ever witnessed . It reminded me more of an elongated saturday night live skit than a serious speech . Could they have possibly screwed it up any more , from the amateurish camera work to the hokey computer generated images to Mccain looking like a dotering caricature of himself and I can't believe they had a green background again , may I ask how a protester managed to not only get in but get on camera ? Absolutely unbelievable .