Click here to read the speech.

A lot of fear and safety and military references throughout beyond his own POW experiences. A lot of we have to do this and we have to do that, but no specifics. He did at least repudiate Bush & Co.’s incompetence. Sort of. I did have to laugh at his talk about kicking out the lobbyists and special interests while (as ABC showed clearly in their nightly newscast piece) those very people put on the biggest parties and were given choice seats at the convention. Just coincidence that Jack Abramhoff was sentenced earlier in the day.

In short, the message seemed to be, Here’s a nice man who went through hell just so he can now get tough and use his experience to protect us from the evil Democrats while working to change everything his party has screwed up while it was in power.

Oh, and I was impressed with the chanting of “USA” when protesters (what the hell was that woman in the pink nightie around the 8 minute mark about?) interrupted. How did they ever spontaneously think of doing that?

So, what did you think? Did you like it? Fall asleep? Do you believe McCain will do what he said in last night’s speech?

Sound off!




  1. Dallas says:

    Seems like the “oldie but goodie” GOP get elected strategy is starting to be clear:

    > Wrap flag around the Party. Others un-American.
    > Fear, anti-evil crusades has some life left
    > New divisive theme: Big city vs Small town

    Again, smells like a Karl Marx, I mean Karl Rove.

  2. Cursor_ says:

    Must I say it again?

    Who, but the most naive, thinks that ANYTHING will change when these two are establised senators, taking backdoor money from corporations and are plutocrats.

    Nothing matters on who gets in. It is a choice of TWO EVILS and our selection is moot.

    Nothing will change but the names and faces.

    We need real change. But that means americans sobering up, turning the TVs off and removing the government, scraping the present system and creating a new one.

    But no one wants to do that as it is too hard for the majority of the citizens. It will either take an act of marshall law that puts soldiers on every street corner or a major tax of americans precious beer and TV to get them off their jaded asses and into action.

    Cursor_

  3. moss says:

    The Microsoft commercial was more interesting.

  4. QB says:

    #3 moss

    It’s a speech about nothing.

  5. johns says:

    #5 – You mean a speech to nowhere.

  6. Sea Lawyer says:

    The speech was fine. Nothing fancy, but it’s John McCain we’re talking out here.

  7. Improbus says:

    My mind is already made up. I don’t need to watch anymore of this political crap. It just makes me angry. My goal is to avoid as much of the political “news” reporting and advertisements as possible between now and November. If I need a politics fix I will just tune in The Daily Show.

  8. jbenson2 says:

    John McCain’s speech was loaded with anecdotes and tales of what makes America great – moments of grit, and humor, and appreciation. It was a speech that showed his policy vision – on school choice, on energy independence, worker retraining, taxes, and a stirring call to national service, that generated a roar that actually equaled the climax of Sarah Palin’s address.

    McCain connected better with the American people on an emotional level than Obama did. And nothing matters more than that.

    McCain seemed more real and more sincere than Obama, and he seemed to be speaking more from the heart

    The contrast between McCain and Obama is very wide. There is a vast gulf between the McCain’s sacrifice, service and experience and Obama’s extravagant sense of self.

  9. J says:

    He look just like a President. That is if you were in the Hall of Presidents at Disney Land. He looks like an animatronic robot and every time he smiles I think “They need to make that look more natural.”

  10. J says:

    # 9 jbenson2

    “McCain connected better with the American people on an emotional level than Obama did.”

    LOL OTFFLMAO

    More fucking delusional Republican shills

    LOL LOL LOL

  11. thlinux says:

    Bring back Palin. I’m not an Obama supporter but doesn’t McCain look like the evil dude from the last two Poltergeist movies? I’m just saying. In any event, he did what everyone knew he would. He’s using his military record. While any of us would probably do the same thing, it would be nice to get more details about his plan to cut taxes and create jobs. I wish Obama would do the same.

  12. GF says:

    He did what he needed to do within the Republican Party. I think this will help him. He’s aware those to the far left will never vote for him and thus he will not seek their votes, he’s getting out the conservative vote here and it will make a difference. Many conservatives do want change but not Obama change.

  13. Sea Lawyer says:

    Most conservatives (fiscal) just want the Republicans to do what they should have been doing all along. This is where McCain’s penchant for rocking the boat is a definite asset.

  14. JimD says:

    Interesting amount of “Dead Air” when McCain mentioned what might be called “Selfless Service” – the GOP Herd was DUMBFOUNDED !!! Quite different from GIVING THEMSELVES TAX CUTS, AND SPENDING THE US TREASURY IN TO CRONIES POCKETS !!! You might have thought that was entire reason d’etre of the GOP !!!

  15. Change is a coming says:

    I read the transcript as he delivered the speech. Not much divergence from the text. He could of timed/milked the standing ovations better but the GOP had to wrap it up in time for the late news in the East and Central time zones. He even went back and picked up the text pretty well after the protester was showing off its pink frock? He tried to steal the change moniker and cast himself as a maverick. I would not want to be associated with a POS Ford car from the 70’s 8<)
    The USA chant is kind of mind dead at a DEM/GOP convention. It not like the Russian’s are running candidates for the jobs. Wouldn’t O-Bom-A, O-Bom-A, O-Bom-A or Mc-Cain, Mc-Cain, Mc-Cain work better?

  16. Uncle Dave says:

    #12: A better comparison?

  17. Somebody_Else says:

    It was the best McCain’s speech I’ve seen, but still uninspiring.

    After attacking Obama for being vague McCain fought back by being just as vague. His policy arguments were weak (especially the tax cut thing, anyone who’s done some reading knows Obama is pushing for a bigger tax cut for most people), and the end of the speech wasn’t as good as it could have been. He was fighting to shout over the crowd.

    The POW story stuff was good, but it wont win the election. The protesters and rather small crowd didn’t help either.

  18. Hyph3n says:

    Although Conservatives might disagree, but I though McCain gave a better speech then Palin.

    But the top story for this morning? Jobless rate is up. Not McCain’s speech.

  19. SvenGeiss says:

    Did anyone notice that the picture behind him was so blown up that the green and blue became green screens again? what the hell were they thinking?? I guess the Daily Show is going to have a “Round 2” green screen contest with John McCain’s head.

  20. jealousmonk says:

    The really disturbing thing about McCain, to me, during this campaign was how he morphed into a far-right dingbat. I’m not a fan of his in any regard but he really had been somewhat of a maverick before he found himself pandering to the evangelical right. Last night’s speech signaled that he may be coming back to his “roots” now that he has Palin to satisfy the vultures. That can only be good.

    What I really want though is a leader who will tell us the truth. Something along the lines of “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

  21. Sea Lawyer says:

    “anyone who’s done some reading knows Obama is pushing for a bigger tax cut for most people”

    Yes, the whole land of milk and honey provided on the backs of somebody else will likely be pretty successful and popular this year.

  22. Sparky says:

    McCain is just not a great orator. I was greatly amused by the gaffe involving the backdrop picture that was shown of Walter Reed High School. It was supposed to be a picture of Walter Reed Medical Center.

  23. Greg Allen says:

    I liked the way that McCain said he was going to “fight for the vets” — by continuing the war.

    That CREATES more vets, especially wounded ones but I doesn’t help them one wit.

  24. Greg Allen says:

    >> Sparky said, on September 5th, 2008 at 7:13 am
    >> I was greatly amused by the gaffe involving the backdrop picture that was shown of Walter Reed High School. It was supposed to be a picture of Walter Reed Medical Center.

    Is that for real? Sounds a little urban mythy to me. Could his staff really be that stupid?

  25. tomdennis says:

    I think everyone fell asleep in their hotel rooms watching the football game and then woke up in the middle of the John’s speech. UH…
    OOPS…

  26. qsabe says:

    Bullshit.. Feel sorry for me because I wrecked my airplane. I won’t be like those guys I want to replace, honest injun folks. Sort of like Giuliani starting every speech with 9/11 more of the scare you into voting for the war guy.. Bullshit.

  27. grog says:

    as a liberal, it pains me to admit that i thought his speech was flawless

    he was dignified, calm, happy, and pragmatic — i felt he said everything he needed to say

    he’s running on experience more so than policy, and he drove that point home.

    i especially think that his respectful remarks targeted at obama preemptively stole the wind of negativity from any obama rebuttal.

    in short, let the games begin!

    both candidates are class acts and that this race is going to be very refreshing.

    i hope i’m not being to naive.

  28. qsabe says:

    I forgot to mention that most of the republican’s important people didn’t hear it, they were in the mens room having sex.

  29. Improbus says:

    @garyla

    1) I have great respect for the military. I have disdain for their commander. I feel sorry that they have to give their lives for such a numb nut.

    2) 3000+ dead and all we have to show for it is a police state, 2 wars and an empty treasury.

    3) Obama may be the answer but Pelosi and Reid are complicit with the Bush cabal. They should be removed from their positions.

    4) I have nothing against capitalism. I have a problem with a corporate welfare state where the corporations privatize the profit and social the loss (see our current banking crisis).

    5) If this country “stays the course” I just may have to find another country to live in. This isn’t the America I grew up in and it isn’t one I want to live in if the far right religious wackos are let off the leash.

  30. Whatever says:

    Shocking news! McCain claims he’ll stop big government and lower taxes! Course George W. Bush (and every Republican) has said the same thing for 30 years. How has that worked out? The last two Federal departments were created by Republicans (Dept Homeland Security, EPA). The last major (half trillion) entitlement program was signed into law by a Republican (Medicaid drug program). No Republican in modern history has even TRIED to eliminate the IRS, Dept of Education, etc. Oh they TALK about it endlessly during speeches. But like Sarah Palin herself, they’ll bitch about Federal spending out of one side of their mouth, while the other side is asking for as much $ as they can get for THEIR district. Whatever. Did Bush even try to eliminate any Federal departments, even WHEN he had total control over congress? Did he even merge the CIA and NSA or any of our dozen major security agencies? Nope. He just added yet ANOTHER government agency on top of all the existing ones. It’s not that the “evil” Democrats stopped him, he didn’t even TRY. The Republicans have made the government far more powerful and overreaching than anytime in our history. The Republicans may cut 10% out of Medicare, but then add 15% to the military. They may stump for ’states rights’ on property/environmental issues, but work to crush states rights on gay marriage, drug policy or such. It’s all just hot air.


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