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My first thought on walking into the Xcel Center tonight and seeing the blue screen behind John McCain was -- have they learned nothing? Lime green jello and cottage cheese? Is there no one in the Republican party who can do staging? Hello, McFly?
And then there was the sound of McCain's voice. He's obviously been taking public speaking lessons from Hal, the computer from 2001. It wasn't long before I needed a nap. But fortunately, there was plenty of time for one. Fifty-three minutes, in fact.
It was an endless laundry list of failed conservative ideas. The place was packed with a sea of Karl Rove look-alikes (who knew it was a style?) who only got excited about the idea of lower taxes and drilling for oil. But even then, just barely.
McCain promises not to raise taxes, but he never says that he's planning to tax your health care benefits as income. Haven't heard much about that, have we? It's true -- if you receive health care benefits from your employer, John McCain wants to consider that income, and subject it to income tax. It's estimated that this would cost the average worker a couple thousand dollars a year. He doesn't mention that much.
What he does mention is his POW experience. Over, and over, and over again. I was a lot more sympathetic to his personal stories of being plucky in the face of torture before he started using his POW history to assert that the very same techniques used on him can't be considered torture when we use them on "detainees." McCain's rather fluid definition of torture, and his willingness to use his history for political advantage as some enormous, all-purpose trump card leaves me a bit unmoved the more I hear his story. And boy, do we hear it a lot.
I got there late and didn't hear any of the other speakers because I was doing Bloggingheads with Ann Althouse (yes, we fought like alley cats, it'll be up tomorrow). As we were leaving McCain and his possee were standing around rather awkwardly on stage to a lackluster "greatest hits of the 70s" compliation, and I wondered how long it would take Heart to file an injunction over "Barracuda."
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From Blade Runner:
Sort of appropriate, no?
Please tell me, Jane, that there really was an ‘Applause’ sign they flicked on and off…!
and I wondered how long it would take Heart to file an injunction over “Barracuda.”
Evidently not long.
Doesn’t that make it a clean sweep of artists whose songs were used being pissed off?
Is Earth, Wind & Fire still together? Or heirs, or something?
Congratulations on surviving the madness. Vacation is called for - I hear Alaska is nice this time of year.
Earth, Wind, and Fire just played a gig last weekend at one of the resorts, jay!
Oh, Gahd - Althouse Flambé!
Way to go, Jane!
Jane, you’ll be happy to know there was at least one “McCain Votes Against Vets” sign in the audience.
You’re a brave soul for going in there.
-Monk
Earth, Wind, and Fire just played a gig last weekend at one of the resorts, jay!
Well, if they’re still around, hunt ‘em down and tell ‘em to sue.
And that you know a good lawyer. *g*
Jane, thanks for being there.
Did the Palin family look kinda peaked and restless and ready to get back home?
Was that a CodePink gal they toted off during McDull’s speech…?
I’m really tired. Ready to go home tomorrow and be with the poodles.
But I got to be at both acceptance speeches, and I never even got to be at one before. So that was an experience.
Monk!
You’re back. We missed you.
what a memory - being at a part of history last week jane, and speaking truth to power this week.
Jane! You really nailed the McSame speech/failure
Jane -
When you get a chance to come up for air, please read Judith Warner’s reaction to palin’s speech (and commenters reactions).
http://warner.blogs.nytimes.co.....d-ceiling/
Margot @ 8 -
Per someone on MSNBC?, they’ve spirited palin et al back to AK (ostensibly to get her affairs in order after hasty departure) but actually to give her at least a week of 24/7 briefing book sessions.
I don’t know copyright law, but I hope Heart and the other ripped off recording artists collect specific damages for each and every viewer who heard those pirated tunes tonight, not just in the auditorium but on the national airwaves as well
if these people see something they want, they just take it
As a blue-eyed blonde white person, I think I’ll go underground for a time. All those Ohio types kind of scared me. They were so bored and so unenthusiastic except when called to chant USA/USA — they were rather not engaged. Are they really going to vote just so some raped child cannot get an abortion? Is that what they are really about? Who are those folks?
Hi Jane! I’m driving by with this comment, c u tomorrow!
I’m back from a well attended football viewing party that was mostly Goopers - and none of them were enthusiastic about McCain’s chances in November.
They all like Sarah, but - and this was a surprise - in a cheerleader way! I didn’t get the sense of ‘respect’ for her as a serious candidate, at all. She’s eye-candy and energy, which McCain clearly lacks, but these guys weren’t harboring any illusions about her being qualified to lead the Country. She’s there, like Vanna White, to make-up for droll Pat Sajak.
On Obama, the consensus could be summed up as: “He hasn’t put in the time or done anything, yet, but he has Hollywood Appeal.” And, since we all know the Goopers operate on a succession system, it should be no surprise that Obama’s lack of “clock punching” to get seniority would bother them.
In addition, they all agreed that Hillary’s fighting spirit was impressive, but slammed her on her negatives. They respected Obama’s fresh and new skills, but they hold her history against her.
I left thinking that if Obama and Biden produced a series of hard-hitting reality ads showing them wading into workplaces with their sleeves rolled-up, and helping John and Jane Doe tote that barge and lift that bail, they’d get a positive response from this crowd.
What really makes them nervous though is the thought of Barack and Joe doing exactly what they say they don’t like about Obama’s resume - “Community Organizing.” Below the Mason-Dixon line, this sentiment goes back to the 60’s when car driving black folks from the North started showing up in the “Blacks Don’t Have Cars” South and organizing Community Voter Registration Drives.
It’s hard to believe, but in 1964 in Shelby County, Alabama - Selma - there were 80,000 eligible to vote African Americans, much more than the white population, but only 8,000 had managed to Register to Vote, which resulted in the whites maintaining ‘the status quo’ from a minority position.
After last Thursday’s Obama acceptance speech, they’re convinced Barack could stroll through the streets of America and encourage millions of citizens, currently sidelined, to Register and Vote for him and Joe - and, once again, not surprisingly, they view “organizing their communities” as a game-changing invasion.
That kind of leverage - to get Americans on their feet again, united and moving forward - they don’t have, and it both depresses and angers them.
They mainly want things to stay the same, but seem to sense with dread that Change is upon them.
Their ‘vision’ doesn’t include the rest of US.
And, thank you, Jane, for representing sanity in a bizarre world. I appreciate your efforts and your truth.
I think I understand McCain a bit better after tonight’s speech and some thought.
What I see is this: first, it’s all about JM. It’s about his POW experience, his family, his “Maverick” label and … that’s it. It’s just about him.
Second, he doesn’t really offer programmatic ideas or specifics and until now he hasn’t talked about the agenda Democrats have been working on for years because it isn’t about him. You might think it’s somewhat about his small-government Republican position, but I don’t think so. Like most Republicans he’s all for the spending, just not the taxes. No, he just doesn’t think about anybody beyond his family and his career is all there is.
Third, it might get obscured by Sarah Palin’s speech and all the POW talk, but another big reason he can’t provide specifics for an agenda and he doesn’t talk about a vision for America, aside from more Patriotism, is that he hasn’t actually led anyone at any time. He was a pilot and in that didn’t lead anybody. We know his ignorance about Shia and Sunni, so it seems more clear he hasn’t really even been a real senator with real knowledge. He’s been led around by handlers and he gives speeches and watches his career path. When has he ever led anybody? Without that experience you can’t really point to anybody beyond his family that he has had to care about personally. And even there his wife probably handled most of the family stuff — since he was too busy being a senator and potential presidential candidate.
They say, every morning 100 senators (used to be all men) look in a mirror and see a future president. With John McCain that seems very likely.
But, lead anybody? I don’t see it.
Create a vision for the country? Why would he? He has handlers to do that.
John McCain is on a wild ride that’s all about him and his idea of outdoing his father and grandfather by taking the one big leap up they never did (just like Dubya trying to outdo his elders). Ask him about programs for anybody but senators and he is probably immediately going into robot mode to repeat whatever he’s been fed by his handlers.
John McCain leadership? Just rah rah patriotism and advertising slogans.
I don’t get the “USA! USA! USA!” that the conventioneers were apparently prompted to chant every time a dissident was heard or seen in the hall.
As if suppressing peaceful dissent were somehow American, or something…
YES, precisely what I see about McCain. He hasn’t led and doesn’t know how!
I just want to mention that I thought I heard McSame openly mock Barack Obama for not being a veteran and for not being a POW
“I did and he didn’t”
Did anyone else pick that up?
Maybe not mock, maybe attack. But I believe he had a sneer on his face.
This is golden…
Jane- thank you thank you thank you. Wish I could offer you more than that.
I personally think it would be good if the supporters of FDL could show how much we appreciate your service to our country and our world. The whole world IS watching.
Obviously, back rubs and foot massages are inappropriate for a blogger. Can’t bring homemade casseroles…..
Okay, I’m doubling down on my donations to the site. Especially since FDL’s been funky lately.
Had a moment of panic that the Big Brother was shutting it down today. Actually started thinking about the pamphlets our founding fathers and mothers had to put out.
I’m thinking you are one of the next generation founding fathers/mothers.
Then I got scared.
You’re awesome.
But he always has the sneer on his face when talking about the uppity guy!! McCain is so phony just like the rest of the repukes! Sure make me sick to see the pukes carrying on like that about such a tired old old man..
BREAKING NEWS: The Surge Is Working™
h/t Huckleberry Graham
‘nite, all.
I’ve been short on sleep lately, and as I watched McCain tonight I got the feeling that I was watching a B-movie satire of a typical mindless politician blithering away.
He and Guiliani both have this style delivering demeaning one-liners and then flashing a smug, self-satisfied grin, while their fans cheer endlessly.
It’s a freak show.
I myself cannot wait for Ms. Bush in a Skirt to bite McCain’s butt as she has done to all her mentors.
Did they really play “Barracuda?”
When did politicians start talking like Don Rickles?
Yeah, I am really really tired of them claiming to be “real” Americans. I keep hearing that about SP. She’s a real American. That must scare the doodoo out of our allies.
Hey Netwonusr -
Off topic but I lookd like the thread below has been deserted.
Sadly, Ray has decided he doesn’t want to be in a band any more, so our last gig Sunday Sept 21 at the Walnut Festival in heather Farms Park in Walnut Creek. C’mon out cause we’re going over the hill for Mexican at the New Mecca Cafe in Pittsburg. You haven’t lived until you’ve been to the Mecca.
That invite goes for all Bay Area FDLers. C’mon out and help us rock and roll one more time and buy a CD while you’re at it.
Anyone interested?
Well put. The true end of privatization.
Wow, so I’m the only one who found something better to do with my time than watch that shit? It was obvious McCain would say POW POW POW McMavericky POW moosechange evil liberals and muslims!
On another note, I heard Palin won’t do any interviews at all, which I’m sure will stop the press from digging up dirt on her.
“The place was packed with a sea of Karl Rove look-alikes (who knew it was a style?)
Stop it Jane, you’re killing me!
I saw the vet with the sign too, I asked on an earlier thread if anybody knew what happened to him.
as to: “You’re a brave soul for going in there.”
I agree, but thankfully I don’t think terminal stupidity and chronic fabrication are contagious. The delegates do look like death warmed over and I know dead things stink, so there is that.
I guess Sarah Shooter is tougher and more manly than Shooter Cheney. She shoots polar bears and wolves while all he is up for is tame game birds raised in cages and geriatric lawyers. Of course with Sarah the airplane part isn’t very heroic, unless she leaps out of the plane onto their back with a knife between her teeth.
Obama’s convention was nearly a flawless operation… on schedule (or ahead), no questions about whether uses of images or songs had been vetted.
(After all, there are people who do those kinds of vetting for a living — it’s just a matter of whether you’re an amateur operation, or a professional organization.)
It’s time to pay attention to the fact that the Obama campaign has been run as an amazingly disciplined, successful, start-up with a visionary (or 5, or 50) at its core… while the McCain version has been, well, less than that. Much. Less. Than. That.
Jane, did you see ANY person of color [other than reporters or cops] there?
I’ll admit I didn’t watch much [okay, any] of the convention, but every time I saw a picture [when MSNBC or Daily Show was reporting on it] I NEVER saw a person of color. Just the same, bland WHITE faces, all self-satisfied, self-involved, rich, mindless.
Do they really think this “palette” is going to garner votes other than from their “base”? Have they not read anything about the demographics of the US, or are they just smug in their belief about Rove’s vote-suppressing abilities?
I was also wondering today what the “old time” Republicans — like those dudes on Wall Street — must be thinking. Can they really feel secure in their government welfare with Mr. Senile & Ms. Chicken Farm in charge? I’d think they wouldn’t welcome this sort of “change.”
That Surge is working lets repeat stuff until we convince ourselves Meme is annoying.
Yes less Americans are dying but is that because of less violence, that truce al Sader gave us, possible bribes we have been handing out to the terrorist (nobody knows where all that missing money went even today).
But here is an objective test are Iraqi refugees moving back to Iraq?
Are Gas Prices what they were before the war? Yes I know that gas prices are going down but until they are below $2 a gallon the Surge is not working.
Are we bringing all the troops home?
No well then the Surge is not working we won WW2 in less time than we have been in Iraq Bush had his chance and then some to win the war.
Its a little late in the game for McCain to start talking about winning the war he should have had the courage to speak up like General Shinseki did before the war.
McCain day late and several dollars short.
PS - In that picture, you look like one of TBogg’s bassets who’s up to no good.
Inbreeding
Of course the Surge™ is working! 2-story-high concrete walls, Apache gunships, and indiscriminate armed intimidation - now that’s what I call work.
I wonder if there is a correlation between how high up in the GOP you are as a Politician or a big donor like Bush’s Pioneers and lack of military service?
Especially if you rule out the draft.
How would that compare with the Dems.
Repukes only understand copyright law as it applies to the MegaMedia Corps like Disney, Warner et. al. To them it really isn’t at all about protecting artists, but protecting those who ripped off the artists and “own” the rights.
True and all to keep McCain alive while he goes to the market. I wonder if McCain would campaign in Chicago were Obama used to organize if he had that kind of fire power backing him?
After all Obama has campaigned in the South without that level of protection.
Remember, these are RePukes, they were in the Excel Center, they thought they were at an international hockey game (complete with hockey mom) or they thought they were at the Olympics.
That is one of the most irritating habits of a certain type of American. I remember a few years back when Portland hosted the Memorial Cup (the Stanley Cup of Junior Hockey) and the WinterHawks were in by grace of being the hosts against the winners of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Western Junior Hockey League. Everytime a Hawk scored a goal or made a save the jingo chant USA, USA etc. would go off like a car alarm.
It was kinda absurd as most of the WinterHawks themselves were good young Canadian boys.
Did you read any of the comments? Made a lot more sense than the tripe the *focus groups* were putting out today.
In that spirit, did anyone else here Cindy ‘Fuck, these clothes make me look strange, but anything for my FlyBoy’ McCain refer to herself as “also a Hockey-Mom?”
I think McCain thinks that because al Quieda does not wear uniforms then those Geneva Convention rules protecting solders does not apply.
Too bad torturing anyone is wrong and is a war crime even if they don’t wear uniforms.
“that which you do to the least of my brothers is that which you do onto me.”
Nobody said being a Christian was easy John I certainly don’t claim to be one but neither should you.
Was she reading the wrong tellaprompter?
Jane!
Please tell us, what is it like to be surrounded by Lizard Brains, Bullies and Thugs?
1,755 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Hamsher and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
Welcome to our little hunk of paradise here in the heartland of democracy and anus a progress…what was the status outside the Excel Center, I’m at work and haven’t heard any reportsince early evening? Were the Imperial Strom troopers still out in force?
My 20 year old daughter and I did a quick walk thru demographic check of the convention participants on Monday…Emily hadn’t seen so many peroxide blonds and crew-cuts since she went ta the “Grease” travelin’ show.
Thanx for listenin’ to the McCrazy speech so we don’t hafta…that’s another act of citizenship that gets noted on yer Norske Citizenship Trophy.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THIS ISN’T THE LAST BATTLE IN THE STURGGLE!!
I was referring to Sarah Shooter being in the house. In Phoenix nobody plays hockey, not even the Coyotes, or should I say, especially not the Coyotes?
Well, she was dressed in pink from head to toe, and she was being escorted out by security, and that combination usually means Code Pink, not Serena Williams.
What interested me, however, is that the disruption happened just as McCain was trying to address Americans who were getting hit by economic circumstances. After that disruption, McCain tried to return to the point, but was interrupted by the USA! USA! chant. My impression at the time was that the audience just wasn’t interested in hearing about distressed Americans, and McCain made no further effort to return to the subject.
BTW, its good to be back at the Lake. I spent the afternoon (Hawaii time) in exile, forbidden by some CyberGenie from accessing either FDL or EW’s sister site.
Bob in HI
Yes, I got it.
What kind of asshole do you have to be to try and chum-up to (or one-up) Sarah Palin?
This kind, I guess.
Thanks for the link, I don’t get cable up here in the bushes, so I didn’t realize she actually said this. But she is a RePuke so she was probably lying. If she had a kid that could skate, Gretzky would have found him and put him on the ice.
This is an early end to late-late night.
It sounds like the RNC is just like I imagined it, Jane. It wasn’t hard to imagine - they’ve been like that for the last thirty years. Thanks for putting yourself through it, particularly since you’re bright enough to remember the last few and thus really didn’t have to put in the effort.
I was pretty much howling.
If you watch something like this for substance and truth…
I used to watch this particular televangelist - Jack Van Impe - with friends. We would get roaring drunk on rum late Sunday evenings, and - sometimes the stupid doesn’t burn after all!!!
Here is BBC’s take on the proceedings, for onece, this is not previewed, something ’bout beautiful mind and all that jazz.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7598152.stm
P.S. can’t believe Jane H is on “live” this morning
When’s the last time a Republican Party presidential candidate pointed out the the failures of the outgoing Republican president? Has that ever happened in American political history? McCain’s speech absolutely eviscerated George W. Bush! For a moment I thought I was listening to a Democrat. It didn’t appear the audience understood, or pehaps they couldn’t believe, what McCain was saying. In some instances, the audience was stunned into silence or politiely applauded when McCain referred to Bush’s destructive actions and promised to change them. McCain did as good a job as any Democrat could have in pointing out how damaging the Bush administration has been for our country. Trying to solidify the Republican base by trashing George W. Bush doesn’t make a great deal of sense to me, but that was precisely what John McCain was attempting to do in his speech tonight. Did McCain’s campaign have a senior moment or am I wrong in my understanding it was the Republican base that elected George W. Bush as their president twice?
I think it’s funny.
There’s McCain (or Rove, I’m in two minds as to whose idea Saracuda was) so culturally tonedeaf that he thinks any woman substitutes for any other as far as women go.
So he picks the perfect antithesis to Hillary. She sinks like a stone with progressive and Dem women (I’d say particularly with older women who remember “burning their bras”) but the white guys dig her because she’s the hottest candidate they’ve got.
Who went to the RNC, but the dead enders who think Bush is just swell. Palin soared because she thinks he is too.
Then when John Bush makes his speech he makes it plain that he doesn’t think like them. Theatre I know, but there were more than a few awkward silences when there should have been rousing cheers of “Throw the bums out!”.
In his speech he wasn’t just dissing Bush, but them, his audience in that hall.
I’ll bet more than a few of them will be asking God elect him to office and to watch over John McCain’s health. At least until November 6th.
So the Repubs come out out the RNC with a Veep their base likes but the top of the ticket they don’t. And the rest of the country, if they buy his mavericky rep, will be scared shitless that Palin could take over.
I can’t figure out just who exactly has given the big FU to whom. McCain to the Reps, for what they did to him in 2000, after all revenge is a dish best served cold. Or Rove to McCain, for all the bad stuff that he’s ever said about Rove’s favourite flyboy.
This is interesting. McCain has to depend on the RNC to GOTV, and he just spit in their faces, didn’t he?
Bob in HI
Attaturk is upstairs at the Mothership!
Blow a Convention Speech? That’s “unpossible”
Jane, As an old white man, I’m just glad I don’t own a gray suit. If I did, I would burn it right now. On second thought, I have a beard, and I don’t think there was one in that whole crowd, so maybe I’m safe.
OfT, for me that photo Jane looking back so sardonically captures the essence of FDL.
Priceless snapshot, simply priceless!:D
Jane, nice hazmat garb, chic, swanky, unobtrusive…
a small touch-up, no charge
Can I use McDull-u-be? please, please
ROFLMAO!!!
ABC had one shot of someone high in the stands that had a sign that said “McCain Votes Against Vets”. They pulled away very quickly when it was evident what the sign said. It was a rare moment of truth in a time warp of fantasies and lies.
The Republican base along with voter suppression and Diebold elected Bush once. The first time he was appointed by a Republican Supreme Court.
I know this is very OT and very politically incorrect. But that shot of you looking back at the camera with that look really stopped me in my tracks. First, what a great photo and a captured moment. Second, uh,….how to be delicate about this…you are hot. There, I said it.
CNN: Heart condemns McCain-Palin use of ‘Barracuda’
Jane, you don’t look happy. Wasn’t Brownback’s speech rousing? Every line punctuated by “Yes we will,” plus stampeding echo? Or was that just special effects only for tv viewers?
Or how about the shots of Henry Kissinger looking pretty comfortable for a war criminal, when speakers talked of foreign policy being more than just platitudes? A little ominous?
I am curious as to whether a crowd was orchestrated to go mad with adulation at certain points in Sarah Palin’s speech.
Yours truly.
so true Boo!
Inspiring? Okay, not really. Audio is up here.
I’m sorry you were not entertained by the speech, but is that really what is important?