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RNC Day 3: The Hero vs. The Zero

News Type: Opinion — Thu Sep 4, 2008 1:59 AM EDT

Gov. Palin

Palin's Posse

Rudy On A Roll

Michael Steele: "Drill baby, Drill"

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Tonight provided what I was waiting for from the convention: a secession of good speeches, an enthusiastic crowd, and a passion flowing through the convention that makes one feel that at this moment in time, the machine is unstoppable.

Tonight, Republicans found their vice presidential candidate, even though they knew of her for almost a week. The flood of anti-Palin articles that have hit the Internet, really in just hours after she was announced as the VP candidate, made me consider her all the more. Her speech tonight confirmed for me that John McCain made a wise, if unconventional, choice. Her speech displayed her strong family ties, her appreciation of everyday, small-town Americans, a sense of humor and an effective feistiness that wasn't at all shrill, as we've come accustomed to from a certain other female candidate.

And the attendees absolutely loved her. We were standing as much as we were sitting and the roar of the crowd was near deafening following point-after-point. It's going to be interesting to see this librarian-looking, almost timid but poignant newcomer take on the seasoned gristle of Joe Biden. My advice to Governor Palin: upset Senator Biden as much as possible. Let him become his own worst enemy.

While this was Palin's night, she followed some of the GOP's heaviest hitters, including Mitt Romney, Norm Coleman and Mike Huckabee and especially energizing presentations by Michael Steele and Rudy Giuliani. Steele started an oft repeated chant of the evening by simply saying, "Drill baby, drill."

Giuliani managed to dismantle the entire Obama campaign in a matter of about 15 minutes, mocking just about every campaign slogan and characteristic the Obama campaign had trumped as strengths and serious qualifications. He successfully contrasted John McCain's heroism with Barack Obama's resume (or lack thereof).

Speaking of Mac, he did make his way onto the stage at the end of Palin's speech in his first appearance at the convention - and the entire place erupted. Any hints of party division or skepticism of McCain went by the way side in that one brief appearance.

The night belonged to Palin but Rudy stole the show. Republicans should run with a theme developed throughout the evening and characterize this campaign as 'The Hero vs. The Zero'.

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{"commentId":2745447,"authorDomain":"theottoshow"}
The OttO Show

I'm so looking forward to tomorrow!

{"commentId":2745447,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"theottoshow"}
  • 4 votes
Reply#1 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 2:03 AM EDT
{"commentId":2748006,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Scott (Scoop) Butki

And by tomorrow you mean today, right?
Wait, wasn't it today when you wrote this?

Well, either way good morning, Otto.

Want me to share my thoughts on the speech?

{"commentId":2748006,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
    #1.1 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 8:09 AM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":2748078,"authorDomain":"politicalcenter"}
    politicalcenter

    OttO - Nicely put.

    Like Adam's article, however, from my perspective the big winner and best speaker was Palin, not Steele or Guiliani. Were you for Guiliani? The night was Palin's hands down.

    What I found incredible was that in the face of the fact and beauty of Palin's speech, this small town gal from a family first background soaring high over the country and the Dems and the pundits, even Fox News included two comments that she did not write her speech.

    I have seen no evidence whatsoever that this is true. At least one commentator said it had her touches. My own view is that her mark was all over this speech. That she changed it so much that the Republicans could only release a summary of points. And that this is one smart woman ready to lead from day one.

    {"commentId":2748078,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"politicalcenter"}
    • 6 votes
    Reply#2 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 8:15 AM EDT
    {"commentId":2750176,"authorDomain":"RuthyJObservations"}
    RuthyJObservations

    Otto... Your take on last night's RNC speakers is interesting! I wish I had been there, but I did watch and listen carefully and I don't think Rudy Guillani "stole the Show" but "enhanced the show". Rudy did a great job as Mayor of New York City on September 11, 2001, and I'd give him a standing ovation anytime. However, all eyes and ears were really waiting for Sarah Palin.

    Govenor Sarah Palin, Republican VP pick, made a little joke about the only "difference between a woman and a pit bull is, "A woman wears lipstick!"

    Now that was funny, I thought. More true than some care to believe...especially if she is a mother and someone is attacking her kids!

    The conventions have been fascinating so far, DNC and RNC, but the debates are going to be fun to watch no matter which side someone is on, don't you agree?

    GG

    {"commentId":2750176,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"RuthyJObservations"}
    • 3 votes
    Reply#3 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:08 AM EDT
    {"commentId":2750441,"authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
    Marysia for Sarah Palin

    Last nights speakers for the RNC were superb, fantastic, splendid... One thing I want to say that they should explain more about Obama's community organizing--job... that they are not making fun of community organizing... period... no no... don't get the wrong idea ...
    community organizing is a very good thing... It Just they were talking about Barack Hussein's Obama's experience... that he's running on... that's what they were talking about....
    That being Community organizer ? anybody can do that... and Obama did that job right out of college... that's what the young people do... besides that Obama has no experience that would even qualify him for a Presidents, job... we need high qualifying person to run our country.... HOw much experience a person has when it comes to governing the people... ???????????
    doing community ORGANIZING DOES NOT QUALIFY SOMEONE FOR THEPresident's JOB!!! community SERVICE IS A SERVICE THAT A PERSON DOES WHEN YOU ARE IN CHARITY... THESE PEOPLE ARE BROKEN DOWN BY SOME KIND OF A LOSS, HOMES, JOBS, ETC... IT'S EASY TO TALK TO THESE PEOPLE.. and lending a hand... they will respond of course to any one that comes to help those in need... remember.... you don't bite the hand that feeds you... OK?

    But lets say Barack Obama would go to a Companies, big corporations that have a problem with their companies... and he would fight them, to get resolutions... now that would certainly qualify him, for a higher office... if he solved their problem, and win their support... but that didn't happen... so let's think sensible about Obama and Biden ticket... they are running on promises, like Clinton did... and change... times were different then... we didn't have terrorists to worry about.... and the economy was on the right track thanks to Bush SR... Clinton brags about the fact that he balanced the budget... let me tell you when someone like Regaon, and Bush SR. get's you started in the right direction... you might go far for a while.... and then all goes down... and it did at the end of his Presidentcy... so then Bush Jr. is left with nothing to work with, and he had to deal with a lot at home and abroad... now people hate him? why? He didn't start the FIRE... people.... it was smothering when Clinton was in his second term of OFFICE... OK? let me make it clear... that even when you don't see this now... History will show Clinton nothing to do President... and GW Bush will be painted as a Greatest President... because of all that's happened during his two terms, and he kept the Country in tack... I am applauding President GW Bush... thank you for not letting our country go down, even if our people didn't see it eye to eye... but someday they will....

    Now let's elect Mc Cain and Palin as our next leaders... I am very proud to have a woman on the ticket... it's about time... and even if she would have to assume the Presidents role... she is the one to do it... people just worry that after all this talk about Hillary... now we are coming to reality about Woman President someday.... I am all right with this... a woman President will bring us together more as a country... and the world will listen to that...
    God Bless McCain and Palin our next leaders....

    {"commentId":2750441,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
      Reply#4 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:20 AM EDT
      {"commentId":2750657,"authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
      Marysia for Sarah Palin

      Great speechs I loved it... and Sarah Palin just shined
      on that stage...
      Do you noticed that there's so many good looking people at this RNC convention???
      WOW! eve theis sposes are good looking... We can say that we BABY we got it this time... and we really do.... Babies too.... all kind...
      Well if anyone doubs this ticket? then I feel sorry for you people... then your voice we can't hear.

      All is well that ends well, and this is looking GOOD to me... USA

      {"commentId":2750657,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#5 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:30 AM EDT
      {"commentId":2750747,"authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
      Marysia for Sarah Palin

      How I feel about OBAMA and OBIDEN? ticket?
      they start with O! O! Oprah!!!!!! where's is the Beef? the three O's

      {"commentId":2750747,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
      • 3 votes
      Reply#6 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:33 AM EDT
      {"commentId":2751024,"authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
      Marysia for Sarah Palin

      Oh! Oprah!! where is the BEEF, and where is the experience... They tried to make Obama different kind a condidate... he wasn't even with the people at his own convention... Oh too good to be at the same platform that all the speakers were supporting him... well I think that was OPRAH's doing she is the bigger funder for this DNC compaign, so she says lets make Obama Hollywood star or something like that... we need to make him popular... so they set his speech stage like for some Rock Concert Star... but without the TALENt... Oh but they added the colums so people think that he's is still running for President of USA.. otherwise we wouldn't know what this ocasion was all about.... Let me tell you people... I wasn't fooled and neither were you.. I was once on one of these RNC conventions and the whole week you look forward to this excitement... and then they would say that your condidate decided tyo move his speech to anpother bigger abd better arena.. so he has more exposure... ?? well sure he looked great all those columns behind him... Obama... but they wish that American People would be behind him...
      He seems to say to his DNC supporters, and delagates... you people congragate in your Hall and I will say my speech in my Concert Hall... Oh well he seems to me a falling Rock star....
      just like Edwards... those that are not for The Country... and not for the People of the Country...
      we need leaders that are for Country... and not for Fame.... and glory...

      {"commentId":2751024,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"njteacher99"}
      • 2 votes
      Reply#7 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:42 AM EDT
      {"commentId":2756058,"authorDomain":"lisaed"}
      lisaed

      Otto---I'm very glad you were there to witness history last night as the GOP nominated for the first time ever a woman to be our Vice President. She did us proud and I agree with you that Rudy kicked some serious obama a@#........Rudy and Sarah gave awesome one-two punches to the obama campaign. I'm so fired up today I just gave a nice little donation to the McCain-Palin campaign......I had been withholding funds until McCain selected Romney for VP but last night Governor Palin has placed me 100% behind this ticket. Tonight should be most excellent. Enjoy it.

      {"commentId":2756058,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"lisaed"}
      • 5 votes
      Reply#8 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 1:19 PM EDT
      {"commentId":2756523,"authorDomain":"juno"}
      Juno Hera

      Otto~ I kept my eye out for a fellow in the hall that I might point to and say, Hey that's Otto!

      Rudy got the crowd riled-up! Whoo! What a quarter-hour!

      Palin put paid to MANY doubts out there. She was powerful, pointed, and sure. She brought to us the picture of a 'small-town-gal' who holds small-town folk in the best regard . . . this touched my heart immensely. I also felt she was sincere when she pledged her dedication to the American people, promising that she would carry her convictions with her, and that she'd not be swayed from the task of fighting for us.

      Wow, and that's not even half of it! Her humor came through, as did her wit. What was the Veteran's name? When she pointed him out, I saw a deep compassion, and gratitude.

      Marvelous, marvelous!

      {"commentId":2756523,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"juno"}
      • 4 votes
      Reply#9 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 1:35 PM EDT
      {"commentId":2760156,"authorDomain":"festivewarrior"}
      FestiveWarrior

      I thank you so much for telling us all the details from your perspective.

      Otto, my husband and I were loud enough to wake the kids up last night!! LOL

      Due (of course) to our loud responses to Rudy and Palin on our tv screen! (wink) We enjoyed it but we were also relieved. Say whatever the people who don't like them want, this ticket speaks our family's language, they think the way we do, they see America through the same lens as we do. I get very tired of hearing the Obaman Slant....... "Buuuuwaaaaaaah! We've all been wronged but I'm here now. I feel your pain inflicted on you by this unidentified mean evil and I am gonna beat it back for you.
      Stay off my taxes and let me decide on my own for my children and we're good.

      Now, if that daggoned campaign HQ would get back with us about what we do to help them? We are fired up and ready to campaign!
      Voting for your article.
      Thanks again.

      {"commentId":2760156,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"festivewarrior"}
      • 3 votes
      Reply#10 - Thu Sep 4, 2008 4:01 PM EDT
      {"commentId":2767672,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
      backroads

      It was a great evening, indeed, Otto.

      Obama has been sobbing all day.

      {"commentId":2767672,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
      • 5 votes
      Reply#11 - Fri Sep 5, 2008 1:22 AM EDT
      {"commentId":2795549,"authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
      gpnavonod

      That Sarah makes me wish I was a Republican again......but that's ok.....I can always vote for them in November.

      So long, Hillary...I guess overconfidence doesn't win the day.

      {"commentId":2795549,"threadId":"348393","contentId":"1824301","authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
      • 5 votes
      #11.1 - Sat Sep 6, 2008 12:44 PM EDT
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