For a stranger to the national stage of presidential politics in America, Gov. Sarah Palin
delivered an excellent speech for the Republicans at their convention.
At last, she has lit the flames that the Republican grassroots have waited all these months to warm their partisan hearts and hands. It's kind of unusual that it took
the bottom of the Republican ticket to fire up the campaign and the base of the party. But if you are Senator McCain, you get your fire any way you can, whether from the top or bottom of the hearth.
Having heard and seen Gov. Palin put on quite a show before the eyes of a nation curious to discover the newest political star, will Barack Obama finally be kicking himself in the
pants for not picking Senator Hillary Clinton as his running mate? That
would have been a double history-making ticket, but that's too late now, Senator Obama. Palin has stolen Hillary's show, it seems.
Gov. Palin's speech was historic, not only because she is the first
ever female VP candidate on a Republican ticket, but also because she
surpassed all expectations both in her demeanor and delivery of the
most important speech of her political life thus far. Now, some broad
and real-life observations on this ground-breaking speech that has America buzzing...
What Gov. Palin's Goals should have been for this Speech:
Who I am: She did tell the nation who she is, from family background to personal qualities.
What I have accomplished: She did outline her achievements, with emphasis on tackling corruption head-on in Alaska. She
mentioned Alaska's budget surplus. She spoke of her reform in the
energy sector, presenting herself as a champion of ending America's
dependence on foreign oil, though her energy solution remains dipped and drenched in the expected oil wells of Alaska, for the most part.
What I plan to do as McCain's vice president: She stressed
that she will team up with McCain to bring change to Washington in
maverick style and fashion. As she has done in Alaska, so McCain-Palin
will do in Washington. OK...
Why I'm tough enough to be John McCain's attack dog
against Barack Obama: she did a very good job at that, though former
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabe and former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani
already covered the "nail Obama" assignment.
Where the Speech Strayed Somewhat
Palin touted the military record of Senator John McCain for the
millionth time. This not gets old but keeps the accent on national security as the
winning issue for the McCain campaign. The risk here is that November's
election is not likely to be decided by military record or on national
security, as America already has a hawk in the White House.
She made her children a central piece of her speech,
when we are being told that the family, especially the children of a
candidate are off limits. How can the kids be off limit but be center-stage in your speech? Will she continue to walk this fine line and seek to have it both ways?
Three Biggest Questions with Regard to Winning the Election on November 4th
"Does the speech reveal that Sarah Palin is ready to
take over from President McCain as Commander-In-Chief, just in case
McCain becomes incapacitated?" Will the majority of Americans answer
that question with a unreserved "Yes, she can!"
"Will the speech sway the swing voters, who will decide this election, as they usually do?" The
speech was "great" for firing up the partisan, hardcore Republican
base,
but how will the speech go down with independent swing voters? Will
that
speech attract or repel those swing voters who are fed up with harsh
partisan, personal attacks that have little to do with the issues? We shall find out.
"Does the speech give the impression that Gov. Palin
and the Republican Party understand and care about those who are hurt
by this recessive economy, those who are losing their homes to widespread
foreclosures all across the fruited plain?" Could it be that the speech
re-affirms the image of Republicans as callous and indifferent towards "the little
guy"? The speech poked fun at at community organizers, when it is those
organizers who roll up their sleeves to help victims of company
shutdowns?
Does it really Matter Who Wrote the Speech and for Whom?
Minus the biographical stuff, the speech that Gov.
Sarah Palin delivered at the Republican Convention was a partisan,
generic speech, written long before Gov. Palin was even chosen as
McCain's veep. The speechwriter is Matthew Scully, described by one
blogger as "a gifted pen and former speechwriter in the George Bush
White House". It seems like Palin had no input into the speech, except for her biography. That shows just how closely and carefully she's being handled by the
McCain campaign, who seems to be treating Sarah as McCain's daughter, rather than as his capable teammate. And that level of handling takes away from the image they want America
to see of Gov. Palin as an intelligent and independent woman who can
carry her on.
It may not be unreasonable to say that until Mrs. Palin can use her own
words to debate or discuss ideas of her own, until she can face
questioning from the news media, without Matthew Scully's script, until
she can get through the VP debates, the jury is still out on exactly
what Sarah Palin's qualifications are to be next in line to the
72-year-old McCain, who, for health reasons, could by default make this
woman the head of state of the world's sole super power and leader of
the free world. I'm afraid it will take more than the reading of one
good speech to settle that all-important question.
The author was born in Liberia, West Africa, and migrated to America in 1991. Mogama's educational background includes theology, computer technology, nonprofit organization, and business management. He
is a husband, father, spiritual leader, practical Bible teacher, public speaker, life coach, writer, and blogger. He is the author of "Color Marriage", which you can purchase at colormarriage.com.
I was completely disappointed with her speech. It was tough, well-delivered, and to the point, but there were no real meat and pototoes in it for me. There was little or nothing about her stand on the social issues, nothing about her religion, and no criticism of illegal immigrants, gays, abortion, or sexual immorality. Nothing about expanding civil liberties, property rights, or free speech. No bashing of the FCC and other bastions of censorship. Where's the beef?
She introduced us to her cute family, but I couldn't care less about someone else's family. Sure there was some talk of government reform, lower taxes, and reduction of wasteful spending, all good things. She also spent time sarcastically mocking and attacking the Democrats and the news media. That's okay too. But she spent way too much time on maudlin talk about military service (especially McCain's) and the Neocon values of overzealous national security and championing an unnecessary war in Iraq. Now I know why McCain selected her. She's just like him -- only younger, female, and much better looking. They are a match made in heaven. Someone else can have them.
Like any good copywriter knows, your life story needs to be repeated. The reason she talked about her family because they are part of her life, do you really expect her not to talk about her family? She is everything you would expect from a VP but being a women has got all the media up in arms. She is not Hilary, and she doesn't have anything so far found in her background that the media can run with, so they are all foaming at the mouths. How dare they bring in someone who just might be a little more clean cut, and has WHAT morals? Wow what a thought huh? There are women now bashing her because she thinks she can handle the VP job AND care for a special needs baby. Isn't that something any women can do?
This is going to finally make the run for office a little more interesting, someone without a cheating husband, and has a family with the same type issues as the rest of us, just might mean we have someone who understands the regular folk. Not someone who has been living a life that Washington media love to write about. Go wipe off their mouths and lets finally see some true reporting, and make it more fair for BOTH sides of the ticket, not just all about personal issues but true government issues.
» left by Don Gaudreau from Andover Massachusetts (79 days 16 hours ago.)
I find it hilarious that the left is reduced to sniveling comments questioning whether she wrote the speech or not. Now they are concerned that a candidate may also be able to deliver a speech via teleprompter? Hmmm methinks the pot is calling the kettle black. It must be frustrating to Obama supporters who were busily trashing Sarah Palin calling her a "red neck" and questioning her parenting choices. They would be wise to (media included) be very careful of trying to "handle" her in the future. I can't wait to see her debate Biden. Obama, what were you thinking? Is it true he bristled at having Hilary on his ticket? He made a serious miscalculation probably because of his own meteoric rise in the polls. The only problem is, he's so far been little more than an empty suit. A well spoken, handsome man but seemingly indecisive based on his attempts to be a "leader". Respond to this comment
The speech was sarcastic, condescending and was a reflection of her biography and that of McCain's. Throughout the speech she inaccurately portrayed Obama's issues on everything from community organizer to foreign policy. She is a fringe, right-wing candidate without experience. I am not so sure she will make it through the campaign cycle as VP. Bad choice for McCain. Not a choice that he wanted. Thanks.
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