McCain struck out
I don't know why we use baseball metaphors to describe political speeches...but we do.
John McCain's acceptance speech was long, and lacking. Maybe there was too much pressure, but he just didn't seem to connect. His speech was flat, boring, and trite.
Whereas Obama's speech still rings in my ears with its depth, passion, and complexity -- "But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you."
Last night, John McCain talked more about himself than anything else.
The only exciting part was when they dragged out a protester who was trying to disrobe or something...maybe she was trying to show a T-shirt.
McCain didn't commit any serious gaffes or embarrass himself too badly. But with the Dems hammering him in ads showing him voting with Bush/Cheney at least 90% of the time, you'd think he'd take great pains to explain how he'd be different from Bush.
He didn't...indeed, he hardly tried. He vowed to bring "change"...but didn't give us any idea what kind of change. If I remember correctly, Bush made the same promise.
It irks me when he starts talking about "change"...it's such a sleazy and desperate attempt to latch on to the much more gifted Obama's theme.
I agree with the wag who said that "change" for a Republican is different people doing the same thing.
McCain didn't really say anything exact or new about the economy. If you noticed, the entire Republican convention tried to ignore the "E" word.
He did mumble something about "wage insurance" of the 1950's...as far as I know it's the first time he's mentioned it. Is he talking about reforming the unemployment system or what? I'm not sure if Republicans have the credibility to tackle something like that.
He said, "I know some of you have been left behind in the changing economy and it often seems your government hasn't even noticed." So, great...he "notices" the sorry state of the economy but said nothing about his plans to tackle the problem.
Looks to me like he'll keep on doing what Bush has been doing, and wait for it to start working.
McCain didn't speak of his vision or lay out his policy agenda for the future. He concentrated on his character and his war record...I guess he's hoping that's enough.
He seemed a little jerky and uncomfortable at times. He never has mastered the art of reading a TelePrompter, running his sentences together and having to back up several times. He actually said that Palin would lead with her hands and nose...which turned out to be "knows" when he straightened it out.
And what was the campaign thinking, having him speak (again) in front of a green screen? He looked sickly and yellow. His teeth really looked yellow.
Then too, his speech wasn't very well written...sounded like "too many cooks in the broth." Though the crowd was polite and cheered, you know they wanted Palin back.
After his speech was over, I didn't know what McCain wants to do as president, or even why he's running for president. All I could pick up was that he thinks he's earned it...he suffered for, and was saved by, his country and it's his turn, gosh darn it. He's got the scars to prove it.
He received warm approval from the convention crowd, but the rest of the American people are still pissed about the Republican agenda...their incompetence, corruption and divisiveness.
Sarah Palin was definitely the most exciting part of that convention...even though she's a crazy fundamentalist whose religious and social beliefs relegate women and girls to chattel status...and even if she's less qualified to be president than I am.
