McCain "Fight With Me!" Crescendo (Convention Acceptance Speech)

YouTube ^ | Future President John McCain

[quesney]

I have never been so moved by a political speech.

The speech up until the final crescendo was workmanlike. It was only at the end that I realized it was all to lay the foundation for that incredible ending. It lays the details and facts that form the basis of the powerful emotion at the end -- made all the more powerful in that it is grounded in the real details of this man's history and the basis of his love of country.

To hear the cheers rising, and McCain struggling to raise his broken arms higher with each round of ever intensifying cheers, it was though McCain and the crowd were raising each other.

Incredible. Absolutely incredible. I can not get enough of the finale to this speech.

[quesney]

This will be remembered for decades, long after Obama’s speech is forgotten (what did he say?).

[ExTexasRedhead]

Note Comment Number 3 on that You Tube video made by some Liberal human waste.

[Cicero]

Agreed. But I would put it a little earlier than that. It started out very slow and tepid, but it got stronger as it went along.

Also, I’ve heard that because of his broken arms as a P.O.W., McCain cannot raise his arms above his shoulders. I was conscious of that during the speech, but he has developed ways of gesturing that are very effective. Body language—like it or not—is important. I thought he did it very well.

Palin’s body language and facial expressions are extreme effective, but McCain also did very well, in spite of his difficulties. They both make Biden look like an idiot in comparison.

[gramho12]

As I've said several times since Thursday, McCain won my heart with that speech. How can you not fight for a man like that, even though I thought I would never vote for him because I disagreed with him on so many issues.

Never have I heard a speech told in such a matter-of-fact story telling style that was so gut-wrenching and which ended so positively and powerfully.

The typical MSM "style-over-substance" crowd did not get the impact of this speech on us average Americans.

[JustaCowgirl]

From here on in, for the rest of my life, every time I see him struggle to raise his arms, I will remember the horror he lived through and the sacrifices that he has made for his country.

[PureSolace]

This will be remembered for decades, long after Obama’s speech is forgotten (what did he say?).

Obama said, "Uhhh oh ah ummm uhp umm uhh uh uhhh ummmm uhhh, Now hold on now! uhhh ummm uhp oh ah ummm."

[edh]

“This will be remembered for decades, long after Obama’s speech is forgotten (what did he say?).”

I actually think Palin was somewhat of a blessing for Democrats. I cannot see how any Dem. pundit would have enthusiastically reviewed Obama’s speech. It was decent, but nothing new...you could even tell by half-hearted looks in the faces of the supporters towards the end of the speech that the air has deflated out of the balloon.

Palin gave them a chance to throw that speech under the bus. They knew that the Temple of Doom stage set starring their favored marionette had probably lost more voters than gained, so they unleashed their hounds from hell on Palin to vent frustration.

Does anyone equate the money wasted on that flashy “The Thursday Night with Savior Obama Hour” to Chris Rock’s “Wheels that Spin” comedy routine?

[Qwackertoo]

McCain also won my heart with that speech~! I would rather have his honest, patriotic speech any day of the week even though he perhaps isn’t as eloquent as the Nobama . . . McCain’s speech means much more to everyone who truly LOVES America. I’d rather have honest true grit in the White House than the Empty Suit one.

[nathanbedford]

Karl Rove in the preceding thread judged McCain's acceptance speech workmanlike but a let down. I agree with you. More, I think the McCain speech in its own way was better than Palin's speech which was terrific and accomplished its mission. Governor Palin has now passed the test for plausibility as a vice presidential candidate and the argument about her experience level is over for practical purposes. Even more remarkably, she made the whole country fall in love with her.

John McCain also succeeded marvelously well in his speech. The whole idea of his speech was to demonstrate that McCain was no Bush clone but entirely his own man. McCain's recital of his Hanoi Hilton epiphany was so brutally authentic as to leave no fair-minded listener in doubt that John McCain wants to be president of the United States for a very high spiritual purpose. He sold me and I am no fan of his politics but I am convinced that we are entrusting the Republic and my children to a man incorruptible commitment to his vision for the whole country.

No one could have witnessed that speech by John McCain and not been moved by its sincerity. No one who saw it can believe that he will resort to business as usual in Washington. He made himself the living embodiment of change, for change of government, intelligent change, change that is better called reform.

For those independents and Reagan Democrats who are usually moved to vote on character alone, they must have found their man.

[fightinJAG]

I agree. Wholeheartedly.

Here's another plain-speaking soldier, speaking directly to Mr. Obama. Pass it on.

[quesney]

Ditto.

[peggybac]

That body language woman was on O’Reilly last night and was saying McCain needs to put his arms behind his back when standing still. I screamed to the TV that he probably can’t!

[Irish Eyes]

That body language woman was on O’Reilly last night and was saying McCain needs to put his arms behind his back when standing still. I screamed to the TV that he probably can’t!

I was doing the very same thing. Can not believe that neither of them gave that a thought

[Cicero]

I agree entirely. For me, maybe the key moment was when he said that before he was shot down he fought for himself, but after he was tortured he learned to fight for his country.

It makes me reconsider his maverick image. I’ve always taken that as somewhat self-centered. But maybe it’s genuine. Maybe he really thought that McCain-Feingold would reform political corruption. He was wrong, but at least if his motives were good maybe he can learn to do better next time.

Sarah Palin is a REAL reformer, who broomed out a lot of corruption in Alaska. Maybe she can help McCain be a real reformer, too. After this pick, and his recent behavior and speeches, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt again.

[nathanbedford]

I am in the midst of preparing a vanity dealing with the transformation which took over John McCain as you just described. It is unfinished and unedited but here it is anyway:

Understanding John McCain

McCain's Vietnam experience was so shattering that he sees the world through a new lens, the experience so profound that he has emerged from it with a lifelong commitment to country. This gives credibility to McCain's claim that he is a maverick, beholden not to party but to principle and country. This claim to independence is necessary in a political climate in which the present occupant of the White House is found to be unsatisfactory by nearly three out of four Americans. So, the narrative explains why a voter can believe that John McCain is different from ordinary politicians, especially ordinary Republican politicians, and they can't believe he should be trusted to embark on a new course away from current administration policies.

Third, at the end of his speech, McCain recited how he came to be utterly broken but then restored, even redeemed with a new commitment to service to others when a fellow prisoner urged him by prison telegraph not to quit and die to carry on the fight out of respect for his comrades who were carrying on the fight for him.

Psychologists and scholars of religious experience, especially Christian scholars, have long been aware of the empowering release generated by total surrender of the will. One can describe this in psychological language, or in Biblical language, or even in evangelical idiom. Whatever language one uses to describe these epiphanies there is no question that very often they are real and long lasting. Psychologists would begin to explain the phenomenon by reference to the ego. An Old Testament scholar might think in terms of the first and second Commandments and the muscular faith which follows adherence to them. Christians speak of dying to the self, picking up the cross and following the Savior to become a new man-to be born again. Perhaps the most famous example is recounted in the Book of Acts which tells that Saul of Tarsus was physically knocked off his horse by the Holy Spirit. Saul experiences an epiphany, Saul becomes Paul, and any is transformed from a murderous persecutor of Christians to a fully committed martyr who becomes the great evangelist of the early church, indomitable in spirit, inflexible in commitment, and-like the other disciples- utterly fearless. Significantly, Paul, the newbie Christian, does not shrink later from taking on "to his face" Peter the acknowledged leader of the disciples to dispute matters of doctrine.

In contemporary history we have the example of George Bush and his transforming encounter with Reverend Billy Graham. Indeed, we have the Reverend Billy Graham's own epiphany in the forest. We have the countless examples recited daily in meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous. It is from the success of this group the countless so-called "12 step" groups have been formed to apply the same empowering message of surrender.

The important thing to understand about these epiphanies is that when they are genuine they are often life-long and tremendously empowering. Lives really are transformed forever. Criminals go straight, alcoholics stays sober, and the miserable are made happy. In fact, these newly born spirits enjoy their new condition so much that they seek ways to prolong the joy they have obtained in their moment of sweet release. Almost universally, these people find that service to others is the surest way to prolong that wonderful feeling of well-being.

Isolated, sick, starved and beaten beyond human endurance, John McCain ultimately broke and signed a confession which he mistakenly assumed amounted to a betrayal of his country. Who was this wretched man who lay so anguished in that cell? In his memoir and in his speech, McCain described himself as a kind of a hotshot jet jock, a screwup, a discipline problem in school, and an accomplished accumulator of demerits as a midshipman. Evidently, he was also an enthusiastic swordsman. In short, he was an arrogant SOB. Now, in that cell, he had fallen far. At this pivotal moment came the means of his redemption via the prison telegraph: Service to others out of love of country. In his speech McCain declared:

"And I wasn't my own man anymore, I was my country's"

[tenthirteen]

I was not at all aware that John McCAIN was even able to give such an oration as he did. I was somewhat afraid that his oratorical skills would let me down. I can tell you that I was not prepared for the overwhelming success that it was.

At the end, I fell off the couch. I could hardly speak, and the neighbors threatened to call the cops for all then noise I caused.

He rivaled REAGAN on this one, and it was just what we need.

Now, we are launched, and all hell will break loose. I, for one, am ready.

[ishabibble]

I had the EXACT same thought. I will never forget those words, “Stand up and fight”. I always liked McCain, now I LOVE him, that was the real deal.

[lonevoice]

That body language woman was on O’Reilly last night and was saying McCain needs to put his arms behind his back when standing still. I screamed to the TV that he probably can’t!

I saw that too. And O'Reilly was laughing like the bloviating falafel-eating empty-headed Ted Baxter he is. The body language lady is a liberal plant. She ALWAYS, without exception, interprets the body language of conservative speakers as negative, mean, arrogant, insecure, angry. She ALWAYS interprets, without exception, the body language of liberal speakers as confident, sincere, thoughtful, congruent, powerful. And who can argue with her? She's the body language expert! *barf*

Anyway, this is just the typical O'Reilly fare...it's a sham(e) and FNC should be ashamed of it. But they're not.

[Huck]

Thanks for posting this. I agree completely.

[Huck]

Anyway, this is just the typical O'Reilly fare...it's a sham(e) and FNC should be ashamed of it. But they're not.

Ashamed of constant #1 ratings? I don't think so. And here's a discussion of his show, and his cheesy expert, by people who WATCHED his program. I don't like him, but then, I rarely tune him in.

[Chet 99]

Agreed! I just hope the big audience stayed tuned in for the final minutes. What made it so good was its authenticity.

The protester disruptions were annoying. Someone needs to tell these crowds that the people watching on TV cannot hear the protesters and they’d best just ignore it and let security handle.

[SuziQ]

It was an extremely powerful ending!

[SuziQ]

I’ve heard that because of his broken arms as a P.O.W., McCain cannot raise his arms above his shoulders.

True, and did you notice that when he introduced Sarah Palin, in OH, that she kept her arms lower, when she waved, and didn't raise them as high as she might have? She did the same thing onstage after the two families gathered after McCain's speech. When she was standing next to him, she kept her arms lower, but when she moved away from him, she raiser her arms higher to wave at the folks higher up. I thought that was very respectful of her.

[Cicero]

Yes, I did notice that, and I admired it greatly. She is a very thoughtful person, always thinking of what she can do for others and with others, and not just about herself.

[Cicero]

Yes. McCain has sometimes done the wrong thing, but with this perspective it looks as if maybe he didn’t do so deliberately or because he was ego-driven.

Which means that he can still grow and learn, even at his age and with all his political experience. He really DOES want to reform politics and root out corruption. He just needs to have people he can talk with who can help him see the best way to do it. He was listening too much to the press and the pundits when he went for McCain-Feingold. I hope he has learned better.

[Desdemona]

Maybe he really thought that McCain-Feingold would reform political corruption. He was wrong, but at least if his motives were good maybe he can learn to do better next time.

Even before Thursday night, I do not believe that John McCain would KNOWINGLY put this country in danger. Some of his actions and words may not be thought out or researched thoroughly and can and are errors, but he'd be more likely to admit mistakes.

[Toespi]

Taken from the scene in Braveheart, when Mel Gibson was rallying his troops as he screamed, “fight with me.” All McCain had to do was finish it with FREEDOM.

[Fred]

Youtube of Convention

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog hanging with some freepers and lurkers

[Crolis]

Wow..I didn’t notice that, but I’ll have to review my TIVO recordings of the speeches and see. That tells me that Sarah Palin is a class act. I stayed up to watch McCain’s speech Thursday night and was personally moved.

[SuziQ]

Could also explain why he left the Navy, in which his father and grandfather had both served so long, because he saw that he could help his country in a different way. After working as the Senate liason, he saw who wielded the power to make needed changes in this country, and he realized it wasn’t the military.

[SuziQ]

LOL! That was pretty good! SirKit saw Triumph in the background when we were watching the convention coverage the other night. I’ll have to send him that link.

[patriotspride]

” I saw that too. And O’Reilly was laughing like the bloviating falafel-eating empty-headed Ted Baxter he is. The body language lady is a liberal plant. She ALWAYS, without exception, interprets the body language of conservative speakers as negative, mean, arrogant, insecure, angry. She ALWAYS interprets, without exception, the body language of liberal speakers as confident, sincere, thoughtful, congruent, powerful. And who can argue with her? She’s the body language expert! *barf*”

Somebody should get her a stylist, as that looked like a Hawaiian Luau dress.................

Also agree about her bias....it comes through very clearly

[nathanbedford]

Your replies embolden me to post the balance of the incomplete vanity which remains unedited but I post it now because it begins to address the question you both the have raised. I am groping my way to a conclusion and I hope you can share some insights:

And now we know the rest of the story.

This is not to say that John McCain was instantly sanctified in all respects, far from it. He still had to swim his way out of a giant mental, moral and spiritual hangover from his ordeal. His screwing around would cost him his marriage before he could swim to shore. Even today, the old self bursts out in temper. But when one lays this template over the rest of John McCain’s career, one should have little difficulty accepting the story as being essentially true (I for one believe it) and to accept it as a convincing explanation of his career and his conception of his role as president.

Before considering the implications of all of this for conservatives, it is instructive to consider what it means to liberals.

In a word: "nothing." Liberals do not see it because they cannot see it. They simply do not get it. The whole idea of gaining empowerment through surrendering is as psychologically repugnant to liberals as is the idea of accepting a higher authority in their lives. Consider the Democrat party to be a gigantic creaking contrivance to legitimatize liberals in their insatiable quest to feed their egos. The job of this machine is to provide rationalizations. The obvious examples are sex without consequences and abortion without guilt. These examples demonstrate that the rationalization machine can be quite deadly as it kills 3 to 4 million babies a year. The pernicious doctrines emanating from The Frankfurt School such as moral relativism, feminism, and critical theory find application not just in cultural issues like abortion which kill babies but across the board, touching all government policy and every aspect of our lives.

To repeat, the whole subconscious purpose of this Democrat apparatus is to turn thinking on its head and provide a language to liberals so they can continue to play God (especially with other people's lives). Liberals will never about-face and cast away everything that feeds their ego addictions. That is why we hear them using English words but it comes out as a different language.

John McCain was released from his invisible bondage in that cell in the Hanoi Hilton but what did he replace it with?

Evidently, George Bush assumed traditional Christian values and standards which presumably have guided him since then. I'd venture that, on the positive side, Bush's Christian faith lent him the courageto persevere in Iraq. On the negative side, it made him too serene and indifferent to criticism so that he never fought the public relations battle necessary to see his policies through.

What evidence is there that John McCain became a traditional Christian? Or even that he came to believe in God? He has invoked the name of the deity, even in this speech but does that mean an amorphous deism or a recognizable and traditional Christian doctrine? Does it matter?

I have long posted on these threads that George Bush's Christian commitment and precedence over his orthodox conservatism. I argued that if the two precepts clashed on a particular issue, his Christian belief system would prevail. I always thought that this meant that George Bush put Christianity above party whereas most of us might not have seen a conflict on a given issue. Hence we had fetes to the Kennedy’s, African aids relief, and “compassionate” conservatism.

Obviously John McCain has not accepted Reagan conservatism as an orthodoxy to which he has consistent resort. If he was a maverick in the sense that he was the delinquent before his epiphany, he is still a maverick in the sense that he is notoriously (or "famously" if one is a Democrat) independent on matters of principle. What are those principles?

The great danger to conservatism, indeed a great danger to the Republic, is that McCain has no fixed identifiable set of principles but operates ad hoc.

[to be continued... ]