Posted on 09/02/2008 9:28:05 PM PDT by A_Niceguy_in_CA
ST. PAUL, MINN. — While Republican National Convention planners obsessed about the course of Hurricane Gustav, the only subject delegates and conservatives in general could discuss during the weekend's pre-convention activities (i.e. drinking) was the potential beam of sunshine, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
This is my sixth RNC, and I've never seen anything remotely like the excitement Palin has unleashed. Some compare it to the enthusiasm for Ronald Reagan in 1976 or 1980. Even among the GOP's cynics, there's a kind of giddiness over John McCain's tactical daring in selecting the little-known Alaskan.
Readers of National Review Online -- a reliable bellwether of conservative sentiment -- flooded the site with e-mails throughout the long weekend. The messages ran roughly 20-1 in almost orgiastic excitement about the pick. On Friday, one reader expressed Christmas-morning delight over the gift of Palin, proclaiming that McCain had just "given us our Red Ryder BB gun."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The Obama campaign smugly -- and foolishly -- ridicules her work as a small-town mayor. But who can better empathize with the plight of working families: Biden, a trial-lawyer friendly senator since the Jurassic era, or a woman with five kids (including a son in the Army and a young daughter, we've just learned, who is pregnant) and a blue-collar spouse? Obama performed badly with working-class rural voters in the primaries. Joe "the Pride of Scranton" Biden is supposed to help on that front. Ridiculing small towns might not help the cause.
Sarah Palin has been invisible the last two days. The McCain campaign says shes been in seclusion to rehearse her speech, but it given the appearance they’re trying to avoid the questions. She needs to get out in front of the issues about her daughter’s pregnancy. The McCain camp has it wrong here; it just looks like she’s hiding (cancelling all her public appearances these last two days) rather than confronting the Left and the press, and calling them out. In my opinion, they are blowing it by letting this spiral out of control. I know we’re heartened by the choice, and the Left is predictably hysterical. But there are a lot of moderates/independents who I’ve talked to who are unsure with all the controversy. The candidate herself needs to come out in her own defense, and save her speech before the convention for focusing on her positives and highlighting McCain.
I think the Delegates are going to blow the roof off of the Convention Center tomorrow night....
Sarah Palin is worth that.
I have a feeling we will see why tomorrow night. She will come out and call the media out on this. It won’t be pretty for the MSM or the bloggers on the left that have been spewing this garbage. I can’t wait!
This is why the left is attacking Palin like they are. I overheard a couple women today who were positively gushing over Palin, they hadn't voted since Reagan but were this year. The left sees the hand writing on the wall folks, they will bitch and complain, attack Palins family and try to convince the country they know whats best but it aint going to work. Most Americans relate to Palin and attacks on her are attacks on them. The dims are to stupid to see this which will be their downfall. I love it.
“This is my sixth RNC, and I’ve never seen anything remotely like the excitement Palin has unleashed. Some compare it to the enthusiasm for Ronald Reagan in 1976 or 1980.”
ROCK ON!!!! YA-BA-DA-BA-DO!!!!!
This author gets it by stating the obvious. The MSM esp the networks really don’t get it.
When Fred mentioned just her name tonight she got a standing ovation!
The candidates don’t usually stump the campaign trail when the party is hosting a convention. It’s a fact that McCain had no outside campaigning scheduled until next weekend.
Bullseye
Yes indeed, and the crowd tonight was not packed due to Gustav, tomorrow night the place will be rocking.
Maybe chants of Sar—ahh Sar—ahh..it will be quite possibly the most moving political event I’ve seen since 9/11.
BS. That is pure BS. Pregnancy of Palin's daughter is the Leftist Smear-Machine's agenda. It is pure foolishness to allow them to make it the Republican agenda. Let the Left make petty fools of themselves.
bookmark
Welcome to FR.
Whilst I tend to agree with going on the attack, we will just have to wait an see how this all plays out. Relax; the adults are in charge.
I posted this on another thread - thought you’d enjoy it from one of the PUMAs on the hillary clinton forum:
You know what is funny? I have something to tell you guys.
Of all these years, I never watch Republican Convention. I never really know any republican figures other those who are hated by Democrats. I never spend anytime learning more about them as I grow up in Democrat family. This year, for the first time, I watch Republican Convention. You know what I find? People are not angry. They all say gracious things. There is a lot of kindness. One hispanic woman was asked if Hispanic folks will be behind John McCain even though he backed securing the border first before immigration reform, she answered kindly “Yes, we will back John McCain. He had faught for us on many issues even though it made his party angry and dislike him. John McCain tried hard and many times to get immigration reform to pass, but there were too many Americans believe it is more important to secure our border first. If that is the most important thing to everybody and must do in order to pass immigration reform, then we better get that done right away.” Another man was very proud of McCain picked Palin as a VP for her record and what she had done in Alaska. He also admired her for being non-Ivy league candidate who achieves professional political life and family life without being abbrasive. And on, and on..... Wow.... Everybody is so kind and gracious and hopeful. Nobody is so angry like last week. I am amazed.
They are trying to avoid the mistake that Bush made in 1988, which was to push Quayle out on the stage without preparation. Quayle was a young, competent medwestern senator, but he was not ready for that kind of exposure. That said, Palin is going to have to come on like gangbusters, my guess putting down her detractors, and the detractors of social conservatives. with a few barbs, and then cutting to the chase, selling McCain and laying down part of the program for a McCain administration. She should go with energy policy, and be as specific as possible, and tie it to national security.
McCain/Palin = Maverick Reformers
Obama/Biden = 2 Angry Men
Wouldn't one rather the breath of fresh air from Arizona and Alaska over the polluted air from Chicago, Delaware and Washington D.C.?
The battle is not won, nor is it lost. But it has been joined, thanks to Sarah Palin.
In all of the interviews I’ve seen of her she does a good job on the energy issue - and tieing it to national security. I don’t recall excatly but in one she said something like “My son - just a kid really, is going to Iraq shortly. And it bothers me that someday our troops may have to go to war over oil, when Alaska has such an abundance of God-given natural resources that should be put to use.” I believe that was from the MSNBC interview done before she was announced as V.P. candidate.
On the other hand, all of her interviews she was pushing the energy thing. As important as that issue is - I hope that she will also talk up her other aspects.
So simple for us to understand... but the left doesn't have a clue. You're right. They'll sink themselves.
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