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.
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.