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The Note: Palin a Hit, and McCain Bats Next
September 04, 2008 9:16 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Thursday's Note:
ST. PAUL, Minn. --
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has gotten the scrambled race he wanted when he turned to Gov. Sarah Palin. So, this is his party now -- what does he do with it?
McCain’s convention gets to be about McCain again (or maybe for the first time), as one of the strangest political gatherings in memory comes to a close Thursday in St. Paul with Cindy and John as your highlights.
McCain’s teammate in this endeavor capped a weeklong journey from obscurity -- across Quayle Quarry and Eagleton Pass and back (no wonder Trig’s hair was out of place) -- with a powerful speech that keeps her in the image game.
To wear out some imagery, the hockey mom knows how to lace up the skates -- and can deliver a check into the boards, lipstick intact.
The speech wasn’t soaring or specific, but it didn’t have to be. It wasn’t perfect or polished, but neither is she (and that’s the point).
Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
We stayed earthbound with Sarah Palin. Yet, a beleaguered party has found its inspiration -- a person who makes Republicans proud to call themselves Republicans again, even if she’s someone that the “elite media” (more unpopular at the RNC than Harry Reid?) doesn’t quite know what to do with. (That applies maybe even to those who have yet to learn the perils of the hot mic.)
“Ms. Palin’s appearance electrified a convention that has been consumed by questions of whether she was up to the job, as she launched slashing attacks on Mr. Obama’s claims of experience,” Elisabeth Bumiller and Michael Cooper write in The New York Times.
“Palin pitched herself as the product of small-town America and laced her address with sarcastic digs at Sen. Obama. She said it is his experience, not hers, that is lacking, and she embraced the role of leading the attack against the Democratic ticket,” Michael D. Shear writes in The Washington Post. “Palin focused on almost every tactical misstep Obama's campaign has made, painting a caricature of the Democrat as an out-of-touch elitist and a lightweight celebrity with no sense of what matters to average Americans.”
Even Sen. Joe Biden was impressed -- well, sort of.
“She had a great night. I thought she had a very skillfully written, and very skillfully delivered speech,” Biden, D-Del., told ABC’s Robin Roberts on “Good Morning America” Thursday. “I was impressed by the speech, but I was also impressed by what I didn’t hear spoken. ... They were good, funny lines -- I’m glad they weren’t about me.”
Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.
September 4, 2008 in Biden, Joe, Bush, George W., Clinton, Hillary, Giuliani, Rudy, Huckabee, Mike, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Paul, Ron, Romney, Mitt, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (206)
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The speech was very skillfully written by our current President's speechwriter. ENOUGH!
Posted by: NMP | Sep 4, 2008 9:23:30 AM
As a Democrat supporting Democrats downticket and McCain for President, I think the Republicans can breathe a sigh of relief. Sarah Palin did women proud. She will not back down, she will not be destroyed by a pro-Obama media, and she showed how strong women really can be. As a woman, I was proud of her, and I think she will make a fine Vice President. If the DNC doesn't think this woman is going to bring over some moderate and conservative-leaning Hillary supporters, they are living in Fantasy Land. I don't like all her stances, but I like Sarah just fine. McCain-Palin have the support of all the women in my extended Irish-American family.
Posted by: Carrie | Sep 4, 2008 9:30:29 AM
Sarah is an insult to women. She stand for everything most women are against. She is supposed to be a strong woman, but can't take the media heat and cries sexism. She even has the dems defending her, but choose to tear them apart! She is a divise figure who will never have this woman's vote. McCain picked her because she's a woman, not because she is qualified.
Posted by: Hippiemom | Sep 4, 2008 9:32:14 AM
Who is Sarah Palin to criticize Obama's quantity and quality of experience? That is utterly ridiculous. She is the last person who should be making that case. Even Reagan's speechwriter Peggy Noonan said of Palin: "Most qualified? No....It's over."
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Sep 4, 2008 9:34:47 AM
Sarah is an extremist moujahidine and McCain is an extremist jihadist, this ticket is a very dangerous couple and a very explosive combination. God save America from McSarah.
Posted by: BKMC | Sep 4, 2008 9:40:12 AM
Argetina had Evita
We've got Sarah!!!!!!!!!
Palin Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Marty | Sep 4, 2008 9:43:08 AM
Talk about sexist:
1. Harry Reid calling Palin "shrill" is an insult reserved for women.
2. To NMP and everyone else last night who commented that Palin had the help pf a speechwriter: so did everyone else, Clinton's and Biden included.
This speech was a home run. An A+. Pitch perfect.
Palin is the GOP equivalent of the VP nominee that Obama would have made if he hand not lost his nerve and sold out the last vestige of a "change" campaign by naming a 35 year semi-corrupt political hack as his running mate.
Last, trying to wound Palin by any means possible no matter how transparently petty shows just how desperate Team Obama really is. And with good reason. The SS Obama now has a 5’X6’ hole in its hull and is taking on water.
Posted by: Stephen Gianelli | Sep 4, 2008 9:43:26 AM
Carrie: You got all that out of that speech last night??
Hippiemom: I totally agree.
I heard on the news this morning she has no knowledge on the War or the Middle East that they are in the process of informing her and teaching her that is is why she said nothing last night in her speech about any of it. Now my question is why would you pick a VP who has no knowledge and admitted she has never followed the war or the middle east??? McCain you lose!
Posted by: beck | Sep 4, 2008 9:43:36 AM
F
Posted by: Nan | Sep 4, 2008 9:44:07 AM
Not impressed at all I will vote for the third party
Posted by: Nan | Sep 4, 2008 9:44:39 AM
PALIN WORE AN ALASKA FIRST PIN. WHATS WRONG WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG PIN?
Posted by: vetwatching | Sep 4, 2008 9:46:17 AM
If the Obama campaign and their allies in the MSM want to destroy Sarah Palin, they have their work cut out for them. This woman is as strong in her own way as John McCain. She will attract Democratic women like myself who are no longer comfortable with a party that so easily cast aside a woman who received 50% of the vote in the Primary. I am opposed to many of the positions that Sarah Palin holds. However, those positions pale in comparison to my determination to help shatter the highest glass ceiling. As a 72-year old woman who faced discrimation first-hand in the work place, I intend to support this female candidate for Vice President. When the Democratic Party begins to appreciate the women who make up more than half its membership, I may consider returning to the party of my parents and grandparents.
Posted by: Dottie, Collinsville, IL | Sep 4, 2008 9:49:18 AM
Congratulations Sarah, you just become a member of the good old boys club.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 4, 2008 9:50:56 AM
For better part of the last two weeks, we have all heard polished speeches from performing orators on both sides of the political aisle.
Last night's speech by Sarah Palin was quite refreshing and provides the indication that a McCain/Palin administration will not be politics as usual.
As Obama and his campaign have chosen to attempt to attack and demean Sarah and her family since the announcement of her choice, she responded in an appropriate and aggressive manner, yet did so with respect...something that Obama and his minions seem to be unable to accomplish.
In my view, I find it significantly important that Sarah's son is serving our country's military and may soon be deployed to Iraq while one of John's sons is facing a possible second tour of duty with another graduating from Anapolis.
Such would indicate that the McCain and Palin families understand both the importance of service and the reality of sacrifice for country and freedom rather than the encouragement and proliferation of the Obama/Biden welfare state.
Posted by: Jayhawk | Sep 4, 2008 9:51:51 AM
Sarah Palin is not a good choice if you'd like to pander to Clinton woman like myself. I tend to be suspicious about Palin kinds of crazy.
However, as a candidate with ethical standards, I love her. Obama soldout to the Chicago powerboys club, he got a great bargain on a house and now he runs a campaign with tonns of lobbyist money. A person like Sarah Palin should definitely worry such a man. A guy too cool for me, and after the primaries I just don't like Obama.
Dems blew it, they broke their own rules, democratic traditions and common decency to have the candidate they wanted - a man undeserving who ran to negative for my taste. He's trying to make up for it now, but you can't change the spots on a leopards. Come November I will have to look closely at McCharacter and Palin.
Posted by: Sylvia Johnsen | Sep 4, 2008 9:53:39 AM
McCain has really put energy back into the GOP. The last time a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed woman was in the White House, Bill Clinton was President.
Posted by: hamishdad | Sep 4, 2008 9:53:42 AM
Oh, yeah, almost forgot...
Anybody But Obama...
Posted by: Jayhawk | Sep 4, 2008 9:54:11 AM
'The Nanny' is not going to tell my daughter that it's okay to have a child at 17, she's nuttier that McNuts...
Posted by: rick | Sep 4, 2008 9:56:13 AM
I can't think of even one issue that McCain will turn to Palin for advice as VP....I think we know why she was chosen! Shame on him...and at the country's expense....so much for country first!
Posted by: lori | Sep 4, 2008 9:59:47 AM
I can't think of even one issue that McCain will turn to Palin for advice as VP....I think we know why she was chosen! Shame on him...and at the country's expense....so much for country first!
Posted by: lori | Sep 4, 2008 10:00:22 AM
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