Wow, Greg. This is one of your finest posts.

Thanks - it was really well written and a pleasure to read.

Welcome to two-thousand-and-motherfucking-four. I feel like this nightmare is replaying before my eyes in slow motion. I just hope we're smart enough to change the outcome this time.

I still cannot get over the fact that: Repugs have been selling themselves on National Security for how long now?

And he's just trashed that altogether. Then he proceeded to completely reverse himself on everything he was running on in the first half of the campaign.

It's just bloody weird.

That speech was like watching old folks f*ck aka slow and sloppy

The worst speech i have ever seen in a while. I don't see how McCain is going to get a bounce.

Apparently, you haven't spoken with Rick Davis...

Wait - wasn't he NOT tortured under his own recent definition of torture?

Choice between a wannabe and a real, authentic American who puts country first. Might not mean much to some TPM readers but it is a message that resonates.

Hillary had enough class and background to compete but Obama is simply an unprepared and inexperienced wannabe. His 15-minutes are up.

McCain's speech was no different than the bullshit republicans have been spewing for the last 20 yrs.
He offered more of the same and no substance. A bio, a narrative is not enough to get elected. Americans are hurting and McCain doesn't get that.

Tonights spectacle by McSame and the republisames clearly demonstrates why Barack Obama will more than likely win the election.

McCain's own campaign staff claim this election's not about issues. They don't want to go there -- someone might start talking about the Supreme Court or something equally distracting. Obama's team is hip to this, but they must stay vigilant to the end, calling out McCain on his Bush-Cheney "platform" over and over and over again.

One thing the GOP has taught us: repetition (compassionate conservatism, compassionate conservatism) can really work.

Well stated.

I have to say I am underwhelmed and I suppose that having cried POW so many times during the campiagn has weakened any appreciation and awe could feel for his 'service'.

I feel in no way inclined to give the republicans another 4 years to hack away at our country's security, economy, liberties, etc. in general and with McCain/Palin that's a solid...

No Way! No How! No McCain!

I don't even think we need to bother bringing Palin into it.

Why do you have to include this pompous, portentous guff about how McCain "suffered in a way few of us can imagine" (did you get a higher degree in how to write in trite, cliched phrases?) and has a character "hardened by extraordinary suffering"?? You sound more like a cheesy announcer from a pro-McCain ad. Are you some kind of plant???

I don't know WHAT McCain suffered in the Hanoi Hilton. Neither do you and neither does pretty much anyone. Even McCain chooses to tart up his now foggy memories.

The point is that McCain DOESN'T have a character "hardened by extraordinary suffering." He was a spoiled, pettish rich kid who worked mightily to destroy millions of dollars worth of equipment in the years before he was captured. And he emerged from his prison the same spoiled, pettish rich kid, having tantrums, dumping his non-glossy crippled wife, etc., etc.

Maybe he had a character forged in the "bowels of perdition by the iniquitous and vile," to use portentous phrasing more memorable than your own, courtesy of the scriptwriters at "Reaper."

I will only say this once. It's true that McCain suffered as a POW, and in this sense his suffering was, at least among presidential candidates, singular.

But it seems to simply fly over the heads of everyone at the RNC how extraordinary the level of service and patriotism has been among African Americans when juxtaposed against the shameful treatment to which they have often been subject.

There's no use harping on it, but it's quite clear that McCain, who never received anything but love and kisses from his country, cannot conceive that there are large numbers of other people whose love of country has also been forged in suffering.

You want narrative and character? How about this one. We have two men asking to be our president right now. One has stayed true to himself despite all the pressure. The other really hasn't.

Obama said at the outset that he wanted a civil campaign on the issues. He said he would avoid the politics of person destruction. He demanded a cool, no drama organization -- much like himself. He organized a strong team. Set clear goals. Adopted a sound plan and stuck to it. Reasoned, careful. Solid judgment. And in the intense glare of things like Wright and flags pins, he stuck to it all. Above all, Obama really has stayed true to who he is.

McCain on the other hand,despite his calls for a civil campaign, injected personal attacks. He cozied up to the same religious extremist he once decried. People like Hagen. And when that wasn't enough, he brought onto the ticket a evangelical with extreme views on abortion, contraception and sex education -- positions far to the right of his own beliefs. He brought on a woman that asked for and cheered for earmarks that McCain himself rejected. McCain abandoned his former tough positions on climate change, taxes and immigration. And finally, he hired the same polarizing, no-holds-barred political assassins that George Bush unleashed on America and McCain himself. Senator McCain didn't stay true to himself. He morphed into right-wing, polarizing ideologue. And why? As the New York Times noted in a recent article, he's ambivalent about his ambitious, but often he'll loose sight of his values and overreach for the sake of those ambitious. In other words, McCain falls victim to the allure of power and looses his good judgment. He doesn't stay true to himself.

I dearly hope American's will come to appreciate this about these two men. One has stayed true to the better angels of his nature. One succumbed to the darker angels of his. Which one would make a better president?

From a Dem standpoint, could the Repub convention ended any better considering the response from Palin's speech last night?

The sizzle in the convention fizzled out when McCain took the stage tonight.

The "We have to catch up with history" line juxtaposed with Obama's (and other's) "we are on the right side of history" is just shocking to me. I know what McCain was trying to do but it just reads like defeat to me...

The post is more aspirational than reality-based. Strikes me that elections have been less about policy proposals and more about stories. That is not to say that Obama's story about changing America is less compelling than McCain's story of the maverick fighter pilot, shot down, who has always strove to put his country first, but I wouldn't bet the farm on Obama getting elected because his health care plan is better than McCain's. Hillary Clinton learned that one the hard way.

thanks tena and others -- really appreciate it...

Oilbama voted for Dick Cheney's Big Oil Energy Bill, McCain did not. Oilbama has written a few books and given some speaches but has done very little besides hanging out and being BFF's with a Racist Rev Wright, a Terrorist Ayers, and a Slumlord Rezco. Meanwhile John McCain was proudly serving this country.

A lifelong Democrat and Clinton supporter I donated to McCain Palin today. I leave the party to the Koolaid drinking sexist cultist Obamabots until Hillary opposes McCain in 2012. May all you Obamabots become scientologists or Moonies.

My wife treats people with PTSD and she is convinced that McShame is suffering from it. It is also clear that he hasn't dealt with it but he behaviors are clear that he has demens in his head. Our country should be very afraid of his vision of America and how to keep us safe. Cheney is over in Georgia doing who knows what but it certainly is at our peril. Let's continue to take these thugs on!

Greg, you're a treasure.

Tena, slap me out of it.

I just want to say that I'm feeling really pissed because Barack has had to go to hell and back for people to "get to know him," and Governor Barracuda just has to do what she's done and people get her, love her, want her to run the whole show.

The fear and loathing are racist, I'm sorry, and it's really pissing me off.

I am hoping for an Exxon-John style ad from Dems saying something like John Bush :) Tom Ridge gaffe was awesome!
But I did like McCain's speech, it just wasn't as soaring as Barack's or as vicious as Palin's but it wasn't all bad. But I guess average doesn't cut it...

My wife treats people with PTSD and she is convinced that McShame is suffering from it. It is also clear that he hasn't dealt with it but he behaviors are clear that he has demens in his head. Our country should be very afraid of his vision of America and how to keep us safe. Cheney is over in Georgia doing who knows what but it certainly is at our peril. Let's continue to take these thugs on!

I survived McCain's RNC speech and all I have left is a lousy T-shirt. And killer balloons. And a 80's song about barracudas. And not a single proposal.

McSame is trying to divorce himself from Bush and the GOP..

it won't work.
The 2000 McCain he tried to pretend he was tonight was traded in years ago like the Roman soldiers casting lots for the garmentts at the foot of the cross; he's since become part of the problem.
He rails about "Republican corruption," so I guess he's implicitly acknowledging his role as one of the Keating 5.
He railed against Washington, while ignoring the obvious fact that he's been a part of the Washington culture for 27 years, the vast majority as a complicitor with a Republican Administration.
He railed about "a bureaucrat deciding health decisions between you and your doctor." But he's so out-of-touch that he doesn't know that a health insurance industry bureaucrat is already making decisions for your doctor.
He made the case: "Republicans have screwed up so we deserve to be re-elected."

Say "G'night," Grampy McSame.

When the Republicans were toward the end of their primary and in meltdown mode, I tuned in to Limbaugh for a few minutes for a schadenfreude moment. (warning: do not try this at home) The base hated McCain and they were venting to Rush about what a horrible candidate/Republican/conservative the senator was.

One call stood out. A woman called and was going ballistic about John McCain and his Vietnam "stuff". She was ranting about "Vietnam, Vietnam, I am sick to death about hearing about Vietnam- that was decades ago." The gist of it was, it had absolutely no relevance to the campaign. Seem to remember Rush agreeing with her. I was actually appalled by the insensitive and dismissive nature of the comments considering the GOP's lip service to all things military. I don't agree with McCain's policies, but I would never diminish the suffering that he endured as they did on Limbaugh's show.

It would be great if someone could find some audio/video of these types of calls to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the current POW meme that they are pushing. I don't know how you would search for this type of material, but I am sure there is a treasure trove out there.

I can't keep up anymore with what I've been able post where and I'm repeating myself -

But I honestly did not get the impression that the people attending the Repug convention were having a good time. At all.

God I remember the dancing in the stadium before Barrack showed up -

It is simply astonishing the bullshit that Eskew, Black, Davis, Rove, et al are trying to shove down our throats. It is truly insulting to any sane person, and a disgrace to our political process.

McCain is for change now? Now? What about the 90% voting with Bush thing? Did he even mention Iraq or Surge in the speech, you know, the defining issues of John McCain's supposed character? This is an absolutely astonishing bait and switch they are pulling. They are acting as if McCain is new on the scene and one fucking weakass speech will convice America that it is in fact he who can deliver the Change you can believe in. Insulting. If America buys this load of crap, I'm done, I quit caring about national politics alltogether, and go back to my nice Southeastern Connecticut bubble. Its great here anyway, so fuck the rest of you if you eat this shit sandwich.

Governor Palin took all of the assholic comparisons you made between the two of you, and showed your complete lack of understanding, humor, and grace. Moreover, she exposed your complete and utter lack of experience in governing, your arrogance, and your condescending attitudes. Oh, yeah - she nailed it. And you, Obama. She sees you for who you are - a propped up, puffed up, patronizing empty suit with no real accomplishments to your name. She’s got your number. And it’s making you mad because you can’t shut her up with threats of party disunity like you did Hillary. Hillary Clinton is faithful to the Party (despite their lack of faithfulness to her), and she was not willing to have it implode. Governor Palin doesn’t have to worry about that. And anyway, you’re making it implode enough all by your own self.

I loved when she said being a “mayor was like being a Community Organizer, only with responsibilities.” Hysterical.

She convicted you when she claimed McCain says the same thing to people across the country, not one thing to Scranton and another to San Francisco. Ouch - truth hurts, doesn’t it??

But my favorite line had to be her quip about them taking back the “Styrofoam Greek columns to the studio lot.” Thank the goddess for DVR-capability. I had to pause then because we were laughing so hard. And then I re-wound it. Twice. That was priceless.

McCain is Too Little... Too Late

This is only my second time commenting on a blog, (last night was the first) This is off the current subject but I found the showing of the 9/11 attack completely horrendous. I'm still shaking. These people (the repugs) are again trying to use fear and the attacks on this country for a few votes, it is disgusting, have these people no shame!!

Keith Olbermann was the only one who showed dismay and class over this. They won't show the caskets of our fallen heros, but will use the deaths of fallen americans for there political gain. Have they no decency. Every american of any political strip should be pissed about this.

There are some good links to KO response, not sure how to imbed them here, if some could take this further I would greatly appreciate it.

God bless America

I'm sorry GOP but I didn't listen to any, especially made a point of missing your star from Alaska, speeches that your whole group gave. Why? You have a terrible tag that hangs from your neck. You have an image of being corrupt that you earned during the Bush administration.You (GOP) have not done anything about those within that have given you that image. You illustrate greed; it hangs from your glares; it resonates in your words. You sound like the party of the rich, for the rich, and by the rich no matter what wrong your members have done. You participate in no efforts to cleanse any of the graft. You have not one star interested in cleaning out the basement (foundation) of the evangelistic element that has screamed from your depths that God is only on your side because you know it all!

This, and the John Bush gaffe by Tom Ridge-- it's gotta go viral.

Watching Larry King last night I found myself in disagreement with Ariana. She believes that Obama canno afford the campaign to be dominated by all things Palin and if it is Dems will lose. Allow me to retort, isnt the golden rule of Veepstakes "Thou shall not overshadow"? Seriously if Mccain's campaign is all about Palin's soap opera that wont get votes just really good TV ratings.

I am sorry Greg but there is no story where McCain is the protagonist.

We see Opedius after the fall. Hubris as shattered the hero.

We wait to see if Fuast's bargin gives him the world to destroy or sends him to a much deserved Hell. This is the tragedy the fool has chosen for himself.

McCain will strut and fret about a bit and then tape a couple of Viagra commercials. McCain's personal vanity crushed everything worth admiring from his soul and his being. We watch to see if he, also, casts our fate with his lot.

Again, Greg, you are wrong. McCain can not be framed as the protagonist. That man died decades ago.

I sent this observation into the crew here at TPM, something I've never done before, and I guess it didn't make the cut but I still think it's something more people ought to consider:

A lot of people have weighed in on Palin’s sarcastic comment about community organizers, but I think this is the crux of the matter: here we have the VP nominee for the party that has been insisting for years that social welfare shouldn’t be a government function; it should be handled by charitable organizations and churches and people should decide for themselves how much they want to give to help those who are less fortunate than themselves. And she’s sneering at the very people whose work is crucial to making her party’s laissez-faire approach to social welfare function on even the most minimal level.

They don’t just look down on poor people; they look down on the people who try to help poor people escape from being poor. Anyone who would do that rather than taking a job where they make a lot of money or wield power is a sucker, in the eyes of the Republicans.

Compassionate conservatism in action, folks.

And if you want to talk about “elitism”, I don’t know how you’d ever find a better example of it than that line, mockingly delivered by Sarah Palin. Here’s hoping that a whole lot of people pick up on this fact and hang it around her neck.

Ok, I didn't bother watching this one in detail by the maverick pow. Everytime that I listened, it was the same old, same old.

1. We all know that he was a pow. Give it a rest already. And then you hear the stupid talking heads saying that he is reluctant to talk about it? Are you f'n kidding me. That is all he talks about.

2. He is an alleged maverick. My a**. There is never any substance to that label conferred on him by the right-wing media. Actually, can you believe that the first time he was labeled a maverick was 1998??? 1998, think about it. He was allegedly a maverick in 1998 and he tossed it to the wind in 2004. So, out of 26 plus years he was a "maverick" for 6 whole years, allegedly, and now he is to the right of the king. Unbelievable.

3. He is an alleged reformer. Again, on what basis? There is none.

4. He is bipartisan??? This one cracks me up. He voted for the king 90% of the time, plus. But he is willing to reach accross the aisle for all "patriots." WTF? So someone that disagrees with him is unpatriotic? How do these criminals get away with this.

5. He "hates war," circle back to pow. However, he wants to stay in iraq, even though the iraqis want us out yesterday and he doesn't believe in diplomacy. He only believes in making countries cower to the US at the end of a gun.

I think I summed it up. If he breaks 40% in november, I will be shocked. Seig Heil!

He probably did the best he could.