The American Spectator

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Post-Conventional Wisdom

9.8.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 5 of 10)

I could not agree more with Mr. Klein's assessment of the McCain campaign and the Republican Party, as things stand today. Like many of the TAS family, I have been a harsh critic of McCain over these many years. I still disagree strongly with many of his actions in the Senate; we all know the litany by heart. It was only after the Democrat convention that I resigned myself to the fact that I could not sit this presidential election out, and that I would vote for McCain after all. My spirits were indeed low. My decision was really a function of voting against the very dangerous, inexperienced, and radical leftist team of Obama and Biden. But as many fellow readers at TAS have stated, voting against an ideology or a candidate is not sufficient enough reason, there needs to be more, much more. So I thought this election was now Obama's to lose.

And then, out of the Pacific Northwest, came Gov. Palin, who, for the first time, in a long time, sent my spirits soaring. I had heard and read some things about her. She was on my radar screen, but only vaguely. I've been in the political game for 30 years on the state and local level. I think I have good political instincts. I've seen only a handful of exceptional politicians over these years. My gut tells me this woman, Gov. Palin, is the real deal. I sense something exceptional about her; a common sense confidence, that only strong, well grounded individuals have. A demeanor of basic goodness and decency, which flows from an unwavering belief in things we hold dear.

Granted, this star has just emerged, and many pitfalls await, especially from a now riled and rabid Democrat party, and their totally disreputable allies in the MSM. They may temporarily score points with their scorched earth determination to destroy her, but in the end, I believe she'll emerge unbowed and standing. I think we're witnessing the future. Let me echo those mentioned in Mr. Klein's article and go one step further, by asking my fellow reluctant and highly principled conservatives to think again about a vote for McCain. Think of it as an investment for the future. Something that may pay dividends beyond our wildest dreams.
-- A. DiPentima

Mr. Klein, over all, gives a fair and balanced report of McCain's big night at the convention. But I saw the evening's events in a somewhat different way. First, I would say that McCain has well and truly earned his reputation as an extremely poor speech giver. He is OK as a speaker at a town hall type presentation, but a poor speech giver. The thought occurred to me that the campaign ought to try to have Gov. Palin give all the formal speeches and restrict McCain to small gatherings and town hall events and debates.

I would not have even watched if it hadn't been for Gov. Palin. Certainly, two weeks ago, I had no intention of wasting my time to watch the McCain acceptance speech. But then I saw Gov. Palin last Friday, and was impressed. Then I spent the days in between reading about everything of substance that I could about Gov. Palin. (No, I didn't bother with the Left wing thug sites.) Then I listened and watched her speech on Wednesday night. I was doing little Snoopy dances around the room. My dogs wondered what the heck was going on. I am completely enthralled with Gov. Palin. She is the first politician that I have gotten excited about since Saint Ronald of Reagan. I was of the opinion that the election was over, except for the counting of the votes, and we had won.

Sooooo, I decided to watch the McCain address. Now I am back to wondering if Gov. Palin can somehow pull the victory back from the jaws of defeat, or if I am going to have to get stronger blood pressure meds to get through an Obama administration, assuming that a VP Biden does not put me into a coma. I am a bad public speaker. McCain is a lousy public speaker. If he did not lose the election Thursday night, he can thank Gov. Palin.

Please, God, is there any way that we can turn this into the Palin/McCain campaign, instead of the other way around? McCain/Palin may get enough votes to turn New Hampshire around, just barely, but the rest of New England is a lost cause. Well, we are back to nail biting time now. Maybe we could have a ticket of just Sarah and Todd Palin. Then Sarah Barracuda (Darn, I love that nickname.) could partially staff her cabinet with her kids.
-- Ken Shreve
P.S. to Mike Roush; Mike, you are neglecting me since you returned from your hiatus. Surely you can find something to attack me on regarding this letter. Please, Mike, how am I to know that I am right if you don't attack me?

John Tabin and Philip Klein's assessments of the Republican convention were an interesting juxtaposition. I think Tabin got it right. Klein's was pretty much to party line. Having said that, I will admit that I was moved as I watched the introductory film about John McCain and listened to his personal account of how his time in the Hanoi Hilton changed him as a person. I heard his obvious passion for serving his country. Who can doubt it? After the speech, I couldn't help but remember how Karl Rove and President Bush slandered him in South Carolina during the 2000 election. I recalled all of the disparaging, critical and hateful things said by Republicans about him during the primaries. I was saddened that the delegates gave their greatest applause to McCain's remarks about Sarah Palin and their least to his remarks about reform. Frankly, I think McCain is a far better man than the Republican Party deserves. For independents, the questions should be less about McCain and more about Palin and GOP in general.
-- Mike Roush

This conservative is still very leery of Senator McCain and all his hair-brained ideas. But I love Sarah Palin!!!
-- Judy Beumler
Phoenix, Arizona

Anybody think that maybe Barack wants a do over?
-- Norm Astwood
Peoria, Illinois

AMERICAN DREAMIN'
Re: Ben Stein's My Convention Story:

I was really surprised to read this article by Ben Stein. Gratified, too. I am an American born middle aged white guy who unexpectedly lost his white collar, well-compensated job in mid-May. I am still looking for work. Why? Because my unemployment pays the same as an entry level job at WalMart (no disrespect meant) and allows me to look for work and interview as needed.

My attitude since my job loss had gone from optimistic to being sort of whiny and self-pitying. The article underscores a revelation I had around 3am this morning:

I am not defined by my job or possessions, rather myself as a person. People from all over the world take great risks and endure hardships to come to America because of our nation's great opportunities. Being born here has allowed me to be soft and somewhat blinded to my environment. Even my two dogs have a better quality of life than most humans on the planet. (I put coconut oil in their food to help their coats -- and I dare feel sorry for myself? Many people do not have access to clean water.) Our servicemen and servicewomen endure greater hardships defending our land. A friend of mine was drafted into the Communist Vietnamese army and escaped to the U.S. in a leaky boat.

So, thanks to Mr. Stein and his cab driver for helping me to realize that I will indeed have the opportunity for a better future, that this is indeed a land of endless opportunity for which many people better than I have fought and died. I think I need to suck it up, grow a pair, and learn to appreciate the good things and work towards the dreams I am allowed to enjoy by birthright.
-- Robert Neul
Indianapolis, Indiana

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