Once again - C-SPAN - YEAH! :)
I said it to the Democrats and I'll say it to the Republicans now - don't put your hand over your heart when the National Anthem is sung!!!!!!!! Grrr...my pet peeve. Okay - if you want to, you can - but DO NOT TELL ME I'M NOT A PATRIOT IF I DON'T PUT MY HAND OVER MY HEART DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. I put my hand over my heart when I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. That's the point of putting the hand over the heart - to make a pledge. So there!
I missed, did they say the Pledge of Allegiance before the Anthem? I thought they only brought out the flags just before that so it seems to me they missed the Pledge. Strange, I would have thought they'd do the Pledge. Maybe I'll see it tomorrow.
And then they retire the colors? Why not leave them on the stage? I guess they like the video one blowing in the breeze behind them. Video is only virtual you know. Its not real. Okay. I'll calm down.
Memorial to former party leaders. No pictures, just names. I would like to see pictures. AARGH - some people are clapping for THEIR people!!! Another of my pet peeves. What disrespect you show to every one of those dead people. OMG I am completely buggin' on this! They are so insulting to the dead people they don't even know. The person at the beginning asked for silence in the hall. AARRRRRGGGGGGG!!!! Okay - its only been about five minutes into the program and I am completely irritated. And not by their politics. I'm irritated by their disrespect for dead people and their hand on the heart with no pledge of allegiance.
I liked Gerald Ford fine. What a disaster he walked into. He seemed like a nice man.
It really was important to have a calm person in charge at that time.
John Baynor (House Republican Leader)
He comes to us in the spirit of reform. "...reclaiming our mantle as the party of reform"
"radical jihadists are hiding in the shadows seeking our destruction"
Its odd that Republicans are acting like everything wrong in Congress is the Democrats fault because they've been in charge only since January 2007.
"All of the above energy strategy" from John McCain.
I missed something about an historic protest in the house. They clapped a lot for that.
*****
Take the official convention photograph. The session stops and we watch them getting their picture taken. Well, for the Democrats, they had a longer session so it wasn't as noticeable.
Wow - couldn't they have gotten some music between speakers?
Oh - there goes a choir. I don't see where they're at, but they're making a pretty sound.
A lot different style than the Democrats where its about the dancing.
Phone call - got distracted.
Oh NOW they're doing the Pledge of Allegiance.
Miles Ahead Ministries. Really? The guys name is Miles and he calls his ministry Miles Ahead Ministries? Ugh.
"Character is doing the right thing even when no is watching. But I suggest to you that Character is doing the right thing because someone is watching."
The 'someone' is God.
I gotta say - that's not my way of thinking. You don't do things for appearances sake or to prove something to God...you do it because its in your heart.
Prayer.
Very religious. Okay.
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It occurs to me that maybe the Republicans who are not religious should form a new party. This party has been won by the Christian right. Not just because of this prayer, but in everything.
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Ashley Gunn - missions trip - is she Mormon? Students Aiding Indigent Families - SAIF
"all without the aid of government spending" - that gets a lot of applause.
I wonder what policies in the Republican party this girl finds appealing? I suspect its religious.
Hey - I think she heard me ask - cause she answers. McCain has always been a role model for students to serve.
*****
Cindy McCain is entering the convention hall. She looks nice in pink. She has a girl with her who's apparently a guest who will be introduced during a speech as an example of the greatness of Republican policies.
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Michelle Bachmann - congresswoman from Minnesota's 6th district.
Wow - her speaking voice is definitely like a beauty queen. I can imagine her saying "My name is Michelle Bachmann from the great state of Minnesota" during the Miss America pageant.
She recognizes there are lots of liberals in Minnesota, but, she says "they're happy liberals!"
She has 5 children plus over 20 foster kids over the years.
Oh - the person who walked in with Cindy McCain is their adopted daughter! Hmmm...other than the obvious physical differences - they didn't appear particularly close. Maybe that was just my expectation based on my original assumption they were strangers.
More from Michelle Bachmann
"although some presidential nominees know more about service than others" (wink wink)
"Government fosters service most when government binds service the least"
"Government is not a philanthropic organization, Government is not the family, Government is certainly not the church"
"As republicans we recognize that when you keep more of your hard earned money then you're free to spend it on..." your own selected charities.
"they [Democrats] think service is run best by Washington beurocracies"
"they [Democrats] don't see how a bloated government crowds out personal freedom"
"John McCain has spent his life ensuring freedom has what it needs to grow."
*****
Wes and Nicki Gullett
So, apparently Cindy McCain went to Bangladesh 17 years ago to an orphanage run by Mother Theresa. She saw two infants - one (or both?) malnourished and one with a severe cleft palette. She decided to bring them home and adopt one (Bridget) and give (?) the other (Nicki) to the Gullets.
Interesting.
*****
Rachael Lampa sings two songs. On iTunes her genre is Christian/Gospel. I can't understand the words she's singing. Which isn't unusual for me.
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Now there's taped music between the speakers, but its odd music after the Christian music. It sounds like metal music. Maybe its a Christian heavy metal band?
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Lisa Graham Keegan.
Committed advocate for school choice supported by John McCain.
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The senior Bushes have entered the building. I'm sorry to see them getting old. Although George's smile is lively.
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Tommy Espinoza - Raza Development Fund. "I am a Catholic, Mexican, Democrat. And a friend of John McCain."
Wow - these are nasty people - they boo'd the Democrat. Your party invited him you partisan creeps!
Why am I supporting John McCain?
First because of Faith...
Second hope...
Man - there have been more references to God and religion in this convention so far than I think are appropriate for a major party in the United States.
*****
After the speakers they have filmed biographies of Presidents who are Republican - Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, George HW Bush...so far.
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Bill Gross from Cleveland North Dakota
UPS Pilot
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Capt Leslie Smith, Ret US Army - She is nominating John McCain
"And miraculously I recovered"
When I got done asking why me? I started asking, Why not me?
"succeed or fail by our own God given abilities"
"none of us are promised a life without difficulties"
That's the theme of the Republican party - you have to take care of yourself, by yourself. Use your God given abilities to pull yourself up by the bootstraps.
*****
Michael Monsoor tribute. Navy Seal who died in Iraq after throwing himself on a grenade.
"Country First. Roger That" Nice tribute.
*****
The people sitting next to Cindy McCain keep rotating based on the speech.
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Tribute to 5 medal of honor recipients
And to fellow POW mates with John McCain.
And to all veterans
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I don't like the U-S-A chant. It sounds so blindly patriotic. I think there's a word for it, but I don't know what it is.
*****
Laura Bush
"strong executive and proven reformer, Sarah Palin"
"I'm proud that America's first female vice president will be a Republican woman."
Some facts from Laura Bush - "a little straight talk":
No Child Left Behind (?) - Today student achievement is rising across the board and test scores for minority students are the highest they've ever been.
Judges who respect the constitution - Alito and Roberts
People of Faith - Faith Based and Community charities. Proof of its success: 35 governors of both parties have started faith based programs of their own.
Fewer than 50,000 Africans suffering from AIDS were being helped. Thanks to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief - now its 2 million.
"You might call that Change You can Really Believe In"
"In Iraq and Afghanistan, 50 million people are now living in freedom"
"President Bush has kept the American people safe."
George Bush
He had to stay in WA DC to "oversee" the government's response to Hurricane Gustav.
John McCain is ready to lead this nation.
Blah dee dee blah dee blah. Regular stuff.
*****
They really should just call this the Christian Party. Its made up of Christians and people who want to be in power at any cost so they're willing to support Christian causes no matter what.
I think the fiscal Republicans should leave the party and start their own or something.
The Republican party is so unAmerican its strange. Hey - if you believe Christianity should be the law of the land (similar to the Iranians believing Islam should be the law of their land), then you should be a Republican.
Maybe the Libertarians will rise up next. That might be the only place for fiscal Conservatives. Assuming they don't see the Democrats as an option.
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Tribute to Ronald Reagan
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The Republicans are so confused - Ronald Reagan wasn't a religious man, but they love him.
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Fred Thompson - oh geez.
The man too lazy to even try to be President.
The other party likes to paint a negative picture. We have different views than the Democrats..."we live in the free-est, strongest, most generous, prosperous nation in the world and we're thankful for that"
"What a breath of fresh air Sarah Palin is!"
Sarah Palin has "the other side...and their friends in the media" panicked.
And now he moves on to John McCain...Blah dee dee blah dee blah.
I bet John's mother is tired of being referred to as the 96 year old.
"leader of the troublemakers."
The people are so quiet listening to Fred Thompson describe the experience of John McCain as a POW. And he's making sure to tell every detail.
They surely have made him near godlike.
"Being a POW doesn't qualify anyone to be president, but it does reveal character"
"My friends, that is Character you can believe in."
Now that he's moved into the next phase of his speech, he's getting the crowd riled up pretty good. Fred Thompson is giving a good old fashioned speech. This is probably why the people thought he'd be a good President.
The abortion line is getting the most applause.
Fred Thompson put some life into the convention. They're dancing and shouting now.
*****
I find the current Republican party puzzling.
They believe everything their party does is AOK. They miss out on the hypocrisy between their religious beliefs and their policies. They assume everyone is like them or should be like them. If you don't have the same energy they do or the same circumstances they do, it doesn't matter. They don't care. If you are still a victim of prejudice and discrimination, they don't care. No special treatment. Even if they're the ones discriminating.
This is an exagerration, but I believe it could be true - I imagine a Republican whipping somebody over and over and over again and then the Republican tells the person to do some work while they continue to whip them. Then they get mad at them for not doing the work perfectly. "That person over there didn't have any problems - what's your problem?" "You were whipping me while I worked." "So? You just have to deal with it and rise above."
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Joe Lieberman -
How odd - the Democratic nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2000 is speaking on behalf of the Republican nominee for President of the United States in 2008.
He speaks about the partisanship dividing Washington today.
"I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party"
"Being a democrat or a republican is important, but it is nowhere near as important as being an American" The crowd loves that.
Both nominees have talked of a new way of politics, but, "only one of them has shown the courage and capability to soar above our politics"...and that one is John S McCain
(But, the Republicans are the partisan ones. This is a twilight zone minute)
"My Democratic friends know all about John's record of independence and accomplishment and I think thats why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince the American people that John McCain is someone else."
"Eloquence is no substitute for a record" (referring to Barack Obama)
He is now comparing Barack Obama disfavorably to Bill Clinton (and the people are clapping for Bill Clinton now)
"She's a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington" (referring to Sarah Palin)
Wow - Lieberman has really gone. I wonder what its like to be him? I can respect that he wants to speak for a friend and maybe his views have changed. But, in 8 years he's completely changed so that he's supporting a ticket that is so different than the ticket he was on just a short time ago. I think it must be 9/11 that changed him.
"...colleagues like Barack Obama were cutting off funds for our troops in the battlefield" Lots of boos.
"America's troops are coming home in the thousands and they're coming home in honor" Lots of applause.
More U-S-A chant.
"this is no ordinary election because these are not ordinary times and John McCain is no ordinary candidate."
"You may not agree with John McCain on every issue, ...but you can always count on John McCain to be what he naturally is - a restless reformer."
"Vote for the person that's best for the country not the party you happen to belong to."
*****
The closing prayer by a Rabbi. I guess this party wants to be the party of practicing Christians and Jews.
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Done - Phew!
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