Many Americans were left shocked and depressed after watching the RNC on Wednesday Night
5. The chant of the night was “Drill, Baby! Drill!”
Photo by Steve Deger
Just as I thought we’d have both candidates dedicating themselves to clean and sustainable energy, an entire night passed without even the mention of wind or solar power.
Instead, the entire stadium was blanketed in signs that say “Drill Now” and “Drill Alaska Now, Baby!”.
Perhaps even more disturbing is the fact that most of these folks – and many watching at home (unless they all have a rich cousin in the oil biz?) – must truly think that drilling for oil in Alaska is going to bring the price of oil down at the pump.
Suddenly, clean energy apparently has nothing to do with “Reduce our Dependency on Foreign Oil.”
And that’s ludicrous.
4. Rudy Giuliani had nothing but disrespect for Barack Obama.
Everyone knows Rudy Giuliani thinks pretty highly of himself and is not afraid to speak his mind about others, but last night his disrespect and blatant personal attacks on Obama took his character to a new low.
“The first thing on his resume..” he began with his upper lip curled into a sneering smile, “was that he worked as a community organizer.” Then he laughed out loud, provoking the rest of the crowd to join in for a full minute.
Does the GOP think community isn’t a critical element in a successful, thriving society?
3. “Country First” is the new theme of the Republican campaign.
Although the slogan is harmless at first glance, as you begin to understand the rhetoric of this party, it becomes something else: completely isolationist from a social and economic perspective and completely unilateral from a military perspective.
Basically the idea is that we should be a state that is completely self-interested, and only engage in activities which benefit us. Less aid to developing countries unless it’s tied to a deal where we get to install a military base, only support free trade if it is to our advantage, and only engage our military if one of our close allies are at risk.
Translation? Let Darfur and the next genocide sort themselves out.
2. The GOP lacks even a shred respect for the Democratic nominees.
Photo by World Economic Forum
When Barack Obama speaks of John McCain, he begins with “John McCain is a great American” – and then proceeds to explain to the crowd why he disagrees with him on the issues that matter.
When Obama was asked about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy, he replied that it was no one’s business but the family’s.
In the face of this respect and integrity, the GOP speakers spent all night mocking Barack Obama and his character, experience and worth.
1. McCain looked like he had aged 12 years in the last 12 days.
The guy is 72 years old. He’s an old person; a senior citizen — and aims to spend the next 4-8 years leading the free world.
You know, there are two kinds of old people: the really healthy, impressive kind who look like they could run a marathon – and then the kind who look like they could drop dead any second.
McCain is the latter, and that could leave us with the Governor of Alaska running the largest military and economy on the planet.
Feature photo by aflcio2008 (Creative Commons)
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97 Comments... join the discussion!
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hi. sorry to be a stickler for the details on the very last point, but America is neither the largest economy (europe GDP number 1), or has the largest army (china personnel number 1. USA 6th). After living in the USA for 3 years im suprised how many people still think the USA is the best at everything. Wake up and get us back to being number 1
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rudy wuz on fire! go rudy go u good thing!
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You know what is deeply disturbing? The fact that the Democrats (and rightfully so) had made great social strides in forcing employers never to discriminate in their hiring practices based on age. But apparently it's okay for Democrats to do it for the Presidency. I think Democrats who really, truly, think this way should be ashamed of themselves.
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McCain has offically sold out in my book and believe me when I say "IF HE BECOMES PRESIDENT, WWIII WILL BEGIN" Why the hell is the media not covering the 9/11 tribune that insulted everyone that was and still affected by it. I'm so angry about this. Sarah is a freaking bitch too, i can't stand her at all.
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Not a shred of respect? Wow, what were you watching? Mccain- "Finally, a word to Sen. Obama and his supporters. We'll go at it over the next two months. That's the nature of these contests, and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and admiration." Please don't lambaste the RNC without doing the proper research. Thanks for cherry picking a quote that Obama has said, while giving no examples of anything the Republicans said.
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Just imagine what us on the other side of the world are thinking… America,-this might just be the election that is the start of the end of the world. Make the right choice.
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Nice post but I would move the McBush image to the end of it. Any republicans reading this will probably close the browser tab before getting to the content of the post (which is spot on).
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"McCain is the latter, and that could leave us with the Governor of Alaska running the largest military and economy on the planet." Sarah Palin is going to run China???
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Did you guys see the buttons and signs that said "Hot VP" on them? Last I checked, looks are no substitute for brains or experience. I do agree with the GOP's stance on #3 though and while I am sensitive to situations such as those in Darfur, at heart I am more of an isolationist and feel the US should not 'meddle' in other country's affairs.
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The US Economy was eclipsed by The European Union Eurozone as the worlds largest economy in March of this year. Moreover, with $0.40 of every dollar spent returning, one way or another to their economy, while only $0.10 we spend comes back to us. The Eurozone is leaving us in their dust. Also, since 2006 , their fiat "money as debt" Euro, issued by the private central banking cartel monopoly, The European Central Bank, has displaced the fiat "out of thin air" Federal Reserve Note dollar, issued by the Delaware closed corporation private banking cartel monopoly, The Federal Reserve Bank-Internal Revenue Service, as the world's biggest money supply. So why are all world leaders and the mainstream media, who have access to the same figures we do, maintaining the myth of US Supremacy, when it is The European Union which is, in fact, now The Supreme Power. and they know it ? Because The Federal Reserve Banks-IRS never has had any "reserves" since 1913, and because, with the assumption of GSE private mortgage giant FM & FM losses and liabilities, there is now about $65 Trillion Public Debt (See documentary movie I.O.U.S.A.), plus compounding interest, owed to them by The US Treasury, hence by American working class taxpayers, we have no hope of catching up to Iraq economically, much less the EU. Will you be mailing your check today for your share, about $5 Million, as of now? These are far more disturbing questions, than any raised by this convention.
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In regards to number 3, why should America remain the worlds babysitter and get entangled in all of its problems. Why should we engage in wars of aggression against other countries and make everyone hate us even more? Why should we act as a global welfare system by sending aid to "developing countries"? Darfur? How is that are our responsibility or concern. There are tons of Americans who are starving, tired and poor, until we can take care of our own people I say let's close the book on the rest. It seems you have no idea how our world functions under Nature Law. I suggest you read some Hobbes, Spencer and Nietzsche. Oh, and Darwin of course. If another country can't make it on its own, tough shit. Nature has been throwing the weaker civilizations into distinction for thousands of years to ensure only the strongest and most prosperous stick around. Makes no sense to short circuit this process when it's the mechanism by which the world evolves and grows stronger.
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Bush is the worst thing happened in america
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Comments: "They" (Republicans) did not handle protesters, the police did. The biggest chant of the night was "zero," complete with the thumb and forefinger hand gesture for zero, which was a comment on Obama's executive experience. You call it disrespect – I call it rejection — the guy is out of his depth. He's a smooth talker, but I don't want him representing my interests when the going gets tough…he'd give away the store to bring everyone together! He's America's Neville Chamberlain — smooth and wrong. Being a community organizer is a fairly low-level leadership position…an entry-level job. Important, but not executive leadership experience. I would not send a community organizer to negotiate a treaty with a foreign government or make a decision that involved difficult tradeoffs; that is what executives do. Organizers advocate for one side of an issue. Officeholders lead and leave their mark through action, not words. They understand the levers of power. As for "country,", the contest at hand is for leader of our country. Country first means selflessness, not putting one's career or self first. It is that simple and basic. I thought the best line of the evening was Palin's comment that Obama had authored two memoirs but not a single piece of major legislation. He's out of his depth. What's wrong with being old? Why so biased? Being old doesn't mean you are going to drop dead. It means you have a seasoned view of things….and that you probably go to bed earlier than 20-somethings. Old people work and live and participate in life all the time!!!
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Do you actually listen to what they are saying? Republicans WANT renewable energy and McCain and Palin have both expressed their support and desire to have a diversified energy supply. "Country First" is not about isolationism. It's about putting Country before career. Come on, you can do better than this.
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oh that was just amazing…not
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Oh my God, and Americans actually wonder why people overseas are scared of them. McCain is coming across as a "shoot first, don't ask questions" kind of guy. Being in Taiwan, I'm not even following this election very much, but what I've seen disgusts me… "Country First"? Most people I know think Obama won't be able to change much of the status quo, but I'm optimistic that a little change is better than four more years of Republicans running the country…
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What a load of crap. Does it not occur to any of you that Obama's "great American" rhetoric is just that, i.e. mere rhetoric? I must say, while I don't agree with much of what either side has to say, think about experience, since this seems to be one of those that thinks that someone who is the Governor has less executive experience than someone who's never held an executive office at all! Palin has more executive experience than ANY OF THE OTHER 3 guys. In this election, neither side particularly impresses me. Yet again, I'll be forced not to vote for a candidate I believe in, but rather, I'll be voting against a candidate that I DON'T believe in. Go ahead, elect Obama, and enjoy your tax increases, they'll be plentiful.
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Is there any news source out there………and not that this is a news source just mere propaganda that tells both sides of the story. All you are hearing now is the republicans are the devil and the democrats are the greatest. Give me a break. I am for personal responsibility and not socialism.
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Weak! 5. No mention of of renewable energies development? Wrong. Sarah Palin did in fact bring this up, albeit after talking about drilling more. I don't waste my time listennig to all of these speeches. They're the epitome of partisan crap. Wake me when we talk about policy. 4. Saying that Barrack is not tested, saying he's not ready, saying that Barrack does not think "America First" is not disrespect, it's disagreement. Pointing out someone's flaws forcefully, does that make you automatically disrespectful. Granted the rhetoric could be a little less charged, but this isn't anything new. This isn't something to say, "Oh, the RNC was soooo terrible this year! They pointed out flaws of the Democratic candidates. And then the crowd cheered!!!" 3. "Country First" is a phrase that troubles you? WTF? What do you think we're selecting the president for? We're selecting the cheif executive for our nation, not for North America, not for Western Civilization. We must be concerned first and foremost with ourselves, because who the hell are we to play policeman of the world? We can't get things in our own country right. This means that either we are going to have to sit out of situations that don't concern us, or we're going to bleed our economy dry via foreign occupations. Barrack is not running for president of the UN, therefore he had better talk about America and it's best interests first and foremost. 2. GOP lacks respect for Democrat nominees. Boo freakin' hoo. Digg has been awash with Repub bashing articles all week, especially libelous ones. When you want to sit at the big boy's table, you better grow a pair. To be respected today, you need to stand up front and be counted for what you belieive in, and then have your beliefs tested to the limit of their rationality/credibility. Barrack has stood up, but he has not annunciated that he thinks taxing the rich is a-okay. He hasn't said that he believes government is best when it can decide for individuals. He hasn't stood up and said that he understands there'll be a downgrade in the quality and availability of our healthcare. On the flip-side McCain has not said that he's not seeking equality, because you only get there through tyranny. 1. McCain's old. That's your number one concern about the RNC?! So, McCain's putting an untested, politically nubile woman a heartbeat away from the presidency. Obama is just as untested, but he won't be a heartbeat away from the presidency, he would be president. Don't you see this is one of the reasons that Palin was brought on for the VP position? Everytime you bash her for her inexperience, you're bashing Obama five-fold for inexperience. Granted, I distrust a lot of his decisions on moral and effectual grounds, but I believe he'll be able to put forth cogent decisions for the next 8 years. This article's weak. You need more substance. We don't need more, "They're mean! They're rich, and they only care about the rich! Oh, (*snicker*) and McCain's OLD!"
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'COUNTRY FIRST' actually is their choice of music :-0
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Ross, I thought the tool between my legs was huge until I met you. You are indeed the biggest tool ever. Change the website to Matador Puss.
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Amazingly warped interpretation of the event. You are obviously closed minded and heard what you wanted to hear.
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Typical democrats..whine whine whine..but when it was your convention you did the SAME THING and ripped on the Republican Party.
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There is a ridiculously high % of sheep in the usa who march around the flag singing fatherland fatherland as the corporations have their way with them. In the last 30 years the sheep have been getting it dry but still they salute the flag and go into denial about how much it hurts. The only positive thing about the Dems is they will use a bit of lube. There is not much u folks can do about it unless u take to the streets. Take a page from the French…..when the corporations try to push them down into slavery they man the barricades. Its no accident that the French have a much better life on so many levels vs. the docile americans. Ross Perot, Ralph Nader. Cynthia McKinney will show u the way. Its so hard for us Canadians to watch u go down-so fast and so completly. Get a spine americans
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McCain missed a golden opportunity to address the vet / heckler whose banner posed legitimate issues. Instead, McCain turned it into a flyboy reference and put down of his fellow vet. Google Adam Kokesh or RNC hecklers for details. His banner referenced McCain's vote against increasing vet benefits and stating, 'you can't win an occupation' or something to that effect.
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"[Barack Obama and his supporters] have my respect and admiration…I wouldn't be an American worthy of the name if I didn't honor Sen. Obama and his supporters for their achievement." – John McCain "Sen. Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead." – Joe Lieberman Both are excerpts from their RNC speeches. That sounds a lot like respect for Obama to me. Both sides were cutting one another down, but to claim that the Republican nominees don't have a shred of respect for their opponents is blatantly wrong disrespectful towards the Republican candidates. In the future, I hope you'll be a more responsible writer or at least pay attention to the thing you're criticizing. Frankly, whether you didn't consider these quotes because you felt they were disingenuous or not heaping enough praise on the Democratic nominees or if you just plain missed those parts of the speeches, your claim that the "GOP lacks even a shred of respect for the Democratic Nominees" is a good example of lazy, irresponsible, and libelous reporting.
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Kind of a lot of typos on this blog. "The GOP lacks even a shred respect for the Democratic nominees" — needs an "of" there. Just sayin', I have this problem on my blog too, which is http://www.peterpayne.netif you are interested. I agree with the sentiments, McCain is not winning me any respect…
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Nobody has experience as President (except those in there second term)! Every single President we've ever had learned "on the job" you idiot! This "lack of experience" nonsense is the REAL campaign rhetoric. Listen to Obama's speeches. He's not flashy or obtuse, he is pretty damn specific about his strategies, both short and long term. Experience has no value if it doesn't increase your wisdom!! Experience is just repetition. If you have enough reps doing things the WRONG WAY (corrupt politics) then all you've done is get really good at doing things the wrong way. Experience is nothing without LEADERSHIP and VISION. Obama has these qualities in spades.
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Actually many countries did thy to send money to help the people whose lives were devastated. George Bush turned them down. I suppose he felt he or we would lose face taking the money, but they weren't offering it to the U.S. Government, they were offering to people in need. I think its a travesty that the money was not passed along.
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"At least the GOP stays out of the Dems personal life." Were you around in the 90s??
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Communist and Islamic law at the SAME TIME? Amazing! I'd love to see how that would work. Theocracy and atheism always go so well together…
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"In every previously successful empire, the elders led the society, not the young politically inexperienced, so to say that McCain's age is even remotely a factor in his leadership is absurd." Maybe you should go back to high school too, and take a history course. Start by looking up "Augustus Caesar."
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My friend, your memory of recent events is a little bit off. When Katrina hit, almost 100 nations offered aid. In many cases, we ignored it, rejected it, or didn't allow it to get to the people who needed it. Cuba (for instance) offered 1600 medics, field hospitals, and tons of medical supplies, never allowed to come in to the country. We accepted medical supplies from Italy, but let them spoil, unused. 15 tons of military rations from Germany were turned away. We did accept tons of food from the British (which cost them about 3 million EU), but left it sitting in a warehouse for months. If you'd like to become educated on this matter, do a google search for "international aid Katrina."
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I think you may have seen too much TV.
While it is certainly possible that some mad genius spent time and energy forging credentials so that trespassers could invade the GOP convention, it's much more likely that the protesters were 1. Elected delegates, or 2. Guests of elected delegates. I know for a fact that one of the protesters at the GOP convention was Adam Kokesh, a veteran of the Iraq war (and guest of an elected delegate). He called out "Ask him why he votes against vets!" at the beginning of McCain's speech. While you might want Mr. Kokesh to be waterboarded, I do not. When "Enhanced Interrogation" techniques were originally introduced by the Germans in 1937, waterboarding was forbidden, as it was considered too cruel. In the years that followed, the Germans abandoned what they considered decent behavior, and did engage in waterboarding (among other atrocities). Fortunately, we beat those Nazis down.
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Typical Republican bashing by childish Dems.
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Do you realize just how many people agree with him completely and will vote for him without a doubt in their minds? It's a painfully high number.
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5. There will be more fuel for a very short amount of time at the further cost of our planet. We don't have a back-up Earth anywhere that I know of, so perhaps putting the money for drilling towards alternative fuels would make a lot more sense… 4. Democrats and Republicans both have shown no respect for Bush. He is a complete idiot. No one likes him but you, apparently. This was a blatant attack all night for no reason. 3. This will make us a terrible country. If you see it as how the Republicans have always been and now they're just coming out, even more reason to stop this. 2. When someone is polite to you, you should be polite back. It's not like Obama eats children or anything…he does nothing outwardly offensive, so why the neverending attack? 1. It's common sense that McCain could die and any moment, and Obama is very likely to be killed. So you pick the gov. of Alaska with only a few years experience in anything other than pumping out babies or reporting on sports over Joe Biden? Really?
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The Iraq war was unnecessary. It was Bush finishing something for his daddy, and he didn't even finish it because he's a moron. Wars for the right reasons are something everyone will stand behind. Our troops dying for nothing is completely different.
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ive listen to this guy since the 1970 s i think hes right watch and make up your own mind, ibelieve we have already drilled our way out if this mess but alaska oil is not comming to the lower 48 WHY is it not coming here ? ” target=”_blank”>http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=linds...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbakN7SLdbk
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"Sold out?" What exactly cuases you to say McCain "sold out" any more than any candidate running for office, Obama included? And when was Obama nice? Saying McCain "is a great American" and then following up with a sucker punch isn't in any way "nice".
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Extremely ignorant generalization, not to mention a rather paranoid take on why Bush is in office.
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also they were using fear with 9/11 images and terrisim to win the vote
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What has obama done
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You know, maybe that's what the USA needs. A fairly regular girl, person running it. McCain did not impress me until his conference. A maverick would shake things up a bit. I do not think Obama will shake things up, he will just be a first. FYI USA does not have the largest military, that would be china. And having the largest has not done much good anyway. So having someone knock it back to 5th place and concentrate on heath care, insurance would be a good thing, and the economy is also not so healthy and falling to the chinese too
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Obama's horrible insult – "lipstick on a pig" is the best rebuttal to the above comment that Republicans insult Dems." At best, they insult each other – let's not let Obama off the hook on this one. Imagine the self-righteous comments the Dems – and this blog – would make if McCain said, "Give a monkey a Harvard degree and he's still a monkey." Let's be intellectually honest and not knee-jerk liberal.
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Are you kidding me? This is a manufactured Republican attack. There was no insult. Obama was talking about education. This is too important n election to decide on anything but the issues.
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