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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Excellent roundup Ross. There's much going on between the lines that needs to be exposed.
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uncomfortable. uneasy. disgusted. alarmed. worried. disbelieving. saddened.
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Does McCain really think we are a bunch of idiots?????? He is so out of touch with us common folk it's scary.
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You forgot to mention every time someone was dragged out or had their signs ripped from them, the whole crowd freaked out and started chanting, "USA! USA!" And of course, McCain played into it by calling it "Static." So does that mean anyone that disagrees with them or has their own opinions are not Americans? That they don't love this country just the same, if not more than them? Sick. The whole thing.
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How do you all feel about the attacks on the GOP's potential VP? There have been constant personal attacks regarding her recent baby and other family members as well. At least the GOP stays out of the Dems personal life.
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Points without substance. 5. If we drill, then there will be more energy. More supply, lowers price. Also, no one said don't pursue alternative energy. 4. Shocking, a politician that doesn't like someone in the other party. What kind of respect have the Dems shown Bush? In fact, your point doesn't show any respect for Giuliani, so using the points logic it is a non point. 3. Talk about deconstructing things. This whole point is just your bias against the republican's coming out. 2. Again, what respect do they show Bush. It is politics get over it. Did your Messiah get a boo boo. 1. Ok, so the TV isn't good. Style over substance.
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From what i hear, they were forcefully Handling protesters alot worse at the DNC. Polosi (sp) even got knocked to the ground by the police just b/c she was walking by one of the protest that they were dealing with at the DNC.
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Decent write up, but on the oil topic, I think its already been proved that even the conversation of drilling has lowered the price of oil in the past 40 days. I would agree you would hope for mentions of the next steps (drill more understanding we need oil until other energy forms proliferate, but then what?!)… What a
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What would be very funny is if they slip up and say "Sarah Palin, The next president of the United States of America" Because they would be right… I will be suprised if McCain even makes it till November.
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wow, this is all you've got? i would hardly call any of these things "disturbing."
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Don't Tase Me, Bro
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I agree with "Country First". We've spent enough time/money/lives helping people that don't want our help and reward us with hate and violence. I mean, what the hell? If we spread ourselves any thinner we're going to end up like the UK. "Drill Baby Drill" might as well be the sound of sheep for all of its significance though.
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It's so sad that McCain may actually win. What does it take to recognize a disaster? Half of America seems firmly faith based: accept no evidence for evolution, global warming, economic and political mismanagement. Our country was founded on the enlightenment, and they think it was founded on Christian theocracy (which worked about as well as Islamic theocracy works). This is how empires end, in debt and full of hubris. So sad.
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it is obvious that you have no objectivety…"people always see what they are looking for"
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Nice to know what a blithering idiot thinks.
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Wow, I'm no republican, but your totally wrong.
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I agree with Juliane — this type of analysis is too superficial to have any worth, but, it seems that everyone is only reviewing the campaign on the surface.
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Bullshit. Senator McCain explicitly said he respects Senator Obama and his achievements. Several speakers, including Senator McCain stated that drilling in AK will not produce an overnight change in oil prices, but that a combination of changes, including wind, solar and CNG will greatly reduce the dependence on foreign oil. This is a ludicrous post that simply ignores what was actually said.
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I watched the same thing you did and I heard them talk about offshore drilling now, but I also heard several times, speakers including Palin, talk about clean coal, solar and wind power. Selective hearing? I also paid attention during the DNC, and heard plenty of attack rhetoric from Hillary, others aimed at McCain. Neither side can truly claim to have taken the high road here. #3 is, well, grossly wrong — the US has reached out with financial, material, medical aid so many times to help others in need. #2, another error, I'm betting the candidates have a great deal of respect for each other and know how to play the political game well. It's their followers who are the problem, and projecting their hostility at each other. Most of us are Americans… and this American will try to be supportive of his President, no matter which one is elected. I can disagree, and I can protest, but at the end of the day, my country comes first. #1 That's pure, unadulterated age discrimination.
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I'm an independent, and currently undecided. There are a few things I noticed with your article: #5. Actually, McCain DID mention wind, solar, biofuels and other renewable sources of energy in his speech. But yes, his primary emphasis was on drilling as a more immediate solution (and there were indeed several "drill now" signs I saw that worried me a bit as well). #4. I've never liked Guiliani, so I do agree with you there – I'm not even going to try to defend anything that comes out of his mouth… (I'm so glad he dropped out the presidential race early…) #3. Your personal opinion of a conclusion of what "country first" means seems very overdrawn, negative, and extremely biased. If "country first" was the democratic slogan, you'd probably be raving about how it means we need to be concentrating more on the problems in our own country to fix them and how that's such a good focal point to have in times like these. #2. I remember hearing several mentions of Obama in respectful tones, and of course a lot of mocking ones too. Obama's speech as well as many others from the DNC mocked McCain as well… but did you write an article here complaining about that? No. It's the same thing happening on both sides of the party lines, which has a lot to do with the fact that I'm still an independent. #1. Yep. He's old. And while that does place more importance on who the VP is, he looks to me like he's got a lot more life in him than 4 years – do you honestly think he'll die from natural causes within 4-8 years? Now if he was wheeling an oxygen tank around, rasping for air, using a walker to get around, or had more than 20 visible sunspots, then I'd be really concerned. But for now, I think he'll live his full term if he gets elected. Wow, okay… so that does it. That turned out to be a little longer than I had planned. I just hope the feedback is actually worth something to you.
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Senator McCain explicitly said he respects Senator Obama and his achievements. Several speakers, including Senator McCain stated that drilling in AK will not produce an overnight change in oil prices, but that a combination of changes, including wind, solar and CNG will greatly reduce the dependence on foreign oil. This is a ludicrous post that simply ignores what was actually said.
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This is incredible. I love how classy Obama is. I'd rather have someone with "less experience" but higher hopes than someone who is about to die that is all about "THIS IS AMERICUH, IF YA DON'T LIKE IT GET THA FUCK OUT!".
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3. “Country First” is the new theme of the Republican campaign. Coming from the people who are against us being in Iraq and virtually every other war. You say that country first is a bad doctrine, but as soon as a Republican goes to war you will make up excuses to be against it. There is no way to win with a mentality like that. 2. The GOP lacks even a shred respect for the Democratic nominees. Yeah, because the dems have tons of respect for the republicans. Seriously, the democrats are as hostile as they come when it comes to respecting the other guy. To talk shit about the republicans over a matter like this is idiotic. 1. McCain looked like he had aged 12 years in the last 12 days. A number of gross exaggerations. First, twelve years in twelve days is a blatant lie. So he isn't looking great right now, he might have a cold, you don't know that. A complete exaggeration is no base to make an uneducated claim about his health. Figures you would make convenient assumptions off of your own hand crafted lie. Your article is completely biased, you definitely gathered your points around an already formed conclusion (and you had to stretch your facts at that). But I guess I shouldn't expect fairness from a liberal internet blogger.
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excellent insight. too bad the republicans will fix the election AGAIN and we will be left with a pro life religious freak who thinks abstinence is the only solution to pregnancy and how god is on our side when we invade soverign nations in charge.
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It seems that you forgot some of McCain's speech. You said that "The GOP lacks even a shred respect for the Democratic nominees." I think it is unfair to lie about something like that. Here is what McCain had to say about his opponent that was somewhat positive: "Finally, a word to Senator 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. Despite our differences, much more unites us than divides us. We are fellow Americans, an association that means more to me than any other. We’re dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal and endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights. No country ever had a greater cause than that. And I wouldn’t be an American worthy of the name if I didn’t honor Senator Obama and his supporters for their achievement." That doesn't sound too mocking to me.
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You forgot to mention #6…there were only white people in the crowd.
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check out McCain in the video of him greeting the Palin family at the airport…the guy is flat out old; and I'm old enough to know that there is no way on God's green earth he can pull of the President gig.
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The Democrats didn't need to forcefully handle any protestors because there weren't any. They were either jailed or otherwise rounded up beforehand, paid off by Barack Obama's campaign viz a viz a secret payment to or from ACORN, or simply didn't have to protest because they were already on stage. The bottom line is, you moron, that these protestors were trespassers–anybody who has been to an official party convention for either party is considered a trespasser by the Sergeant-at-arms unless they have floor credentials. Clearly either the GOP wasn't tough enough on these "community organizers" or they had forged credentials. Either way, I hope they were thoroughly waterboarded after being escorted from the stadium.
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I would say however after watching that alittle history of America is in order. Prior to WWII we were a neutral country self sustaining, and full of innovation, and great health. Now we police the world and spend billions helping people who wouldn't lift a finger if the same thing happened to America, while we have sick and under educated citizens at home. We need to look inside and fix the problems before fixing the outside. When Katrina hit sure the govt dropped the ball. But no one sent millions or billions of dollars in aide, like we did when a tsunami hit the pacific rim. Just an example of how we are all to eager to help someone else and look good. while ignoring our own problems because they embarrass us, especially democrats who are supposed to be defending the impoverished.
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i live in the free world. your president is not my leader, regardless of who he is. thanks.
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Will you Americans please stop saying you are electing the leader of the free world. You are electing the President of the USA.
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protesters belonged outside….inside all they do is disrupt. what's disgusting is that you are willing to be on someone completely unproven and accept that potus is a job that it's ok for on the job training. biden didn't think so not that long ago. hope, change or whatever you suckers wanna hear. that's what you get with obama.
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Both of the parties are trapped in the same system. At least Palin stands for something, even if you don't agree with it. At least she has the balls to stand up to folks like Putin, which Obama clearly doesn't. Obama is a socialist, clueless media darling. If you want to kiss your paycheck goodbye, vote for Obama.
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All of you are wrong and McCain is right for 2 reasons. First the USA has more oil on our own soil than the middle east has and he said we should use it while we develop alternative sources not forever. Secondly, we should not give money to countries where the people don't like us that's retarded. He also said we should use that money for health care and to lower taxes in our OWN country which at least is a decent explanation on how we should cut spending and lower taxes at the same time. Obama says he will "change" the world but much like is predecessor has never once explained how he will do it except to say that it would require us to pay more taxes and give up more freedoms. Incidentally, he did mutter something about a national police force and controlling ownership of guns and religion not to mention a communist view of how the people below him should serve their country. So vote for secret Muslim Obama and get communism and Islamic law in the USA all at one time.
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Mocking Obama's experience as a community organizer isn't a shot at community organizers. It's pointing out the fact that the role of community organizer should be mentioned as leadership experience that prepares someone for the role of president. And, if I might add, Palin likened Obama's experience as a community organizer to her own role as small town mayor.
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"Country First." Thank you. When I heard this a chill went up my spine. There was so much anger and hate behind it, in the voices of the people chanting it in the audience, in their faces. The obvlous implication to the phrase is that "We put our country first. They don't." I'm guessing McShame won't be the uniter like his predecessor. No matter who wins the presidency, this level of hatred will last a long time.
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Heaven forbid an "old guy" run the country for a few years. Ever think he looks a little stiff because he spent 8 years being tortured? No, surely not. He's just an old guy in poor health. Indeed.
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amazing everything can be related to DNC as well, except for the old man part. But the drilling can be related to funding the myth of global and using that as an excuse to seek alternative fuel means.
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DOn't worry guys, just see this as what it really is..and inside glimps as to what John McCain, and the people running his campaign are really like. If that doesn't make you feel better then i will leave you with this…All the RNC smack talk will mean nothing when Barack Obama is being sworn in in 2009 as the President of the United States, Palin goes back to Alaska with all her very dirty laundry aired, and no one in Washington wants to do ANYTHING for John McCain. P.S. Obama can quit being nice…John McCain used to be a great American…until he sold out for the nomination, so I choose to remember him as the great man he was, and pretend the man he is now doesn't exist.
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its awesome to have your own website where you dont have to site fact or show that you can think outside the bubble. stop making the rest of us liberals look like a bunch of dumbshits. I'm tired of reading posts where my people sit and talk about how awful the republicans are and how they state biased and unsubstantiated facts, then we go on to do the same thing. guess why we cant win an election. make a point, back it up by actual facts, not just taking whatever excerpts work in our favor, and lets give our party a LITTLE bit of credibility. we look like such pussies, we're never gonna win. im moving to canada, at least there the beer is halfway decent.
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Folks, I appreciate your opinions and your right to voice them. The fact that you can do that without fear of reprisal is you live in the greatest country in the world and people like John McCain made many personal sacrifices so you can. I would like to keep my freedom and therefore feel that you are terribly disillusioned and totally wrong in your views. We need to be energy independent because anything else undermines our security on several levels. I'm sorry but there are a number of levels of responsibility difference between community and state, any talk of experience and you are going to lose, face it. Wind and solar energy are nice ideas but at this time is not even a legitimate alternative because the technology hasn't progressed enough and probably won't for a long time. At this point nuclear power is the only reasonable choice and I if I remember correctly liberals are against that also. Any other ideas??? If you honestly believe liberals repect conservatives you are living with your head in the sand. Come on!!
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You don't get it. Drill drill drill has nothing to do with oil – it is all about telling the big government types who want to run and control your life for you to f*ck off. We're sick of government putting restrictions on peoples choices like big democrats want to. Obama wants to tax and spend and make everyone "equal". New flash, buddy, we're not all equal (only at birth). Those who are lazy and want a handout make me sick.
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I'm sorry, but Digg is so politically skewed it is sickening. Everyone is so busy being charmed by the overtly-charismatic Obama that no one even bothers to take any other candidates seriously. I am by no means a McCain supporter, but Obama has had more than his fair share of over-zealous jabs at McCain, noteworthy contradictions, and shady happenings in his past. Can we please look beyond the deliverance of these speeches and focus on some of the content. Thanks America, I'm just looking for some form of integrity.
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Terrific points, Ross, well done.
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if you think we get involved in genocides and humanitarian aid missions because america is nice and caring, you are a massive tool
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Obama's experience and worth as a politician is worth mocking. McCain cannot be mocked because he has a significant amount of experience. 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. A community organizer as compared to the Mayor of New York city is definitely something worth snickering over. I would say that Giuliani is much more communially involved than Obama ever was and to mock someone for trying to use that bullshit title to gain veracity should be expected. Drilling in Alaska does reduce oil prices by increasing suppliers in a market, thus shifting the supply curve to the right, lowering the equilibrium price and increasing the equilibrium quantity, so increasing supply decreases price (and that does not exclude alternate energy sources, which, as substitute goods, could replace demand, yet again lowering the price). That's high school economics, Ross. So, Point 5 is wrong. Point 4 should be expected. Point 3 has nothing to do with isolationism, more like saying that the new Republicanism is more socialist than previously (which, since you're a Democrat, is a bad thing?). Point 2 should happen, because the strong always crush the weak. Point 1 is irrelevant and just flat out stupid. Ross, go back to high school, take a government course and an economics course, and then write about politics. And, while you're at it, watch the DNC, and please come to terms that Obama is all theatrics and no depth.
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that could leave us with the Governor of Alaska (who got her first passport in 2007) running the largest military and economy on the planet.
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Although promoting alternative energy, including wind and solar, were mentioned several times during the RNC, drilling is an essential part of a comprehensive path to energy independence. The lack of enthusiasm on the part of Democrats about drilling is a major point of contention between the parties, hence the chant. Although I'm an Independent, I'm confident that the GOP would agree that community is a critical element to a thriving society. Not sure what that has to do with giving yourself the job title of "community organizer" and stirring up people to advance your own political ambitions, though. If you had listened to McCain's speech, you would understand the meaning of "Country First." It means, "Country before political party". Nothing was said by any speaker that would justify the weird, isolationist definition of the slogan that you fabricated. I think the GOP has a shred of respect for the Democratic nominees, in spite of Obama's inexperience and Biden's history of plagiarism and humorous gaffes. Finally, you're right that John McCain is old, but he'll last the four years. I'm looking forward to President Palin, though.
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I was far more nervous watching the DNC. Drill more? Duh!..been sayin' it for years and YES it will bring down the price of gas eventually. Rudy scare ya? Yeah, well he scares me too but boy everybody loved him on 9/11 didn't they? Country first? All for it! We need to clean up our messes here at home first which will make it easier to help others. I recall Mr. McCain being very cordial toward Obama, calling him a worthy opponent with a love for his country. The pot calling the kettle black here….did I mention Ann Richards? And I thought McCain looked just fine. Both sides make me equally queasy. Makes me proud to be an indy.
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