For Republicans, A Different Kind Of Party
CBSNews.com Analysis: As Everyone Awaits Palin’s Emergence, McCain Shows His Convention Will Be Somewhat Unconventional
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Sen. Joseph Lieberman, a Democrat-turned-Independent told the Republican National Convention: "What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this? Well, I'll tell you what, I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party." (AP)
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Former Sen. Fred Thompson, of Tennessee, gestures as he speaks at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. (AOL/CBS)
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President George W. Bush addresses the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008. (AP)
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Following a shortened session Monday due to the possible impact of Hurricane Gustav, the Republican National Convention got back to a more traditional schedule Tuesday with a slate of prime-time speakers and a return to the business at hand - nominating John McCain. The message of the day was designed to be about defining and re-introducing the candidate but the attention was focused on who was not in St. Paul - or at least not very visibly.
Since being unveiled as perhaps the biggest political surprise in recent history last Friday, Republicans - especially the party activists gathered here at the Xcel Center - have been chattering about Sarah Palin and little else. And the news media is not far behind in the curiosity category. But since her short speech Friday and a couple of joint appearances with McCain over the weekend, Palin remains a mystery, hidden from public view.
After two days of reports and revelations shook the convention - among them her daughter’s pregnancy, her husband’s arrest and examinations of her record that turned up evidence counter to her ethics-busting, earmark loathing rhetoric -- and opened up questions of whether the McCain campaign thoroughly vetted the candidate, the campaign and its surrogates hit back. Indeed, they said, they had vetted Palin well, telling CBS News they were well aware of what has been reported on since her selection.
The campaign blamed an overactive media and Democratic opponents for circulating and embellishing the importance of such stories. Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson alluded to that sentiment in his speech to the convention Tuesday, saying, “let's be clear, the selection of Governor Palin has the other side and their friends in the media in a state of panic. She is a courageous, successful, reformer, who is not afraid to take on the establishment.”
Still, the woman at the center of the chatter remained sequestered Tuesday, presumably behind closed doors working on an acceptance speech that is expected to be delivered Wednesday night. This week Palin cancelled two appearances she had scheduled (although it’s important to note that both had been set up before she was selected).
The void was filled with stories and media discussion about the vetting process, about the revelations, and about the strategy and wisdom of McCain’s choice - probably not what the campaign had hoped would dominate the first two days of their convention.
For the Republican Party, it was who was most visible - and who was not - that indicated that this is going to be a very different campaign than they are used to. President Bush, who was supposed to be a featured speaker on Monday night, addressed the convention by satellite before the networks broke into their schedules for coverage (although his remarks were replayed when they broke in). Still, spotlighted Tuesday were Thompson and Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential candidate from 2000.
For a night designed to reinforce McCain’s personal and political story, having two good friends carry the load is understandable. But Rudy Giuliani is believed to be in line for a prime slot as well this week, meaning that the most emphasized voices at the convention will be the candidate, the running mate and three men known more for their relationships with McCain than their place in the traditional Republican Party.
This is McCain’s convention, and it’s interesting to see how he’s presenting the party he now leads. Whereas Barack Obama featured primary opponent Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, party legend Ted Kennedy and up-and-comers like Mark Warner, there are no major roles for Republican Party regulars in St. Paul.
The reasons are obvious to anyone paying attention to this campaign. John McCain is not running as a party regular, he’s running as John McCain. Everything about his message is pointing that way. The over-riding theme to this convention is his slogan, “Country First.” The speakers are there to reinforce that - people like Thompson, a conservative who never seemed comfortable within the corridors of power; Lieberman, a Democrat-turned Independent who is one of McCain’s best friends (and who the candidate seriously considered as a running mate); and Giuliani, a crime-fighting, national-security focused mayor who on other issues is a poor fit for the party.
Although there was plenty of red meat for the delegates to devour, especially from Thompson, there were also moments that would have been unthinkable in past GOP conventions. In contrasting Obama with McCain, Lieberman claimed that the Democratic candidate had not walked the talk he gives on the campaign trail. “Contrast that to John McCain's record,” Lieberman said. “Or the record of the last Democratic President, Bill Clinton, who stood up to some of those same Democratic interest groups and worked with Republicans to get important things done like welfare reform, free trade agreements, and a balanced budget.” It’s almost certainly the first time Bill Clinton was favorably referenced at a Republican convention.
Of course, a key part of this presentation is Palin, who was perhaps chosen as much for her outsider status and maverick reputation as for her appeal to women. As a primary focus for this convention, it’s Palin who will play perhaps the most pivotal role in St. Paul. And when she does give that acceptance speech, all eyes will be on her.
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Posted by missglo
That would be United Colonies of 13 states where "we the people" are rich white male property owners who represent all American not including the slaves.
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Posted by missglo
That would be United Colonies of 13 states where "we the people" are rich white male property owners who represent all American not including the slaves.
After you read that tell me you would trust a person in the White House that would marry their daughter off to that mental midget with a mouth like that on the internet, pregnant or not...
And they are bringing him to the GOP convention! Wow!
Just a nice sweet family--- what a howl!
the bloggers and news media downloaded them. They also would have prevented Sara Palin from calling into a local Alaska talk radio show right after the announcement and mentioning that the call from McCain was the first time she had heard of a possible VP choice.
Frankly, the Republican convention is a complete waste of time. At this point everyone knows the real race is between Barak Obama and Sara Palin. McCain will surely kick the bucket as soon as he makes it into office, and Palin will end up being President. What the country wants is to see them going at each other.
Governor Palin is receiving the same treatment as Jimmy Stewart did in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - about an idealist who fights political corruption within his state''s political machine, and guards American values as a moral hero.
Bull. It''s run by the same puppeteers who controlled George Bush. And it''s the same aging white men with their fat faces at the convention. It''s the same propaganda lines. And it''s the same favoring of the billionaire class at the expense of the American taxpayer.
In other words: Republicans = Same Old Sheeyit!
EMbarrassed with their own record.
hahaha
McCain/Palin at 47%, compared to 45% support for Obama/Biden.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071565/posts
"George who?"
"Dik who?"
Like these Right Wingers haven''t stuck the USA with 8 years of mindless, incompetent, evil malfeasants in the White House.
The American Sheeple may be easily manipulated by slick TV ads paid for by Bushit''s Billionaires.
But, as Lincoln observed, you can''t fool all of the people, all of the time.
The Repugs seem to have forgotten this lesson from a founder of their party. Back when it meant something besides larceny, warmongering, and pandering to religious extremists.
That Fred Thompson says Palin''s selection has Democrats in a panic is hysterical! It''s the biggest gift they could possibly have imagined, from the Republicans.
Well they chose a maverick all right - she was member of a fringe party that wanted Alaska to succeed from the United States.
I don''t think most Americans share her vision of a country with 49 states.
Country first? Try vetting your candidate for VP first ! We don''t need some bambi a heartbeat away from the presidency.
So what does this mean? No more Freaky *** Parties???
No more Toe Tapping? Page Texting?
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Posted by johndevinejr
Amen to that!
GOP = growing - old - party.
GOP = grave - only - party
zzzzzzzzzz.. ''who is on mic? oh its only traitor joe .. oh well !! back to sleep zzzzzzzzzzz...(#+#).
Posted by donnie248
You are so right donnie---there are many reasons God made us all so different and it wasn''t to teach us hate and bigotry!
All you saw were old, white men and women. All the speakers were old, white men.
It is a striking comparison to the Democratic convention.
Posted by misha128 at 09:01 AM
Posted by jonsid2 at 08:57 AM
I suggest Campaign First.
If you dont vote for Republican the terrorist will hide under your bed .
why did americans fall for this in the past 2 elections . For a nation that claim to be tough we sure fall easy for FEAR.
Believes that creationism should be taught in schools, not evolution;
Believes that women shouldn''t have the right to choose; even in cases of rape and incest or severe medical indications;
Believes that citizens should have the right to bear AK-47s;
Believes only in abstinence education; despite the fact that her daughters have been having unprotected ***;
Has only been out of the country once in her life and that was just last year;
Was mayor of a small town with fewer than 6000 residents with a budget of less than 12 million a year and fewer than 50 city hall employees;
Is governor of a state that is closer to Russia than to Florida;
Was part of a group that wanted Alaska to succeed from the Union;
And, this woman will be our next vice president and possibly our president.
No Way!!!!
Posted by shingles1 at 09:08 AM : Sep 03, 2008
Obama looks more like cr*p than Bush.
Posted by briannorwood at 09:00 AM : Sep 03, 2008
Hi Briannnorwood,
I couldn''t agree more. I was struck by the same sad picture. And in addition to that, their auditorium was not full at all. It is amazing. No NRG at all.
What an OLD GOAT just like John McLame !
Posted by briannorwood at 09:00 AM : Sep 03, 2008
Yeah, really. The DNC had all old, white men...except for their token Arab, Obama bin Barry.
Posted by jbright9 at 09:18 AM : Sep 03, 2008
From someone who clearly doesn''t understand politics at all. LOL!
Posted by buckfush500 at 09:18 AM : Sep 03, 2008
Nothing like being a racist POS, eh, you racist POS?
Posted by BarryIsDun
Barry Is A Dumb A$$.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400629&tab=votes
He did introduce many bills, only a few were enacted.
Posted by BarryIsDun
Barry Is A Dumb A$$.
Posted by mytoosense at 09:27 AM : Sep 03, 2008
Well help us out here Swastika Breath!! This bunch of Ugly Fascist tell me that McSame isn''t Bush. I need some help with that one. On the Economy McSame proposes MORE of the same FAILED policies we saw under Bush, can you tell us the difference? He has NO plan on Social Security... why is that? Doesn''t he thing the issue is Important enough to have a Policy... that to is EXACTLY like Sir Lie''s a Lot. How about Medicare? He has NO plan for that, exactly like Bush. You know it appears you losers want us to buy 4 more years of the WORST in our history to me. Now lets hear ya!! SIEG HEIL Bush!!
Lynette Clark, the chairman of the AIP, tells ABC News that Palin and her husband Todd were members in 1994, even attending the 1994 statewide convention in Wasilla. Clark was AIP secretary at the time.
AIP founder, Joe Vogler man who said, "I''m an Alaskan, not an American. I''ve got no use for America or her damned institutions." Volger also said, "The fires of Hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American government."
I suspect McCain and his aides didn''t know about any of this. Indeed, they couldn''t have -- they didn''t vet her. But now that this revelation has come to light, what''s the defense?
The above poster, not the candidate.
Posted by BarryIsDun at 09:19 AM : Sep 03, 2008
This from someone who 8 year ago trashed the tired old man in favor of the WORST President in US History AND the WORST Vice President EVERY!! Not really someone to listen to I would think. Sieg Heil Bush
Last night you saw a real Democrat, one who ran next to Al Gore, who told all of us he thinks Obama will be ready in a few years, but a president who needs OJT and who will learn on you and on me is not what we need at this crossroads in our nation''s history. The country is in the ER and the Democrats give us an Alka Seltzer and a Band Aid.
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