Sarah Palin delivered a great speech tonight -- for her party, for John McCain, for herself, for what she set out to accomplish. This was America's first real glimpse at the Alaska governor, and what we saw was a boffo politician who speaks in a plaintive prairie voice that channels America's Heartland like a chilling breeze rippling a field of wheat, who knows how to tell a joke, how to bring down the house and bring a tear to a few eyes. She is proud of her family, as she should be, and there is much to admire in her own "personal journey of discovery" (don't we all have these, by the way?) including her efforts to raise her son Trig. It is indeed nice to think that there would be an advocate for such children inside the corridors of the White House, although I'd surely like to hear what -- if anything -- she's done for special needs kids as governor of Alaska.
But...it was a great speech -- written for someone else, a male in fact, days before the Palin selection was even a gleam in John McCain's eye, but a great speech nonetheless. The pundits are fawning over it as I write this -- Tom Brokaw said she could not have been "more winning and more engaging" -- and in a world that is dominated by horse race journalism I can understand why, because I agree that Palin's one-of-a-kind story has given her long shot running mate a decent chance now of pulling this one out at the finish line.
It's a good metaphor, a horse race, because in the end it finishes right near where it started -- just as it will be for America if John McCain and Sarah Palin are sworn in on Jan. 20, 2009. Yes, it was a great speech politically, and a great night for her family, but an empty speech for America -- and for America's families. It was defined by its lowest moment, Palin's shameless lie about "the Bridge to Nowhere."
This was a Speech to Nowhere.
It was a Speech to Nowhere when Palin said that "I told the Congress 'Thanks but no thanks' on that Bridge to Nowhere, because that was a lie, and the worst kind of lie in American politics, a blatant falsehood that showed utter contempt for the American people that Palin pledged to serve, assuming we are too stupid to look up or know that truth, that she pushed for those funds in Congress and while she got great political mileage out of announcing that she was killing the project, she still has not returned the funds to American people.
It was a Speech to Nowhere because Palin also boasted seconds before that other lie of fighting against wasteful earmarks in Congress, even though she pushed for and accepted $27 million of such grants when she was mayor of Wasilla.
It was a Speech to Nowhere because Palin said that "we've got lots" of oil and gas this country, and while one supposes that all depends upon what you definition of the words "lots" is, the production of oil in the United States has been irrevocably on the decline since 1970, and with her words she showed this nation that she and John McCain will perpetrate the dangerous myths that began with Ronald Reagan at his acceptance speech in 1980, that sunny optimism is the solution to all our energy woes, and not a posture that put energy research on a war footing, or requires moral leadership on conservation, mass transit, or any other common sense answers whatsoever.
It was a Speech to Nowhere because Palin boasted that "I stood up to the special interests, and the lobbyists, and the Big Oil companies," and the audience cheered -- after eight brutal years of the same crowd's cheering for two oilmen in the White House who fiddled while $4-a-gallon gas burned and while American men and women died in a needless war fought on top of an oilfield, and while lobbyist friends like Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed got rich at the same time.
It was a Speech to Nowhere because Palin had the nerve to talk at length about John McCain's "torturous interrogations" in the very same speech when she all but condoned the continuation of similar, abhorrent practices that have been directed for eight years by our own U.S. leaders, when she stated that Democrats are "worried that someone won't read them [terrorism suspects] their rights."
It was a Speech to Nowhere because Palin belittled "community organizers" -- thousands of Americans who work long hours for little pay in some of the toughest neighborhoods, trying to assist the American Dream that even the poorest among us can pull themselves out of the muck with a helping hand. Palin and other GOP speakers have turned a noble job into a dirty word tonight -- shame on you! Listen to what CNN's Roland Martin said after Palin's speech was over.
My two parents are sitting home in Houston, Texas and they are both community organizers and the GOP and Sarah Palin might have well have said "being community organizers doesn't matter" to my parents face. I'm disgusted. Community organizers keep people in their homes, keep their lights on, keep food in the fridge.
It was a Speech to Nowhere because it made no mention of the men that Sarah Palin and John McCain are running to replace -- their names are Dick Cheney and George W. Bush, in case you've forgotten this week -- and no acknowledgment that as many 80 percent of Americans believe this country is on the wrong track, or that you can't solve a nation's problems when you deny they exist.
It was a Speech to Nowhere because...well, I urge everyone to read the text, without Palin's sharp delivery or her adoring fans in the crowd and in the press box, and tell me where there is any kind of policy at all -- except for the short boilerplate passage on energy -- or any mention of the issues that concern everyday Americans, including the No. 1 issue of the economy. Show me the part where this "grand slam" of speech touches on how citizens can afford health care or sending their kids to college.
But more than anything else, it was a Speech to Nowhere because for all the acclaim, the great bulk of it was devoted to one thing, and that is the one thing that millions of Americans are talking about in 2008 when we talk about "change" -- to the ugliest kind of "pit bull" politics, to use Palin's words, that tear down the other side with cheap ad hominem attacks, surrounded by a cloud of half-truths (uh, those "Greek columns"...did you actually even watch Obama's speech? Because there weren't any) and ridiculous innuendo about "parting the waters" which means nothing but fires up a big hockey rink full of Dittoheads. These kind of vicious attacks -- without having the grace to acknowledge that, despite some real differences on issues with Obama, that he has already accomplished something impressive that says something positive about America and the progress we've made -- were utterly lacking in class. And this is what Tom Brokaw considers "winning" -- have we really sunk that low as a nation?. The people of America want and deserve a real debate, now trash talk from the basketball point guard who was once called "Sarah Barracuda."
I hope America wakes up tomorrow and realizes that Sarah Palin's words were rousing -- and completely empty, that they offered no road map (let alone bridge) for America other than more of the bogus partisan name-calling that has gotten us into the mess that we're in now.
Actually, let me rephrase that.
I hope America wakes up tomorrow.
bigeastbeast: I hope you can bring something better to the table. It's nice to see that you consider non-Republicans un-American. How classy!!— Calvin Jones & the 13th Apostle- Sarah has "military experience as Commander of the Alaska National guard"?? Read what Vermont's first and the nations only three term Governor has to say about commanding what used to be the State Militia before the Federalist Republicans changed the rules. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/madeleine-m-kunin/sarah-palin-is-no-command_b_123358.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_M._Kunin— RandomArrow
- As good as the speech was politically Will, I agree this was a speech to nowhere. It is now obviously clear which party is the one that is elitist and out of touch with what is facing this country. This was the perfect, "More of the same" speech in which you are either, "with us or against us." Either a Republican or unpatriotic. The same old Republican divisive politics which I hope most Americans are tired of. The same old Bush-Cheney foreign policy which Senator McCain supports, which has reduced our respect across the world thus hurting our national security. The same old Republican party that attacks military service if you're a Democrat (John Kerry), honors it if you are a Republican (McCain) or completely ignores the lack of service (Bush)I hope America wakes up too!— t.j-101
- No comment on Will's article, but I am worried about Palin. She really seems a bit mentally unstable when I watch her previous speeches on "God's will" in Iraq and in building oil pipelines. Is any one else nervous that our future vice president belonged nearly her entire life to a pentacostal church that wants people to speak in tongues? I am surprised that McCain would pick such a seemingly extreme and unstable candidate. He has let me down. For more proof that Palin is a threat, look at these links: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_iraq_war and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins-church-may-have-sh_n_123205.html (left wing website, but it does show the video).— curtis
- BTW, regarding current foreign policy give it up! WE the USA are the largest provider of Aid to others for any reason anywhere. Lack of respect from other countries is nothing new or a Bush problem, it is jealousy of a successful capitalist country! What I want to know is WHO is B Obama to go to Germany OF ALL PLACES and apologize for MY USA???WTF, p;ease notice the lack of scumbag lib media who refuses to see this as an issue. Sorry to the Germans? That is B.S. and B.O. should be held accountable. BTW nice of the J.O. to stop and say hey to the troops....Scumbags! STOP B.O. tell people when they smell!!!— BADMOTHERUPPER
- BADMOTHERUPPER: we are not the largest provider of aid. I work for the international Red Cross and have a pretty good idea of these issues. The EU and its member countries are by far the largest provider of foreign aid. In terms of percentage of GDP, the USA is almost last. But not that this is relevant to this discussion. I at least want to make you aware that you are not writing the truth. Check your facts ... or if you want, I can send them to you since I work on EU and USAID grants. You can believe all of the other stuff, if you want, but just make sure you know the truth before sharing it with the rest of us.— curtis
- Amen, obviously someone who pays attention to substance instead of snark and snipe. Sarah Palin Queen of snark and snipe, yeah, just the kind of person this country needs sitting in the still warm seat of Cheney. If you care for your country make sure and vote democratic across the board and make sure your vote counts as well as your countrymen, these guys are very good at stealing elections and disenfranchising millions at our nation's expense. And by the way, Sarah Palin left the town she was a mayor for millions in debt despite coming into office when the city was debt free, hmm kinda like Bush and his Republican cohorts have done to this nation. Yeah like we need more of that.— dan63
- "I hope America wakes up tomorrow and realizes that Sarah Palin's words were rousing -- and completely empty"-Will. Will,Will,Will, where were you after the Biden speech? I don't remember any substance in that speech, but maybe you are just holding Palin to a higher standard? Understandable. You're a dumb lib.— ObamaHATER
- I love those who say that criticizing the president is un-American, or means you hate the US. The men who founded this nation did just that-in fact took up arms against their leader, to secure independence. They secured freedoms, such as freedom of the press and speech, so that people can disagree with a morally bankrupt group of fools that have ruined America's credibility and economy. Sorry, but if you are proud to be either a Republican or Democrat and vote the strict party line, you are an idiot. None of the candidates are good choices-not McCain, Obama, Biden or Palin.— JSaq
- Curtis, thank you for the ifo but anyone who went to college knows lying w/ statistics is easy and done often. Of course the % is going to be skewed due to the high number of our GDP. Are you saying that we, The USA is not a leader in world aide helping not only poverty and health issues but also natural disasters??? The ranking by GDP is weak! I am so tired of people talking tihs about our country, and they are libs, miserable never happy etc. I wish these peeps had some respect, thanks and good day to you!— BADMOTHERUPPER
- It's pathetic to see people arguing about this stuff. None of the candidates are any good. McCain is a camera whore. Obama and Palin have no experience. Biden is as big a publicity seeker as McCain. If this is the best the US can do, maybe it's not so great a country.— JSaq
- Based on her speech she is "Dubya" in a skirt. We need leaders, not fear-mongers, not sarcastic sound bites, not more double-talk and sugar coated lies. So she's a "hockey mom", that is suppose to excite me? My idea of hockey was born in the Broad Street Bully days of the 70's. What does she have in common, oh yes, she' a broad, based on her speech tonight she's a bully and after the Dem's are done with her she will be touting a toothless grin. So she's from small town Alaska, is that supposed to sway me? I grew up in Maple Shade "Small town, friendly people." Now I reside in a small town in upstate New York, pop. 11,000. What I'd like to know is her families financial condition. Is she a rich big fish in a small town or does she equate with people from the aforementioned small towns. In the small towns I've resided in family comes first and everything else is secondary even dare I say it "Country". I appreciate her unflagging belief of the sanctity of life until I conjure up a picture of her shouldering a high velocity rifle and blowing away some defenseless creature. McCain can only hope that her hunting prowess is a notch above VP Cheyney who proved that that Bourbon and bullets just don't mix. Just ask his buddy who he shot. But this is about Sarah Palin, McCain's personal female pitbull. She stood up to the challenge of being a "bit-h". You could tell that she has that one down pat. After that I still have no idea of who she is and how she feels she can help this country move forward. I do know as Mayor of Wasilla and Gov. of Alaska she spent like drunken sailor, leaving a small town of 6000 , 20 million dollars in debt after years of prosperity. That's $ 33,0000 per person. I'm not the best at balancing a check-book but even I can recognize a weakness in economics. Just one of many weaknesses I'm sure. But I still don't know where she stands on the issues and how she will help McCain in leading this nation. I can just hear her now "LET THEM EAT MOOSE"!— quizzmo
- You can't take the fact that Gov Palin has energized the Republican party and you know you're in trouble. If you would of actually listened instead of writing this before the speech you would of recognized that this is not the same old republican party. I'm an independant and because of Sarah Palin, McCain has my vote.— krazylegs
Comment removed.- BADMOTHERUPPER: I am not really sure what point you are trying to make. I specialize in grant applications for foreign aid, and know the facts. I actually am not critical that the US does not give more, for various reasons. I just wanted you to know the facts. I am not saying the US gives nothing and is not a leader; it simply is not the largest giver of foreign aid, neither in total amount nor percent of GDP. All I ask is that you be careful before you post inaccurate comments, because it skews the discussion. It has nothing to do with liberal or conservative, miserable or happy. It has everything to do with posting accurate comments that help move a debate forward.— curtis
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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