McCain McLies and MsLeads in Acceptance Speech

Here’s a breakdown of John McCain’s speech with my comments….
First let me note that he was NOT wearing a flag pin. And he calls himself a Patriot, pffft…

SEN. MCCAIN: In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn't any different. I'm grateful to the president of the United States for leading us in these dark days following the worst attack on American history -- (extended cheers and applause) -- the worst attack on American soil in our history and keeping us safe from another tack -- attack that many -- many thought was inevitable. AUDIENCE: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

After the obligatory first line about accepting the party’s nomination, McCain’s next line alludes to his time as a Prisoner of War, and the very next line after that reminds us about 9/11 and raises the specter of another “inevitable” attack. Be afraid, be very afraid. So within the first minute or two of his speech, he’s already reminded us that he was a PoW, 9/11 happened, and we will be attacked again. Great start.

SEN. MCCAIN: a word to Senator Obama and his supporters. We'll go at it -- we'll go at it over the next two months. You know that's the nature of this business, and there are big differences between us. But you have my respect and my admiration… And I wouldn't be an American worthy of the name if I didn't honor Senator Obama and his supporters for their achievement.

Oh, they respect Barack Obama? I couldn’t tell from all the condescending mockery of him in most of the speeches at the Republican Convention. I couldn’t tell from the ads that portrayed him as a dimwitted celebrity. As Obama said, “With the nation watching, the Republicans mocked, dismissed, and actually laughed out loud at Americans who engage in community service and organizing.” C’mon Barack. Chill out, they respect and admire you.

SEN. MCCAIN: All you've ever asked of government is to stand on your side and not in your way.

Of course, a government under a President McCain WOULD stand in your way if you wanted to terminate a pregnancy. Speaking of which, on to Sarah Palin:

SEN. MCCAIN: She's tackled tough problems like energy independence and corruption. She's balanced a budget, cut taxes, and she's taken on the special interests. (Cheers, applause.) She's reached across the aisle and asked Republicans, Democrats and independents to serve in her administration. She's the wonderful mother of five children. (Cheers, applause.) She's -- she's helped run a small business. She's worked with her hands and knows -- and knows what it's like to worry about mortgage payments and health care and the cost of gasoline and groceries. She knows where she comes from and she knows who she works for. She stands up for what's right, and she doesn't let anyone tell her to sit down. (Cheers, applause.)

See? She’s just a regular person like you. I guess she was “fighting corruption” when she demanded that the librarian remove books from the library that Palin found offensive, and then fired that librarian for not complying. And maybe it was “fighting corruption” when she wanted her ex-brother-in-law fired and then fired the person who wouldn’t comply with that. Oh wait, I think that IS corruption.

And as for her balanced budgets, tax cuts and taking on government spending…. Check out this report by Anne Kilkenny direct from Wasilla, Alaska:

During her six years as mayor, she increased general government expenditures by more than 33 percent. During those same six years, the amount of taxes collected by the city increased by 38 percent. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax, which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefitted large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.The huge increases in tax revenue during her mayoral administration weren't enough to fund everything on her wish list, though — borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt but left it with indebtedness of more than $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? Or a new library? No. $1 million for a park. $15 million-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex, which she rushed through, on a piece of property that the city didn't even have clear title to. That was still in litigation seven years later — to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5 million for road projects that could have been done in five to seven years without any borrowing. While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once. These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city.

Meanwhile, back to McCain’s speech, where he’s finally gonna get those damn kids off your lawn.

SEN. MCCAIN: Let me just offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first-country-second, Washington crowd: Change is coming. (Cheers, applause.)

Yes, change is coming. And it’s name is Barack Obama. Which Washington crowd is he warning? The Republicans who’ve controlled the White House for the last 8 years and the Congress for 6 of the last 8? Is that the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first-country-second, Washington crowd he’s talking about?

SEN. MCCAIN: I'm not -- I'm not in the habit of breaking my promises to my country. You well know I've been called a maverick, someone who -- (cheers, applause) -- someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. Sometimes it's meant as a compliment and sometimes it's not. (Laughter.) What it really means is I understand who I work for. I don't work for a party.

Translation: I don’t break my promises and I don’t work for a party… unless I need to abandon my principles and flip-flop on every major issue in order to win my party’s nomination. And even though I really wanted Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman as my running mate, I caved in to the extreme wing of my party and put politics above country by selecting someone who is fiercely Pro-Life and thinks that the war in Iraq “is a task that is from God.”

SEN. MCCAIN: I've fought the big spenders in both parties who waste your money on things you neither need nor want.

Well, except for the $10 billion a month for the war…. And the $5 Billion we gave to Pakistan that we cant account for… and all the no-bid overpriced contracts that went to Halliburton and Blackwater….

SEN. MCCAIN: And thanks -- and thanks to the leadership of a brilliant general, David Petraeus --(cheers, applause) -- and the brave men and women he has the honor to command, that strategy succeeded, and it rescued us from a defeat that would have demoralized our military, risked a wider war and threatened the security of all Americans. (Applause.)

Oh, we succeeded? I thought he said earlier that another attack was “inevitable.” Well, if we’ve been rescued from defeat and we’ve succeeded, then I guess we should be bringing the troops home ASAP. Sweet!

SEN. MCCAIN: We believe -- we believe in low taxes, spending discipline and open markets. We believe in rewarding hard work and risk takers and letting people keep the fruits of their labor. We believe -- (cheers, applause) -- we believe -- we believe in a strong defense, work, faith, service, a culture of life -- (cheers, applause) -- personal responsibility, the rule of law and judges who dispense justice impartially and don't legislate from the bench. (Cheers, applause.)

Spending discipline… didn’t the Republicans take over a record surplus and then run up a record deficit? Where was the personal responsibility for that? And as for rule of law, justice and judges.... didn't the Bush Administration have a scandal involving hiring/firing judges based on political affliliation and loyalty? Didn't a judge appointed by Bush's dad cast the vote in the Supreme Court that gave Bush the presidency? Just wanna make sure I’m remembering that correctly. But here’s the real doozie:

SEN. MCCAIN: We believe in a government that doesn't make your choices for you, but works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself. (Cheers, applause.)

UNLESS of course those choices have to do with who you marry and what you do with your reproductive organs. THOSE choices we’ll actually make for you and/or take them away.

SEN. MCCAIN: I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. (Boos.) I will open -- I will open new markets to our goods and services. My opponent will close them. (Boos.) I will cut government spending. He will increase it. (Boos.) My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate them. (Boos.)

Really Uncle John? It’s just that simple huh? Vote for you and you’ll give me money… Vote for the other guy and he’ll take my money away? Now that we know that, the choice is so clear! You should be CRUSHING him in the polls!

SEN. MCCAIN: My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance. His plan will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government-run health care system where a bureaucrat (boos) -- where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor. (Boos.)

And a Bureaucrat should NEVER stand between you and your doctor…. Unless you’re considering using contraception or terminating a pregancy.

SEN. MCCAIN: Now, my opponent promises to bring back old jobs by wishing away the global economy.

Haha, that’s a good one. Actually Obama has said in many speeches that the old jobs that Bush/McCain shipped overseas are not coming back. But let’s not let facts get in the way of a good soundbite.

SEN. MCCAIN: We need -- we need to shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition, empower parents with choice. (Cheers, applause.) When a public school fails to meet the -- its obligations to students -- when it fails to meet its obligations to students, parents deserve a choice in the education of their children, and I intend to give it to them. (Cheers, applause.) Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. (Cheers, applause.) But they will have the choice and their children will have that opportunity. (Cheers, applause.)

Just to review: you will have freedom of choice when choosing schools, but not when deciding who to marry or what to do with your reproductive organs. Got it.

SEN. MCCAIN: We'll attack -- we'll attack the problem on every front. We'll produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore and we'll drill them now. (Cheers, applause.) We'll drill them now. AUDIENCE: (Chanting.) Drill, baby, drill! Drill, baby, drill! Drill, baby, drill! Drill, baby, drill! Drill, baby, drill!

Yes, they actually chanted “Drill, baby, drill!” for the second night in a row. And no, we wont see a drop of new domestic oil in John McCain’s lifetime.

SEN. MCCAIN: We'll -- we'll -- my friends… we'll increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. We'll encourage the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles. (Cheers, applause.) My friends, it's an ambitious plan, but Americans are ambitious by nature. And we've faced greater challenges. It's time for us to show the world again how Americans lead. (Cheers, applause.) This great natural cause will create millions of new jobs.

Gee, the lofty rhetoric sounds nice… but these are just empty words in a speech. Where’s the details and specifics?

SEN. MCCAIN: We have dealt -- (cheers, applause) -- we have dealt a serious blow to al Qaeda in recent years, but they're not defeated, and they'll strike us again if they can.

Wait, I thought the strategy succeeded and rescued us from defeat? Which is it?

Here’s where McCain then warned us about the new boogeyman and started making his case for the next war, before pivoting to Russia:

SEN. MCCAIN:Iran remains the chief state sponsor of terrorism, and is on the path to acquiring nuclear weapons. [Russia] invaded a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the world's oil supply, intimidate other neighbors, and further their ambitions of reassembling the Russian empire.

Hmm…. there's a bad guy "on the path to acquiring nuclear weapons." Invading someone to gain more control over oil, intimidate, and further the ambitions of an empire... Those things sound awfully familiar.

SEN. MCCAIN: We face many dangerous threats in this dangerous world, but I'm not afraid of them.

YOU should be afraid, but John McCain isn’t.

SEN. MCCAIN: I know how the world works. I know the good and evil in it.

The guy has never sent an email and just had his wife show him the internet for the first time, but he knows how the world works. It’s all black & white, no gray area, just good guys and bad guys… kinda like a childish game.

SEN. MCCAIN: Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let's try sharing it.

Sort of like how McCain gladly shared the credit Bush bestowed upon him after that latest GI Bill passed… y’know, the one McCain was actually against. That’s right folks, Mr. Troops has time and again voted against Veterans benefits.
OK, time to wrap it up with the clincher:

SEN. MCCAIN: I'm not running for president because I think I'm blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. (Cheers, applause.)

Nevermind that Barack Obama has continually emphasized that this election is NOT about him. It’s McCain’s campaign that has nicknamed Obama “The One” and even ran ads mocking him as some religious cult figure. But just keep repeating it and it becomes part of the narrative.

McCain’s only chance of winning is to somehow turn this into Mr. Honorable War Hero vs. The Self-Centered Possibly Muslim Elitist. Good luck with that.