McCain tells cheering GOP he'll change Washington

[Terri]

By DAVID ESPO and ROBERT FURLOW
Associated Press
September 5, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- John McCain, a POW turned political rebel, vowed Thursday night to vanquish the "constant partisan rancor" that grips Washington as he launched his fall campaign for the White House. "Change is coming," he promised the roaring Republican National Convention and a prime-time television audience.

To repeated cheers from his delegates, McCain criticized fellow Republicans as well as Democratic rival Barack Obama as he reached out to independents and disaffected Democrats.

"We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us," he said of the Republicans who controlled Congress for most of the past 15 years.

As for Obama, he said, "I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them. I will cut government spending. He will increase it."

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[Repeal 16-17]

He gave a good speech which said what he needed to say. It was definitely not as good as Sarah Palin's speech, but that was likely impossible.

[oldjules]

I think McCain is going to be the nice guy and Palin will do the dirty work.

[Terri]

Text of John McCain's speech

Video Part I

Video Part II

[All is Lost]

I thought McCain’s speech tonight started off rather mundane or predictable. But I have to say when he got to the part about him living for himself up to when he was captured, and even into his captivity, until he refused to be released and they “broke him”, and he followed by saying that the ordeal that followed, and the rest of his time in captivity, it was no longer about him and instead about his fellow soldiers and his country, absolutely made me think of Joseph.

Joseph was pretty full of himself knowing God was talking to him, and he let his family know it. Then his brothers threw him in a pit with intentions to kill him, but instead sold him into slavery. He was unfairly judged and thrown into prison for many years. (I guess prisons in other countries help to make people get over themselves).

When Joseph was finally released, he worked for the common good of Egypt to save them from starvation, which also ended up helping out his people.

Tonight, during that part of McCain’s speech it hit me that he is our Joseph (with the exception that McCain is not claiming God is telling him what to do).

I felt the last half hour of his speech REALLY energized everyone. To paraphrase: GET UP!! HELP MAKE THIS COUNTRY BETTER! DEPEND ON YOURSELVES! THINK BEYOND YOURSELVES!! YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT THE COUNTRY HAS BECOME – CHANGE IT! GO INTO TEACHING. FEED THE HUNGRY. TEACH PEOPLE TO READ. LIVE BEYOND YOURSELVES.

America was never meant to be a nation of slackers and whiners. We were once a nation of action and inventors, self-sufficient, economically and industrially growing. We’ve fallen and turned into the “me generation.” We need to get over ourselves. McCain isn’t the only one that’s telling us this, Jesus tells us this as well.

I don’t want the government of slavery Obama offers. I want John McCain’s vision. To paraphrase someone that said something to this effect at the convention…I’m not backing a Republican because I’m rich or was raised in a wealthy family, I’m backing a Republican because I don’t want to be poor and waiting on my government for hand-outs.

I am voting for a man who is proud of our county and genuinely loves our country. I’m voting for a man whose humbleness I witnessed tonight as he confessed his vanity, what went wrong with the Republicans, and how he proposes to fix it. Not the guy who keeps apologizing for us, labels us as bitter, and rebukes us for not speaking other languages.

Bravo Mr. straight-talk John McCain!

[dylann15]

I agree with All is Lost (except for his name)!
To me, McCains captivity as a prisoner of war reminded me of St Maximillan Kolbe. The only difference is McCain escapes because his job was apparently not done yet!
Also, the fact that he and Cindy adopted a baby from Mother Terese of Calcutta! Woah!
I never knew any of this! Where have I been?

No need to worry. MCcain/Palin have the flag and most importantly, divine help on their side!
____________________ _______________
"Peace is not made at the council tables or by treaties, but in the hearts of men (and women.)" Woodrow Wilson

[MamaCat]

I was moved by McCain's speech, and I've not been a McCain champion -- quite the contrary. Either I have changed, or he has. I can comfortably vote for him. He still may not be as conservative as i would want, but he has moved, and I believe he will work for us, as he has promised. I'm sure there will be some reaching across the aisle, but in all reality, that's the only way anything will get done. If he doesn't, I'm sure Sarah will insisted there is some reaching back on the part of the Dems.

I think we're going to pull through this. I'm encouraged.

[Suomi]

I think that we are ready for McCain and Palin to lead in Washington and stop the Bush and congressional philosophy of "borrow and spend".

I still frown when I think that one of Bush and The Nice Librarian's hallmark efforts was to give more money to school administrators in the name of testing to force progress (aka no child left behind). McCain and Palin will introduce competition into the educatiuonal system and that is the Republican Conservative way to obtain progress.

McCain and Palin will not allow members of congress from both sides of the isle to enrich themselves and their friends through "earmark" spending preceded by selective preknowledge personal investments designed to take advantage of the earmark spending.

Country First is more than a slogan, it is the design basis for the country as formulated by the Founding Fathers.

[MrJLDoug]

Obama, campaigning in swing-state Pennsylvania on Thursday, said he wasn't surprised at Palin's criticism of him, and said Democrats intended to focus on her record.

"I think she's got a compelling story, but I assume she wants to be treated the same way that guys want to be treated," he said. "I've been through this 19 months, she's been through it -- what -- four days so far?"

Focus on her record huh? Just hers though huh?
We are well aware of your 19 month celebrity tour while she was doing her job and earning even more experience. Your "Audacity of Hope" just boils down to plain "Audacity."

[FlaJim]

McCain's speech outlined what he needed to say and the delegates were responsive after an excellent introduction by wife Cindy. Her presentation was probably the highlight of the evening.

The previous speech by Tom Ridge likely helped McCain if only in underscoring what a horrible speaker he is and what an uninspiring running mate he would have made.

It's to be hoped that McCain doesn't get too carried away with this bipartisanship business. The vast majority of the Dem leadership DO NOT have the best interests of the country at heart. They're venal, immoral elitists who disdain the average American and are interested only in feathering their own nests while they enjoy and excercise power that is largely unquestioned.