Lo avisabamos hace unas horas, el gran peligro de la fortaleza de Palin es la de ocultar a Mccain, que a la hora de la verdad es el que decide el voto. La audiencia de ayer es alucinante, 37 millones y medio de personas, casi igual que Obama.
Hay que reconocer que se lo ha puesto muy dificil a Mccain, hoy todo el mundo comparará y superar esa audiencia sería realmente increible.
Os iré contando
Ya tenemos el menú del día. Bajo el tema de la «Paz» y el slogan de la Convención «country first», hoy se celebra la última jornada de la convención Republicana. Además de Mccain, se espera con expectación el discurso de su mujer, con fama de retraida y distante, el gobernador Pawlenty, que ha sonado hasta última hora como candidato a vp, el exgobernador Ridge, que en su momento también sonó para el cargo, y el Senador Graham.
Fuera de carta, mi interés personal, os recomiendo al Senador Mel Martínez, a Rosario Marín y al Senador Sam Brownback
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Entertainment (Music): Al Williams
Entertainment (Monologue): James McEachin
Call to Order, Introduction of Colors: Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. «Mike» Duncan
Presentation of Colors: Fort Snelling Joint Services Color Guards
Pledge of Allegiance: Olympians Ryan Berube, Mitch Gaylord, Brittany Hayes, Barbra Higgins, Larsen Jensen, Elle Logan, Marcus McElhenney and John Naber
Singing of the National Anthem: Trace Adkins
Invocation: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.)
Speaker: Erik Paulsen
Speaker: Jay Love
Speaker: Charlie Summers
Speaker: Aaron Schock
Speaker: David Cappiello
Speaker: U.S. Sen. John Ensign (Nev.)
Video: «Country First: Peace,» with narration by Robert Duvall
Statement of Rule Regarding Vice Presidential Nomination; Recognition of Delegates Making Motions; and Adoption and Announcement of Nominee: U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.)
Speaker: Maria Cino, President and CEO of the 2008 Republican National Convention
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.)
Speaker: The Honorable Rosario Marin
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Speaker: Joe Watkins
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.)
Speaker: Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.)
Speaker with Video: Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.)
Speaker: Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter, USMC (Ret.)
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.)
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin (Okla.)
Video: «World Stood Still»
8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
Video: «Vice Presidential Nominee Governor Sarah Palin»
Speaker: Former Gov. Tom Ridge (Penn.)
Video: «America’s Place in the World»
Speaker: Mrs. Cindy McCain
9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Video: «Senator John McCain»
Speaker: Presidential Nominee John McCain
10 p.m. to Conclusion
Floor Demonstration, Balloon Drop, McCain and Palin Families on Stage
Introduction of Presiding Officer: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
Benediction: Pastor Dan Yeary
Introduction of Delegate for Motion, Adoption and Adjournment: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
No hay duda de que el fenómeno Palin tiene pocos antecedentes, y lo mejor para los Republicanos es que se debe sobre todo a la desorientada respuesta de la campaña de Obama. Aprovechando el tirón los republicanos se permiten el lujo de «demostrar» que su candidata a la vicepresidencia tiene más experiencia que el candidato a la Presidencia de los demócratas:
Sólo empieza a ver un problema y no se llama Biden, está «paleta sin experiencia» se puede comer a Mccain, y creo que eso tampoco es bueno para el Partido Republicano. Como alguien dice por ahí tienen que mejorar la química del ticket pero no lo dudeis el roce hace el cariño: ¡que se besen, que se besen!!!!
Hace tiempo que no vivía una tarde así. De Fyorina y Meg Whitman se esperaba lo que ofrecieron, solidez. Tras el discurso de Romney, decepcionante y muy por debajo de mis expectativas, la tarde ha sido un espectáculo. Después del show de Fred Thompson ayer, se puede decir: ¡¡que candidatos tenían los republicanos en estas primarias!!!
Huckabee es un maestro de la comunicación, domina el escenario, y al público, sabe tocar el corazón, hablar el idioma de la gente y ha calentado el ambiente. Giuliani ha hecho la parte más dificil, la que sólo él podía hacer, azotar a Obama sin perder la sonrisa, demostrar con la aritmética de la retórica que Obama es un peligro en un momento de crisis, ironía a raudales, complicidad con la gente, una naturalidad desbordante, transmite confianza. El discurso pasará a la historia de los discursos negativos, no tengo ninguna duda.
El momento cumbre, para imprimir y repartir:
You’ve got to make this decision right. Who would you hire?
On the one hand, you’ve got a man who has dedicated his life to the service of his country. He’s been tested time and again by crisis. He’s passed every test.
Even his adversaries acknowledge that he is a true American hero. He loves America as we all do – but he’s sacrificed for it as few do. As a young man, he joined the military…and being a «Top Gun» kind of guy, he became a fighter pilot. He was on a mission over Hanoi when his plane was shot down.
He was tortured in a POW camp, but he refused his captors’ offers of early release. Because this is a man who believes in serving a cause greater than self-interest. He came home a national hero.
He had earned a life of peace and quiet, but he was called to public service again, running for Congress and then the Senate as a proud foot-soldier in the Reagan Revolution. His principled independence never wavered. He stood up to special interests, fought for fiscal discipline, ethics reform and a strong national defense.
That’s one man.
On the other hand, you have a resume from a gifted man with an Ivy League education. He worked as a community organizer, and immersed himself in Chicago machine politics. Then he ran for the state legislature – where nearly 130 times he was unable to make a decision yes or no. He simply voted «present.»
As Mayor of New York City, I never got a chance to vote «present.» And you know, when you’re President of the United States, you can’t just vote «present.» You must make decisions.
A few years later, he ran for the U.S. Senate. He won and has spent most of his time as a «celebrity senator.» No leadership or major legislation to speak of. His rise is remarkable in its own right – it’s the kind of thing that could happen only in America. But he’s never run a city, never run a state, never run a business.
He’s never had to lead people in crisis.
This is not a personal attack….it’s a statement of fact – Barack Obama has never led anything.
Nothing. Nada.
Pero la que sin duda pasará a la historia es Sarah Palin, primero por los hechos, desde hoy es la primera mujer nominada para un ticket presidencial republicano
Un buen slogan: «So, our opponents want to reframe the debate. They would have you believe that this election is about ‘change versus more of the same.’ But that’s really a false choice. Because «change» is not a destination … just as «hope» is not a strategy».
Y otro gran momento:
When Russia rolled over Georgia, John McCain knew exactly how to respond.
Having been to that part of the world many times and having developed a clear worldview over many years, John knew where he stood. Within hours, he established a very strong, informed position that let the world know exactly how he’ll respond as President. At exactly the right time, John McCain said, «We’re all Georgians.»
Obama’s first instinct was to create a moral equivalency – that «both sides» should «show restraint.» The same moral equivalency that he has displayed in discussing the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel.
Later, after discussing it with his 300 foreign policy advisors, he changed his position and suggested that the «the UN Security Council,» could find a solution. Apparently, none of his 300 advisors told him that Russia has a veto on any UN action. Finally Obama put out a statement that looked …well, it looked a lot like John McCain’s.
Here’s some free advice: Sen. Obama, next time just call John McCain.
Pero la que sin duda ha hecho historia es Sarah Palin, no sólo por los hechos que la convierten desde hoy en la primera mujer nominada en el ticket presidencial republicano. También por el discurso: cuentan los capos de la campaña, que empezó a ensayar y estaba tan suelta que el ensayo duró menos de una hora, «She kill it», decía. Al acabar hoy el discurso en directo, muchos gritaban «home run», lo había clavado, el entusiasmo se apoderaba de los republicanos, que hoy gritarían si no les oyeran: «yes we can». Porque con Palin todo es posible. Ha hablado al corazón de los americanos, con gracia, ha abordado con sencillez y firmeza sus «problemas» familiares que tantos quebraderos de prensa le han dado esta semana. Ha aceptado el reto de la experiencia, y ha dado un repaso a su labor ejecutiva. Ha estado firme y segura en el tema energético, añadiendo unas pinceladas de geopolítica internacional que no han sonado excesivamente forzadas, ha conquistado al público del Xcel y ha puesto a los medios a hablar de la utilización de los niños en la campaña, algo que se les había pasado por alto con Obama y Biden, no se puede mirar al discurso, es incontestable. Es verdad que soy de lagrima fácil pero he de confesar que en un par de momentos me he tenido que secar los ojos, os parecerá exagerado pero hay que vivirlo, esta señora tiene magia. Algunos momentos
On her experience as a public servant:
«I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education better. When I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too. Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities.»
On why she is going to Washington, D.C.:
«I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion – I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country.»
On energy policies that the McCain-Palin administration will implement:
«Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems – as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines…build more nuclear plants…create jobs with clean coal…and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources. We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers.»
On John McCain:
«Here’s how I look at the choice Americans face in this election. In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.
Si ayer hablamos del discurso del excandidato demócrata a la vicepresidencia, como cierre de lujo para un primer/segundo día descafeinado, hoy queremos compartir algunas de las frases del que sin duda fue el discurso de la noche. Aprovechando sus dotes de actor, con un dominio espectacular de público y escenario, Fred Thompson, exsenador por Tennesse y excandidato a la presidencia por el Partido Republicano hizo un encendido elogio del Senador Mccain.
On John McCain’s qualifications to be president:
«This is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders. Strength. Courage. Humility. Wisdom. Duty. Honor. It’s pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, ‘Who is this man?’ and ‘Can we trust this man with the presidency?'»
On John McCain’s dedication to doing what is right – not what is popular:
«He has been to Iraq eight times since 2003. He went seeking truth, not publicity. When he travels abroad, he prefers quietly speaking to the troops amidst the heat and hardship of their daily lives. And the same character that marked John McCain’s military career has also marked his political career. This man, John McCain, is not intimidated by what the polls say or by what is politically safe or popular.»
On John McCain’s commitment to taking real action to reform Washington:
«But while others were talking reform, John McCain led the effort to make reform happen – always pressing, always moving for what he believed was right and necessary to restore the people’s faith in their government. Confronting when necessary, reaching across the aisle when possible, John personified why we came to Washington in the first place.»
On John McCain’s ability to restore integrity to our government:
«My role is to help remind you of the man behind the vision. Because tonight our country is calling to all of us to step up, stand up, and put ‘Country First’ with John McCain. Tonight we are being called upon to do what is right for our country.»
Lo habeis podido ver, hasta última hora no estaba cerrado el orden de actuación, a Lisa Keegan, asesora de Mccain en temas de educación le han cambiado el discurso por un anuncio sobre la ayuda a las víctimas del Gustav, la originalidad de los videos de fondo no creo que hayan quedado bien en la televisión, la actuación musical no se sabe bien a qué venía… en fin que el balance de la tarde no es del todo positivo.
Pero por la noche dos pesos pesados de la política norteamericana han pronunciado dos discursos largos, de contenido, con propuestas y razones.
Algunas perlas del discurso de Lieberman:
The truth is, it shouldn’t take a hurricane to bring us together like this.
Every day, across our country, millions of our fellow citizens are facing huge problems.
They are worried about their homes, their jobs, and their businesses; they are worried about the outrageous cost of gas and of health insurance; and they are worried about the threats from our enemies abroad.
But when they look to Washington, all too often they do not see their leaders coming together to tackle these problems.
Instead they see Democrats and Republicans fighting each other, rather than fighting for the American people.
And that brings me directly to why I am here tonight. What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?
The answer is simple.
I’m here to support John McCain because country matters more than party.
I’m here tonight because John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward.
I’m here because John McCain’s whole life testifies to a great truth: being a Democrat or a Republican is important.
But it is not more important than being an American.
Both presidential candidates this year talk about changing the culture of Washington, about breaking through the partisan gridlock and special interests that are poisoning our politics.
But only one of them has actually done it.
Only one leader has shown the courage and the capability to rise above the smallness of our politics to get big things done for our country and our people.
And that leader is John McCain!
My Democratic friends know all about John’s record of independence and accomplishment.
Maybe that’s why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince voters that John McCain is someone else.
I’m here, as a Democrat myself, to tell you: Don’t be fooled.
God only made one John McCain, and he is his own man.
If John McCain was just another go-along partisan politician, he never would have taken on corrupt Republican lobbyists, or big corporations that were cheating the American people, or powerful colleagues in Congress who were wasting taxpayer money.
But he did!
If John McCain was just another go-along partisan politician, he never would have led the fight to fix our broken immigration system or to do something about global warming.
But he did!
As a matter of fact, if John McCain is just another partisan Republican, then I’m Michael Moore’s favorite Democrat.
And I’m not.
Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But eloquence is no substitute for a record — not in these tough times.
In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party.
Contrast that to John McCain’s record, 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.
Governor Sarah Palin, like John McCain, is a reformer who has taken on the special interests and reached across party lines. She is a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington.
That’s why the McCain-Palin ticket is the real ticket for change this year.
The Washington bureaucrats and power brokers can’t build a pen strong enough to hold these two mavericks.
I want to speak directly to my fellow Democrats and Independents who are watching.
I know many of you are angry and frustrated by our government and our politics and for good reason.
You may be thinking of voting for John McCain but you’re not sure. Some of you have never voted for a Republican before and in an ordinary election, you probably wouldn’t.
But this is no ordinary election, because these are not ordinary times, and John McCain is no ordinary candidate. You may not agree with John McCain on every issue.
But you can always count on him to be straight with you about where he stands, and to stand for what he thinks is right regardless of politics.
As President, you can count on John McCain to be a restless reformer, who will clean up Washington and get our government working again for you!
So tonight, I ask you whether you are an Independent, a Reagan Democrat or a Clinton Democrat, or just a Democrat: This year, when you vote for President, vote for the person you believe is best for the country, not for the party you happen to belong to.
Vote for the leader who, since the age of 17, when he raised his hand and took an oath to defend and protect our Constitution, has always put our country first.
So, let’s come together to make a great American patriot our next great President!