Thursday, September 04, 2008

Not just a pretty face

Not since Richard Nixon in 1952 has such an "average American" been nominated for presidential office. Sarah Palin stepped out of near obscurity as the Governor of the almost Canadian state up in the cold harsh north of the US to be come one of the most Googled people since Paris Hilton's sex tapes were "released". I mean everyone knows who McCain, Obama and Biden are but who the hell is Sarah Palin?

Well last night at the Republican Nation Convention in Minneapolis, Palin revealed herself to the world (just not in a way a lot of us would hope for, heh heh!) by delivering possibly the most important speech of her career and captured the hearts and minds of all who would doubt her, mostly in her own party, a party that needed to be re-energised and enthused because their "ideal candidates" were rejected by the people.

She was cheered and applauded for minutes before she could even start. She introduced herself to the world and delivered her own thoughts on issues and told delegates about her own experience in reforming her own small corner of government and how she's not afraid of shaking up the "Washington Elite".

The Vice-President is often seen as the "attack-dog" of the President and Palin proved more than capable of filling that role - and she didn't even need her guns. She took a swat at her political opponents who disgraced themselves by mocking her service as a town mayor and in turn mocked their own ridiculous "Styrofoam Greek columns". There was no venom in her voice, she's the type that can wound or kill with a smile (and what a smile!).

Palin's family were also in attendance lending an even more human face to this remarkable woman. She cited that her family had the same challenges and ups and downs of other families. Some of these challenges have been dragged unfairly and unjustly through the media recently and even Obama himself has asked them to stop.

She cited that Obama and Biden have oft said how they will fight for the American people, but she reminded that only one candidate has ever really fought for them "in places where winning means survival and defeat means death. And that man is John McCain."

She finished by citing an anecdote about the future President: "A prisoner of war, Tom Moe of Ohio recalls looking through a pinhole in his cell door as Lt.Cmdr. John McCain was led down the hallway by the guards, day after day. And the story is told, when McCain shuffled back from torturous interrogations, he would turn towards Moe’s door, and he’d flash a grin and a thumbs up, as if to say, “We’re going to pull through this. My fellow Americans, that is the kind of man America needs to see us through the next four years."

It's fair to say that Palin has taken the first step in unifying the party and claiming some of the the votes of the undecided or independent voters which comprises of about 20% of the total electorate. The next and final step to that unification can only be taken by McCain himself tonight. This and the next 60 or so days are going to be most interesting.

5 comments:

Helena said...

You like Star Trek and Transformers? Great! But I still hope that Obama will win.

Anonymous said...

Colonel, you make me want to barf.

There is no way that she is fit to lead our country. She's a disgrace and I'm sorry that a fine man like McCain even considered her. She hasn't got the brains or the talent to cope with government at this level.

Vote Obama.

Anonymous said...

You know, if a pretty face makes the difference, I'm not above activating the special campaign forces led by Commander Obama Girl.

We have super special uniforms.

Vote Obama.

Major General Creedon said...

@ Helena: I've heard Obama hates Sci-Fi. So where will our place be under his regime?

@ Constance: If your special uniforms are skin-tight leather mini-dresses with high hems and plunging necklines, then Obama will have a chance. Get sewing girl!

Anonymous said...

Obama is a fair man. Just because he doesn't care for Sci-Fi doesn't mean he won't let you watch it.

His opponents on the other hand, would probably burn all dvds, send in exploding bears to destroy both them AND the SciFi Channel station (No more Battlestar Galactica for you), and string up Shatner. Just to be safe. They wouldn't want you to make your own decisions about what you should or shouldn't watch.

And don't you confuse me and the other GynoAmericans for Obama with your legendary $10 skanks (who at least know how condoms work, unlike future Americans if McCain gets in office.)

"Get sewing girl"?? Please. What a facile attempt to rile me with your classically sexist statement. Sorry babe, you're going to have to work a little harder than that.

Vote Obama.