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From the Conventions: Speeches and Veeps

AIR DATE: Friday, August 29th 2008
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Looking back at the Dems in Denver and ahead to the GOP gathering from a Northwest perspective.

The Democratic tents are nearly down in Denver and the political swirl is focused as much on the apparently imminent GOP pick for vice president as it is on Senator Barack Obama's speech at the closing of the Democratic convention.

On Friday, we'll vet John McCain's pick for vice-president from a Northwest perspective (presuming he's announced by then; the show may broadcast late if he presents his VP choice Friday morning) and take a look back and ahead with regional issues and politicking in mind.

What did the Democrats gain from their week in the high-altitude sun? An Obama supporter from Reedsport was having the time of her life. A Hillary supporter from Vancouver made Maureen Dowd's column in the New York Times. How about gains with the voters? Were you on the fence? Did anything you hear from the convention sway you one way or another?

What are the challenges facing Republicans at their convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul? Two leading local Republicans, Senator Gordon Smith and Washington gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi are skipping the GOP gathering. Smith's opponent, Jeff Merkely, got two and a half minutes on the Democrats' stage and a promise of financial support from New York Senator Charles Schumer, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. How far west will presidential coattails reach?

What speeches at the Democratic convention inspired you or got your goat? What do you want to hear from John McCain next week?

And if there are subject you'd love to hear a show on as election season continues, please share your ideas here.

GUESTS:

  • Jeff Mapes: Political Reporter for the Oregonian and Mapes on Politics
  • Nigel Jaquiss: News reporter for Willamette Week
  • Shirley Woods: Home business owner and first time Democratic delegate from Oregon
  • Harry Demarest: President of Astro Data Services, Democratic delegate from Corvallis
  • Elizabeth Hovde: Columnist for The Columbian

Photo credit: HoboElvis / Flickr / Creative Commons

Please address on TOL why I would vote for McCain or the Republicans. Everything I've heard from McCain has personally attacked Obama or his policy outlines. I have not heard McCain unveil or elaborate any rational solutions himself.
trurl9 —
Palin for VP?? This is an incredibly transparent political ploy by the Republican party. By choosing someone young and female, it's obvious they are trying to fulfill everything McCain lacks and pick up angry Hillary supporters who are important for this election. If "lack of experience" is what they are saying Obama lacks, why would they choose a ONE TIME governor with hardly any experience?
Katie Grone —
Choosing Governor Palin is a blatant, ham-handed grab at the women who support Hillary Clinton. But her candidacy does nothing to change McCain's record - especially his voting record - where he has proven himself to be anything *but* a reformer or independent.

Will the addition of Palin to the ticket change my vote? Absolutely not. A McCain presidency would be a disaster surpassed only by the disaster of the current administration.
gchaix —
Why is anyone assuming that Hillary supporters would be swayed to vote for Palin just becasue she is female? Hillary stands for a woman's right to choose, national health care, and policies that protect our environment and attempt to slow global warming. Palin is anti-choice and supports drilling in ANWR. Does the McCain campaign really think that women don't vote on issues at all and will blindly cast their ballots for someone who disagrees with them on almost every point, but happens to have two X chromosomes?
lillianruelle —
While I don't know how many more votes Palin will draw, she has accomplished what McCain needed, which is to excite the conservative base. As a conservative I was begrudgingly going to vote for McCain as the least worst option. Now I can feel proud of my party and actively work to defeat the king of platitudes. While all can feel proud that our country is a unique place where disadvantaged people can achieve success, I disagree with Obama's policies hidden among generalities and platitudes. Palin exemplifies what is great about the Republic Party and conservatism. She exemplifies how strong successful women and the Republican party go hand in hand, and that motherhood is important for a successful society, and that the value of a human life in the womb has value.
PoliticalWatcher —
Having a woman or Northwest governor on the ticket changes nothing for me. While I am excited that women have figured so prominently this election season, it changes nothing about why I vote democratic. It's the issues, not the gender.
Blake W —
Incredible. It was Democrats who fought against Republicans in order to establish womens rights. Palin is a traitor to her gender and McCain is a sexist pig.

And any union member who votes for a Republican is voting against their own self interests. Republicans are anti-Union and anti-women.

Incredible.
Tom D Ford —
Republicans are NOT anti-women. Palin demonstrates that a woman can be conservative, strong and successful, and that in fact the three go hand in hand. Conservatism is about self-actualization and self-made women and men. Women's rights is more than celebrating promiscuity without consequences. Women's rights should be about removing barriers. Womens' rights was not divided among Democrats and Republicans then, and it is not a Democrat issue today. Democrats treat women like victims. Republicans allow women to become self actualized by getting government out of the way and letting women become all they can be on their own.
PoliticalWatcher —
"Conservatism is about self-actualization and self-made women and men."



What a hoot! There is no such thing as a self made man or woman, everybody has been influenced, good or bad, by their parents, families, teachers, preachers, friends, enemies, co-workers, bosses, the soldiers who fight/fought for them, on and on.

Everybody stands on the shoulders of those who went before.

Palin did not birth herself, raise herself, school herself, build her own car, drill for and refine her own gas, on and on, no, she depended on the help and cooperation of many many people to get to where she is now, she is in no way "self-made" and neither is anybody else.

If anything Palin and everybody else is "made" by their family, community, state, nation, and world. Oh and let us not forget that every atom in us was "made" in the Big Bang and reformed in the centers of stars.


Conservatism is always about the self, like a two year old who never grew up and learned to be a giving part of his/her community, just always taking, taking, and more taking.
Tom D Ford —
A lot of good points in here. Certainly I cringe at the anti-science, religious right wing, and "diplomacy only with countries with nukes" brand of conservatism that has taken hold in the last decade. It's those folks that have driven me to the democratic party. But a less selfish mindset is indeed out there and it is is empowering. It's a mindset that doesn't wait for help, but sets about making what one can of one's situation and doesn't make excuses. It also recognizes that some people really do need help and that government is a tool that can be used to help those people. That's why I've always said that Bill Clinton was the best Republican president we've had since Lincoln or Teddy Roosevelt.
fatmidwesternwhiteguy —
The Republican choice for VEEP seems to transparently attempt to garner favor with die-hard Hilary Supporters who can't bring themselves to vote for Obama. McCain seems to distill this down to: "We have a woman on the ticket". This distillation/over-simplification is insulting.
dsalderson —
Insulting and condescending. She almost seems to be the equivalent of a "trophy wife" - she's young and pretty, but her politics are 180 degrees opposite of Senator Clinton's.
gchaix —
If the Republicans think they'll pick up Hillary supporters by nominating a woman, they have seriously underestimated the intelligence of the American voters. Palin's extreme position on women's right to make their own reproductive choices will be the immediate deal breaker--we don't even have to get to lack of experience. When I heard the announcement this morning, I thought OMG, the Republicans really want to lose this race--they may know that the mess left behind by Bush/Cheney is even worse than we know.
mcnamarm —
I noticed that Republicans keep saying they want to get independent of "FOREIGN" Oil when really we need to get ourselves independent of Oil.

We need to take back control of our energy from Big Oil and Big Coal. We need to develop alternatives so that we make oil and coal an option instead of a monopoly forced on us.
Tom D Ford —
Mrs. Palin seems like a good choice. But, I wonder if it might have the opposite effect of pushing Mrs. Clinton's supporters away from Mr. McCain, because they might feel like Mrs. Palin took the fast track----similar to views on Mr. Obama, that he doesn't have the substance and hasn't done-the-time to deserve the job.

If you can make a case that Mrs. Palin was chosen because of her gender you can make a similar case about Mr. Obama based on race. It will be hard for Democrats to argue against her on those grounds.

Mr. Obama also contradicted his message by picking the 'insider' Mr. Biden. If you can call Mrs. Palin not 'experineced,' you can call also call Mr. Biden not 'change.'
scottmil —
As a woman and a Hilary supporter, I found Palin's acceptance speech laughable. The campaign's attempt to position her as the heir apparant of Hilary's voters is an insult to both Hilary and her base. I did not support Hilary because of her chromosomes - I supported her because of her political expertise, positions on issues, demonstrated strength of character, powerful contacts, and deep understanding of global issues.

Oh, and if governor Palin wants to reform Washington's ethics, perhaps she should start with her running mate's staff, and root out the Karl Rove disciples.
Justmy Thot —
Anyway, enough McCain/Palin/Bush, let's get back to Obama. I think Obama will make a great president and help make the government work for the people instead of against the people.
Tom D Ford —
By the way, I heard a story yesterday that Iraq is signing a contract with China for the Chinese to develop Iraqs Oil fields and buy Iraqs Oil, now isn't that a slap in the face to all of the US soldiers who fought for control of Iraqs Oil for the last seven years? All of their blood and sacrifices have been for China instead of their fellow US citizens?
Tom D Ford —
It was the Republicans who fought against and prevented the enactment of the ERA, Equal Rights Amendment for Women, why would any woman at all vote against themselves?
Tom D Ford —
Hi TOL,

One of your commentators expressed his doubts about the realism of Obama's hope to wean America from foreign oil in 10 years. On NPR coverage last night I heard the same comment from a pundit. But, if I heard Obama right, he said he hopes to wean us from Middle Eastern oil in 10 years, not all foreign oil. Still a tall order, but possible with an aggressive energy conservation and alternative fuels push. Though we get a lot of our oil from the Middle East, I think we get more from Canada, Mexico, and other regions. I'd appreciate it if you could confirm my memory of Obama's statement and, if I'm right, correct this misperception.

Thanks,

Bob
bobdevine —
Mr. Obama?s speech last night was a poor performance. I watched it three times and read the transcripts?it fell flat and didn?t have the vibrancy or poetry I expected---and the delivery was choppy. Either way, it would not be a reason to pass a larger judgment on Mr. Obama from one night only. It could simply be nerves, a bad venue or a bad writer. The significance of the event seemed more impressive then the reality.
scottmil —
I'd like to see Republicans take their party back from Conservatives. Oregon has had some great Republican governors whom I admired and respected.
Tom D Ford —
McCain's choice to run with Palin is a smart political move, but that's all. McCain is simply using the object of a woman - a beauty queen no less - to propel himself into power. This is not how women should be promoted into positions of importance. Those Hillary supporters who vote for McCain just to see a woman in office are clearly ignorant.
trooperjulie —
I am already in love with Palin from listening to her speech over the radio. She exemplifies what a strong conservative woman is. She has excited the conservative base, which is what McCain needed. She may not attract that many Hillary supporters but Democrats can no longer falsely claim that they are more pro-women than Republicans.
PoliticalWatcher —
me too. She's smart, articulate, athletic, successful, and hot! Too bad she's married. But who knows, successful politicians have been known to have affairs. There may be hope.

JUST KIDDING!!!!!
fatmidwesternwhiteguy —
I was glad that the subject of McCain's cancer has been discussed, but I have cared for people with dementia, and I have seen several videos where McCain is sooo confused and disoriented. Isn't anyone concerned about the man. There is a real difference in someone who has momentary memory lapses like the elderly might experience, but McCain's behavior has been beyond that. Even if they have McCain doped up, is that what America needs right now? Drs often miss dementia, or I think are reluctant to diagnose it in its early stages. We all went through this with Regan, it is no way to run a country.
commoner —
Having just moved to Oregon from Alaska, off the top of my head, I can think of a dozen Alaskans who are more qualified than Sara Pallen to be Vice President of the United States. She was the Mayor of Wasilla, a city of 9,000 people. She become Governor of Alaska two years ago, not for anything she accomplished, but solely for her dedication to the far-right ideological orthodoxy. Putting her a heart attack away from the Oval Office is irresponsible at best.
CitizenKev —
I think Sen. Obama gave a great speech last night. It was what an independent like me needed to hear to keep me on the fence. Had his opponent not chosen whom he did, it might even have been enough to have kept McCain from getting my vote.

McCain also made the right move for pro-life voters with his VP selection, it does help to keep folks like me from grudgingly defecting altogether to Obama's camp.

Now I will have to see how the candidates handle themselves, I?m back to being undecided.

One thing I would like to repeat is what was said by several pro-life women today (including one on TOL): that it is refreshing to see a pro-life woman get a chance on the national political stage. I can say from experience that there are a lot of pro-life women out there (my wife being one of them) who feel completely disenfranchised by politics. It?s a shame that they have been repeatedly treated like the only valid way they can enter the political conversation as a woman is if they toss their conviction that "abortion rights" represents a terrible wrong. We lose an immense potential of good governance and wisdom from a huge pool of good smart women with such a barrier; sad, that...
tpohara —
right. Which is exactly why we have to get beyond the fact that people "think" abortion is either right or wrong, since not much is going to change from a legal perspective anyway. Obviously after 8 years of Reagan, 12 years of Bushes, several supreme court nominations, nothing has changed nor is it likely to change. Bush had to go soft with his nominations because he knew what would happen. You all thought the 60's had riots? Let's see what happens if Roe V Wade is overturned. You ain't seen nothing yet. Instead, let's stop arguing about this and focus on what we can agree on...preventing unwanted pregnancies. Let's throw our energies into what we can agree on...please...Obama may have a liberal voting record, but he has the right approach to a debate. I want to see him elected.
fatmidwesternwhiteguy —
"Which is exactly why we have to get beyond the fact that people "think" abortion is either right or wrong, since not much is going to change from a legal perspective anyway."

I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree on this one, Sir.

First, I do acknowledge that the likelihood that things will change legally without the public getting enough information is indeed slim, you are correct there.

However, for someone who finds convincing evidence that the baby is alive, saying we must get beyond it being wrong misses the point. If it isn?t a baby, then you are correct. If it is alive, however, if killing a baby isn?t wrong, then what is? The best figures I have are from 2005 where 1.21 million times a child?s life was ended in an abortion. That is the equivalent of more than twice the population of Portland dying violent deaths. Between 1973 and 2005, more than 45 million died... that is roughly the population of California, Oregon, and Washington combined.

Let me put it in terms that equal what I see the wrong as: should dissenters in WWII Germany have just said that they would never be able to change the laws and let their neighbors who were Jewish be hauled away or should they do what they could to save all they could? After all, it was only 6 million folks killed there. Sounds ludicrous if I put it in those terms, doesn?t it? But why is it any different if someone is being punished for being a baby than for being a religious minority?

What really bugs me is that this should be a Democratic party position; the Republicans have regularly shown that they care about business and not people... so why the role reversal here? Why are minorities pressured into more abortions per year (according to the industry itself, 37% of all abortions are performed on African-American women alone... even though they are a small percentage of the number of women in America http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html#fn1 )? Why isn?t there an outcry on the part of civil rights leaders over what 60 years ago would have been seen as another whitie ploy to dehumanise them and ?keep them in their place??

Back to my point, altruism just doesn?t work in a vacuum... you need a sense of right and wrong. How can we oppose a war as unjust without knowing what is the right thing to do? How can we stand up to feed starving kids anywhere in the world when their own leaders say it isn?t appropriate? How can we insist that we as a people reach out to an African continent ravaged by AIDS to try to help those folks if it isn't wrong to do nothing? How can we say that anything that isn?t hindering our own selfish interests is really problematic at all?

I can see the Homosexual issue being let go... it is still wrong, but that is a moral opinion and individual to individual there is always hope that they will accept my position. But the difference is they are only hurting themselves, and in America we allow people to hurt themselves all the time. Abortion kills an innocent child; that baby gets no choice or second chance... and saying that isn?t wrong won?t work when you see it that way.
tpohara —
Gov. Palin is a brilliant choice for v.p. She shores up the social conservatives, whose support for Sen. McCain has been somewhat lackluster, while presenting a compelling reason for middle of the road independents, who are not overly concerned with abortion rights, to vote for the Republican ticket. This choice will change the debate away from the "historicalness" of Sen. Obama's run and help add energy to Sen. McCain's. The lack of experience argument may cut into the attack on Sen. Obama, but the Dem's will not be able to truly make hay out of it due to the fact that Gov. Palin has about as much experience as Sen. Obama. The real weakness of this choice lies in her lack of national exposure. If she makes a mistake or a skeleton is found in her closet, there will be little forgiveness for it from the press, who are in love with Sen. Obama. No Rep. could ever truly pull people from the Dem. base, but the choice of Gov. Palin does offer the potential to pull people over in the center.
musicfish —
Palin claims she wants to break the glass ceiling? Hello! She is a Conservative, the people who built and maintain that glass ceiling against women, She is her own worst enemy!

No self respecting woman would vote against herself by voting for Palin.
Tom D Ford —
I get a big laugh out of the idea of a Conservative being a reformer.

Conservatism is the problem and always has been.

Conservative ?reformers? just redirect your attention to minor crooks while they financially rape the public and the future of the children. They are Con-men in the worst sense of the word.

Look at their record of the last, well decades, and you see that their record proves that Conservatism is a carefully crafted pack of lies, just reworded and repackaged for each new generation to get the lower classes to vote against their own self interests and for the unbridled greedy interests of the Conservative Republican wealthy. It is an amazing and ongoing con.

Small government? Are you kidding?

Financially prudent? They have always taken us from surpluses to deep into debt.

Non-interference in other nations? Yow! You're killin' me, well, not me but all of the people killed in Conservative invasions of countries like Grenada, Iraq, etc.

On and on. Lie after lie.

Sheesh.
Tom D Ford —
I would be interested in some discussion in the preemptive police activity of questionable legality directed at protest groups there for the convention. Lawyers in handcuffs? Trumped up ?fire code violations??
Why are those people so afraid?
Glenn M —
Sarah Palin gave a great speech but her words were as hollow as bamboo sticks.

Other than an out-right hateful attack on Barrack Obama, she barely spoke about the economy or about any social issue affecting Americans today. Is it possible for our elected officials to differ on the topics without going negative on each other? When will they ever learn that today's needs are greater than self glory and does it make any sense to any of them that a nation becomes more important than the individual especially at times when record numbers of Americans are loosing homes, wondering about food prices and high costs of energy?

Sarah also made a big mistake by looking down on community organizers. These are the same people across America who work day and night to ensure that her (Sarah) own daughters can walk outside their home or rode a bike around the block without fear of being mugged and or hitting pot-holes, and also ensure a police presence when needed. How dare she look down on the very people who are voting for her? if a community organizer job is something not worth talking about, can Sarah the define what a job is supposed to be that is worth mentioning? How does she expect to help create jobs when the very least of them are no where in her short list of appreciation? Sad
hurstvonberg —
While you're "reporter" in St. Paul was inside the XCel center "just missing" important protests, more than 300 people were arrested, swept up in complete over-reactions by the a militant police force locked and loaded for war. Eight are being charged with terrorism. Many were let go without charges after being held in jail for two days. While Sarah Palin mocks Obama for wanting to read terrorists their rights, directly outside people are losing their civil rights, some of them Republican.
drosenfeld33 —

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