Elections 2008

From Saturday Night Live

Well…the balloons fell…the confetti floated and the Republicans partied…the end of John McCain’s speech tonight was all about his POW days…a storyline he has used many times, but tonight he went into greater depth than the American people have probably heard before…the strength he received from those around him, strength that kept him going.

What a race we have here…one for the ages…a guy using the Vietnam story to rise to President while most Democrats I know felt and still feel, wrong war, US should have never been there…and here we go again, Iraq is the war that McCain supports, gushingly so during these past four days. Wow, let the fireworks begin! We have what looks for all the world to be this major generational clash. Will the American people choose a new guy, “inexperienced” when compared to McCain, without the same baggage…or will the people choose a security hawk who has no plan on how to leave Iraq and voted with George Bush 90% of the time. Stay tuned!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On, and Johnny Be Good played between Cindy and John’s…Republicans are moving, shaking…no outright dancing that I can see…maybe somewhere…. I just asked CBS’s Bob Shieffer, ‘Who dances better, Democrats or Republicans?’ He’s a political reporter, so he couldn’t tell me.

Press room has C-Span on…they just showed a banner: “McCain votes against Vets” That commie network…

McCain Begins

2;:13 second ovation…he tries to start, chants of USA…starts, more chants of USA then…

McCain applause lines:

• We will go at it, that’s the nature of this (politics) “More unites us than divdes us, we are fellow Americans.’

• Let there be no doubt, we are going to win this election. And after we win, we are going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot.
• I’ve been called a maverick…I don’t work for a party, I don’t work for a special interests, I work for you.
• I’ve fought for drug companies, union bosses (?)
• We lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger.
• The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics.
• 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.
• We believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of Americans. Government that doesn’t make your choices for you, but works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself.
• Keeping taxes low helps small businesses grow and create new jobs. Cutting the second highest business tax rate in the world will help American companies compete and keep jobs from moving overseas. Doubling the child tax exemption from $3500 to $7000 will improve the lives of millions of American families.
• My opponent promises to bring back old jobs by wishing away the global economy. We’re going to help workers who’ve lost a job that won’t come back, find a new one that won’t go away.
• Senator Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucracies. I want schools to answer to parents and students.
• We are going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us very much.
• We will produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore, and we’ll drill them now.
• We will encourage the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles.
• Senator Obama thinks we can achieve energy independence without more drilling and without more nuclear power. But Americans know better than that.
• And the brave people of Georgia need our solidarity and prayers.
• We face many threats in this dangerous world, but I’m not afraid of them. I’m prepared for them.
• I will draw on all my experience with the world and its leaders, and all the tools at our disposal - diplomatic, economic, military and the power of our ideals - to build the foundations for a stable and enduring peace.

St. Paul, Minnesota

By Chris Krohn

RNC, Day 4

First it was a trip to the “RNC Welcome Committee” press conference which presented several protesters who said they had been detained and beat up by police. From what I can tell, the “RNC Welcome Committee” is an ad hoc group of anarchist, black block, and bad boy/girl political hellraisers who have been targeted by Secret Service (the agency in charge of all security here). It seems to this observer too, the security apparatus are pretty terrified of this small group embedded at times within the thousands and thousands of peaceful, mostly anti-war, protesters who have gathered in this incredibly people-friendly city which sits near the headwaters of the Mississippi River. (For more details go to rncvigil@riseup.net BTW, I could not log on).

Next, I did a 180 degree turn and went to the famous (infamous in Santa Cruz?) Mall of America here in St. Paul. (No, I did not buy anything…okay, noodles and rice.) Then I went directly to the Minnesota State Capital. I arrived at 3:30pm. Protesters were gathering for a rally sponsored by the “Anti-War Committee.” When I arrived there were a few hundred milling around, but by 4pm there were between 2000-3000 gathered. The theme was: “No Peace for the War-makers.” The rally was surrounded by some 1000 police–on horseback, bicycle, foot patrols, vans, mini-humvees, and some even posted on roof tops. It was an overwhelming show of force. I observed very few “anarchist types,” a few, but less than 20. At one point the police swooped in and arrested a man and women laying on the grass. Stupid? or just trying to break up the demonstration before they could march? The group had permit to rally but not march. Katrina Plotz, a spokesperson for the group took to the microphone to calm the crowd: “They are trying to provoke a reason to shut this whole thing down. ‘Are we going to let them do this?’” she asked the swelling crowd. “No,” came the answer in unison.

They began to march at 4;45pm. They lined up and marched down a service road and headed onto the John Ireland Bridge toward downtown. This reporter never saw the sight of 14 large horses galloping across asphalt to put up a falange ahead of the oncoming marchers…but I did this time, it was quite a site. The protesters fell into a standoff with police and the whole area was closed off. I finally found a bridge not closed off about 7p. Many in the media and RNC delegates were stuck in this police cordon for over an hour and a half. The show of force, National Guard troops with riot shields were actually waiting for protesters on the other side of the bridge, was something I nor anyone I spoke to in St. Paul had ever seen before.

I reached the convention hall at 7:30 and began typing this. Sen. Sam Brownback from Kansas gave a ‘John McCain has been my friend for a long time’ speech, and football coach Joe Gibbs must’ve entered the evangelical clergy as he gave a sermon about the “lord and savior” coming to save U.S.

More to come…here comes Lindsey Graham. “Ladies and gentleman, this speech is for the troops. Surge, surge, surge. Joe Lieberman is a hero.”

stay tuned!

Lieberman Plays Judas, Received Warmly by GOP Delegates, but Applause Tepid

Sen. Joseph Lieberman from Connecticut, despite playing both ends from the middle in giving $100,000 to the Senate Democratic Election Committee and being a part (sometimes) of the razor thin Democrat Senate majority (51-49), both angered and saddened Democrats with his speech Tuesday night at the RNC. He attacked Obama and gave aid and comfort to the Republican delegates. Alas, politics…
Sen. Joseph Lieberman, independent from Connecticut, is still smarting from being rejected in the Connecticut Democratic state primary in favor of rival Ned Lamont back in 2006. Running as an independent, Lieberman went on to beat Lamont in that election. Treated with kid gloves by Democratic Senators for fear they might lose him completely because of his liberal social agenda voting record, Lieberman has never really been sanctioned by the Democratic Party itself for his abysmal record on Iraq. Old loyalties are deep. His main disillusionment with the Democratic Party is in fact, over Iraq.
Lieberman came to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in St. Paul, MN. he said, to support his friend, Republican Presidential nominee John McCain. Lieberman hit the Democrats early and often last night, and like a real political pro he stuck to the canned Republican thematic message of “country first, country first, country first.”

“What’s a Democrat like me doing in a place like this?” Lieberman began. “Country matters more than party. I am here for a simple reason: John McCain is the best person to bring our country together and move us forward.” He continued, “Being a Democrat or a Republican is important, but it is no more important than being an American.” It was perhaps Lieberman’s loudest applause line. “You can expect John McCain to do what he’s done this week, to put our country first,” referring to McCain’s call for a subdued RNC in light of the news last Saturday that yet another hurricane (Gustav) was bearing down on New Orleans. Some at this convention hold the sentiment that perhaps their party will get it right this time.  “God only made one John McCain and he is his own man,” Lieberman said to cheers from the crowd. Is Lieberman’s appearance here really like a fish out of water, before and extremely partisan audience like this one, or is it really just a homecoming?

Next, Lieberman laid into Democratic nominee, Barack Obama. “Eloquence is no substitute for a record. He’s never reached across party lines or taken on powerful interests.” Then the Connecticut Senator spoke directly to “fellow Democrats and independents.”  He said, “I know you’re angry. Some of you probably have never voted for a Republican before and might never again, but these aren’t ordinary times. And John McCain is not ordinary candidate. He’s a restless reformer and will clean up Washington.”
Lieberman’s final words must have cut like a sharp knife to the backs of his once fellow Democrats. “This year vote for the person who will best serve our country not the party you belong to.”  Then the chants began. Goaded on by an army of RNC cheerleaders running around the hall before the end of Lieberman’s speech they shouted at delegates, “’Country first’ chants as soon as he ends!” And so it went. The once former Vice Presidential nominee for the Democrats, Joe Lieberman, ending day two at the Republican National Convention to chants and “country first” mingled with the more steroidal mantra, “USA.” Quite a coup for the Republicans and quite a blow to Democrats hoping for a real change this year.

Wow…the Republicans have come out partying tonight…Hurricane Gustav but a distant memory…they are playing Earth, Wind, and Fire tonight, along with other danceable songs. They are also coming out with an Economic message..well, except “Drill Baby Drill” Rudy G. and Mike Huckabee. They continue to talk about McCain’s military record and Obama’s inexperience…(Where are the other issues…economic? environment? healthcare?)

Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman came out early to defend the Republicans from some criticism of only speaking of John McCain’s experience and Barack Obama’s inexperience. Coleman emphasized JOBS, ENERGY and HEALTHCARE. (”The biggest expense for families is government. Taxes kill jobs and we need to keep them low. We need to drill now…more shale, more nuclear power. I don’t want you folks who run the IRS to run my healthcare.”)

To there credit Abel Maldonado (”When you try to soak the rich, the poor and the middle class get wet.”), Meg Whitman (increase national wealth, not distribute it) and Carly Fiorina (”Lead in global economy,” create jobs here at home, educational opportunities, protect our environment, “citizens keep more of their money,” “We have a clear chace this November betweek governing philosophies”) talked mostly about economics.

St. Paul, Minnesota

By Chris Krohn

WAS CALIFORNIA DELEGATION SNUBBED?

The California Republican delegation is sitting so far from the stage they might as well be watching the proceedings in a sports bar in Minneapolis. Seating status is often debated, with swing states usually being given a prime seat position within the convention hall–Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida at both conventions. But with the CA delegation sitting far-out stage left with only the Washington, D.C. delegation with perhaps a worse sight line, it seems clear that California may not be as ‘in play’ as John McCain has stated in the recent past. Sitting on either side of the stage is Arizona and Minnesota (Alaska is in far stage right field, not sure why? Could it be an indication of how last minute McCain’s VP choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin actually was?) But poor California sits behind Montana, West. Virginia, Louisiana, Washington state, S. Dakota, and even Connecticut a probable blue state this November. And Illinois, Obama’s home state, got better seats than the Golden State delegation.

Political Tid Bits

Flag waving has become a national sport at this convention. Unlike the number of personal flags passed out to convention-goers at the DNC, the RNC believes size does matter. Behind each speaker eblazoned on a 25-30 foot video screen are constant and various pixelized mega-flags flapping in the electronic breeze.

Equal opportunity–Coca Cola is displayed in large print across the goody bag each delegate receives, just like Denver. Coke, playing both ends from the carbonated middle? It’s the real thing afterall.

Who the Delegates May NOT Hear From

In politics sometimes who they don’t let speak says more about the party than who did speak.(John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, and Jimmy Carter did not speak in Denver.) Besides not hearing from the Pres. and VP  Cheny on day one, Minnesota gov. and recent odds-on VP choice, Tim Pawlenty, has not taken the stage yet along with CA gov. Arnold…(no Schwarzenegger sitings yet. Will he miss this gathering altogether?) (Bush did present a very subdued message last night, sober, somber, engaged and serious are the images the McCain camp has sought to project as a result of Hurricane Gustav.) Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, Nevada Sen. John Ensign and anti-Fidel zealot US Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart from Florida have yet to be heard from either. Last night’s original schedule included gov.’s Huntsman, Lingle, and Palin, and former gov’s Huckabee and Ridge. They haven’t spoken yet either. Palin is scheduled, but some have said tentative, for tonight.

Republican People of Color

I have no statistics yet, only observations. The short observation is, there ain’t a whole lot of people of color at this convention. I think a good case could be made by Dems how their party gathering in Denver this year looked a lot more like a cross-section of America. Some of the Republican videos they have thrown up on the big screens dotting the convention hall have had many images of Abraham Lincoln, talk of the origins of the Republican party’s anti-slavery history, African-American vets marching,  and some pictures of Martin Luther King’s march on Washington. But the proof always lies in the pudding. Interesting breakdown of Republican and Democratic delegates follows from progressohio.org web site:

The Republican delegation is a pretty homogeneous group: 93 percent of the Republican delegates are white. Five percent are Hispanic, and two percent are African American. (The Democratic delegation is much more diverse: it is 23 percent African American and 11 percent Hispanic.)

While the Democratic delegation is split roughly evenly between men and women, roughly two-thirds of the Republican delegation is male. Thirty-two percent of the Republican delegates are women, down from 43 percent in 2004. The average age of Republicans delegates is 54.

About a third of Republican delegates are white evangelicals, and 43 percent describe themselves as regular churchgoers.

Thirty-four percent say their net worth is over $1 million. (Twenty-two percent of the Democratic delegation has a net worth that high.) Seventeen percent say their net worth is between $500,000 and $1 million, while 32 percent estimate their net worth under $500,000.

The Republican National Convention finally got lift-off Tuesday, beginning day 2 around 6:20pm central time. First lady Laura Bush, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, and Former Democratic Senator turned independent (from Connecticut),  Joe Lieberman, received the largest ovations of the night. Although when former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady, Barbara Bush entered the hall a tremendous ovation shook the rafters as well. Neither of the elder Bushes had speaking roles, choosing to sit in the first row of the non-delegate section of the hall directly in front of the podium but well back from it, separated from the podium by hundreds of GOP delegates.

Perhaps the largest ovation of the night went to Thompson when he talked specifically about the “sanctity of life.” Thompson also called Democratic nominee Barack Obama, “the most liberal, inexperienced nominee to ever run for President.” Almost everyone in the 3/4 filled arena stood and applauded for at least a minute.

The crowd treated Lieberman with more reserved applause though. Don’t be mistaken, many of those present saw it as a coup that a former Democrat was standing in front of them extolling the virtues of the Republican nominee of their party…(Lieberman’s speech definitely gets him elected as his former party’s  Judas Iscariot, the Zell Miller of 2008.) “What’s a former democrat like me doing in a place like this?,” Liebeman started out and then went about responding to it. “I am here for a simple reason, John is the best person to bring our country together and move us forward. Being a Democrat (didn’t talk about his ‘independent’ political status) or a Republican is important, but it is no more important than being an American.” Lieberman invoked the Republican theme, “country first,” several times during his speech, staying right with the Repubican play book. “Country first” signs are plastered throughout the convention hall. Lieberman had strong criticism for Obama, “Eloquence is no substitute for a record. He’s never reached across party lines or taken on powerful interests.”

Former New York Mayor and Republican Presidential candidate, Rudy Giuliani who was to be a keynote last night but has had that downgraded because of the Gustav effect on this convention will speak tonight. VP nominee, Sarah Palin may or may not speak tonight…chances are she will, thus taking over the ‘keynote’ position. It is difficult knowing the current GOP schedule, even their web site does not contain specifics.

It’s 6:25pm (central time) and delegates are being asked to take their seats…news from here today is that TV actor and former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson and Connecticutt independent, Joe Lieberman will be the heavyweight speakers tonight on the convention floor. Laura Bush will also introduce her husband who will chime in via satellite. Seems like off the record, McCain people feel like they dodged a bullet not having Bush and Dick Cheney speak last night in prime time. And/but, they also lost 3 hours of prime time TV coverage and that is invaluable in getting your message out to the most people at one time. Although Bush will be on the satellite tonight, seems like he will only get the soap box for 6 minutes according to The Page, a Time Magazine blog spot.

The Republican ‘A’ team tonight: Ohio Rep. and House Minority leader,  John Boehner, Minn. Sen. Norm Coleman (who is in a race with comedienne Al Franken), Laura Bush, Pres. Bush via satellite, then Thompson and Lieberman.

As the rally part of the rally/march began this reporter casually walked along the parade route in search of what awaits protesters, as they will get closer to the site of the convention. Down Cedar Street from the state capitol, and across the mighty Mississippi River which has its origins here in the Twin Cities, making a right on 7th Street towards the convention site, the Xcel Center,  and then turning around before running into W. Kellogg Blvd. and marching back to the capitol along the same route. Riot clad police in groups of 10 or 12 were overheard being given final instructions. They were present on every block, presumably preparing for the marchers.

None of these heavily armed men—no women were seen present as in Denver—would speak to a reporter and not one of their badges of identification was visible. Yes these were ominous-looking individuals, obviously wanting to appear intimidating. And it was working.  The few pedestrians present on this the first day of the RNC could be seen scurrying around the hard-shelled cops. A carefree mood it was not. Police have been called in, backed by National Guard troops, from all over the state and even cops from as far away as Arlington, Texas who were seen paired with local Minnesota traffic officers stationed on many downtown street corners.

The march arrived downtown almost on schedule, around 1:30pm, and it kept coming and coming and coming. With seemingly no end in sight the large contingent, marching 7 or 8 abreast, kept the police occupied throughout the day. Most of the estimated 10,000 (police) to 30,000 (organizers) marchers were vocal, peaceful, and at times playful. There were groups of break-away marchers, many dressed in black, bandanas covering their faces, playing cat and mouse games with the authorities. Police shot tear gas into several of these groups. Although the show of force on the part of the police was massive they still had their hands full. Denver it was not.

As their numbers increased, protesters became free to move around as the security apparatus focused more on breakaway marchers who smashed windows, Macy’s Department Store and First National Bank were but two, and some of the rogue marchers blocked traffic. It seemed that so many officers had been deployed in a ring around the convention hall itself that police were finding themselves overwhelmed by the large number of protesters.  The protest did fall considerably short of the 50,000 that organizers said would be coming.

The day ended with over 300 arrests including nationally known journalist, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. She was released, along with two of her staff, shortly after her arrest, according to her web site. People interviewed from St. Paul said they had never before seen this many protesters, or this many police, in their city before.

With Hurricane Gustav making landfall with less catastrophic effect than first expected, the RNC should continue tonight as scheduled from 3-9pm, although the speakers list is expected to be altered somewhat in order to accommodate those who did not speak Monday night. The protesters on the other hand, have a full day of activities planned: “Experience Guantanamo in St. Paul” display, the “Substance RNC Music Festival,” and “Bikers and Rollerbladers for Peace.”  Another large march is scheduled for Thursday, the final day of the RNC.