Tuesday’s schedule was dedicated to theme of service, while also showing an inclusive spirit. The most touching moment of the night came with a long standing ovation for the sister and fellow Navy Seal’s in the unit of deceased Seal Michael Monsoor. He was the first Navy Seal to die in Iraq and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and courageous actions during battle.
Another nice moment was the warm welcome for President H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush. The night included talks from Captain Leslie Smith who lost her foot because of a blood clot that almost cost her her life. Tommy Epinoza who started his address saying, “Good evening, my name is Tom Espinoza … I’m CATHOLIC … HISPANIC … and a DEMOCRAT … and I’m proud to call John McCain my friend.” He talked about Senator McCain’s service in the community, and how service is a way of life for Senator McCain and his family. He ended his talk stating, “Viva John McCain!” Wes Gullet with his daughter Nicki at his side talked about how Cindy McCain brought back two babies from Bangladesh both of whom were in desperate need of medical care. The McCain’s adopted one of those babies, their daughter Bridgette; and the Gullet family adopted the other baby their daughter Nicki.
The featured speakers President Bush via video (with intro from Mrs. Bush on site), Fred Thompson, and Joe Lieberman made for a solid and interesting night. President Bush did a nice job discussing Senator McCain’s military service. Also, he noted how Senator McCain’s strong support for the surge and how important that was, as some in congress wanted to cut off funding for the troops. He repeated Senator McCain’s statement that he would rather lose a campaign than lose a war, as Senator McCain’s support for the surge clearly jeopardized his chances of winning the primaries.
Senators Thompson and Lieberman made for an interesting contrast. While Thompson presented the biography of Senator McCain, he also gave a sort of classic Republican talk. On the other hand, Senator Lieberman talked about his friendship with Senator McCain; how respected he is on both sides of the isle, and how he is clearly not the typical Republican, and is clearly his own man.
Several excellent videos have been shown at the convention. This one takes a historical look at service.
Posted in the extended entry is the final program for tonight at the Republican National Convention: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Music and Entertainment: Al Williams
Call to Order: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
Presentation of Colors: Red Lake VFW and American Legion Post 513
National Anthem: Philip Alongi
Invocation: Rev. Dr. Robert G. Certain, Chaplain Col., U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Video Tribute: Deceased Republican Leaders and President Gerald Ford
Speaker: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Video: “Country First” - Narrator: Robert Duvall
Speaker: Jo Ann Davidson, Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Chairman of the Republican National Convention’s Committee on Arrangements
Speaker: U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (Minn.)
Pledge of Allegiance: Victoria Blackstone, winner of the Stars and Stripes Essay Contest
Speaker: Miles McPherson, President of Miles Ahead and Senior Pastor of the Rock Church
Speaker: Ashley Gunn
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.)
Speaker: Wes Gullett and daughter Nikki
Video Tribute: President Teddy Roosevelt
Music and Entertainment: Rachael Lampa
8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Speaker: Captain Shanna Hanson, Minneapolis Fire Department
Video Tribute: President Abraham Lincoln
Speaker: Tommy Espinoza, President and CEO of Raza Development Fund, Inc.
Video Tribute: President George H. W. Bush
Speaker: Bill Gross
Speaker: Captain Leslie Smith, U.S. Army (ret.)
Video: Medal of Honor Story: Michael Monsoor, U.S. Navy SEAL
Speaker: The Honorable Orson Swindle, former POW, Lt. Col. U.S. Marine Corps (ret.) and former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission
Speaker: First Lady Laura Bush
Remote Video: President George W. Bush
9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Video Tribute: President Ronald Reagan
Speaker: Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.)
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.)
Introduction of Benediction: Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan
10 p.m. to Conclusion
Benediction: Rabbi Ira M. Flax, Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force (ret.)
Introduction of Delegate for Motion and Adoption of Motion to Adjourn: Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan
Thanks to RedState and Google bloggers had a blogger’s brunch with Fred Thomspon. Here are some highlights.
Fred Thompson on the primary campaign. “What did you learn from your campaign? Well, the main thing I learned is never under estimate John McCain.”
Regarding foreign policy, “It isn’t the time to turn to the keys over to a fourteen year old in heavy traffic.”
Regarding Governor Palin “She’s the kind of public servant that we all say that we want. Someone who is an outsider not inside the beltway. The first thing every candidate does is try to convince everyone that they are not from inside the beltway. That’s what we want; someone who will stand up to authority right, someone that will work on a bipartisan basis will work with either side but will stand up to either side including members of their own party, but somebody who is successful who will take on the powers that be but will beat them. Well guess what that’s what you got. We know somebody else like that they’re running at the top of the ticket.”
Can you give your assessment of the media? (paraphrased)
“Well, it’s been generally poor up till now, and now it is abysmal.”
Day one at the convention was nicely done. Party business was taken care of and the day wrapped up with an address from Mrs. Bush then Mrs. McCain about giving to gulf coast charities. A video played on all the Republican Gulf Coast governors addressing the hurricane, and thanking people for their prayers and contributions.
The set up for the convention is impressive. The presentation is more classic than flashy. There are sections for delegates, for radio, for tv networks, along with a variety of other media subgroups. A huge hat tip to security in both planning and execution. There were protests, some peaceful, some no so much, and security made things run smoothly. Frankly, anyone involved with the convention planning deserves some recognition, as the scale of the event, and the range of participants is immense. While there was no earth-shattering events on day one, it certainly was interesting to see.
Senator McCain and the RNC have decided to scale back Monday’s convention activities, and focus on fund raising efforts for charities in the Gulf States due to Hurricane Gustav. They have consulted with the Gulf State Governors about what charities to support. Governor Bobby Jindal recommended Aid Matrix. Comfort packages will be assembled and sent to the affected region with the help of FedEx and Target. A charter plane returned affected delegates back to the region, and will return them to Minnesota circumstances permitting. The RNC is taking a wait and see approach to the convention scheduling. As they learn more about the effects of Hurricane Gustav they will be able to confirm more of their convention plans.
Today’s schedule consists of basic convention business. Laura Bush will introduce a video to the delegates, and Cindy McCain will also briefly address the delegates. Governor Palin will be in town, but has no public schedule. Speeches by President Bush, and Vice President Cheney have been canceled as they deal with the effects of the hurricane.
Republicans say it’s noteworthy that, on the week commemorating the 88th anniversary of women getting the right to vote — with McCain, making a groundbreaking VP pick — the Obama campaign’s first response was to attack, not congratulate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, or acknowledge the historic nature of her selection.
It was just yesterday that McCain ran a TV ad congratulating Obama on his historic achievement.
Upon further reflection, Sens. Obama and Biden issued a more carefully considered response:
“We send our congratulations to Gov. Sarah Palin and her family on her designation as the Republican nominee for vice president,” said the Democratic ticket in a joint statement. “It is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics. While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward, Gov. Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign.”
The left-wing blog MyDD asks, “Do we really need to put another wildly inexperienced, purely political choice into the White House.” I assumed they were talking about Barack Obama.
ARLINGTON, VA — Today, U.S. Senator John McCain issued the following statement on the resignation of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf:
“The resignation of President Pervez Musharraf is a step toward moving Pakistan onto a more stable political footing. Pakistan is a critical theater in countering the threat of al Qaeda and violent Islamic extremism, and I look forward to the government increasing its future cooperation.
“There are serious problems that must be addressed. The situation in Pakistan’s frontier regions requires immediate and continued attention, and I hope that the elections for President Musharraf’s successor will serve to reconcile the Pakistani people behind a leader who can solidify their government internally. It is critical that the United States continue to work in partnership with the Pakistani people and their democratically elected government to tackle the many challenges we both face.”
For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call. After clashes in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia invaded its neighbor, launching attacks that threaten its very existence. Some Americans may wonder why events in this part of the world are any concern of ours. After all, Georgia is a small, remote and obscure place. But history is often made in remote, obscure places.
As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians. Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.
Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital — now occupied by Russian troops — I saw an enormous billboard that read, “Vladimir Putin, Our President.” This was on sovereign Georgian territory.
Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.
Despite a French-brokered cease-fire — which worryingly does not refer to Georgia’s territorial integrity — Russian attacks have continued. There are credible reports of civilian killings and even ethnic cleansing as Russian troops move deeper into Georgian territory.
Moscow’s foreign minister revealed at least part of his government’s aim when he stated that “Mr. Saakashvili” — the democratically elected president of Georgia — “can no longer be our partner. It would be better if he went.” Russia thereby demonstrated why its neighbors so ardently seek NATO membership.
In the wake of this crisis, there are the stirrings of a new trans-Atlantic consensus about the way we should approach Russia and its neighbors. The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia flew to Tbilisi to demonstrate their support for Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression. The French president traveled to Moscow in an attempt to end the fighting. The British foreign minister hinted of a G-8 without Russia, and the British opposition leader explicitly called for Russia to be suspended from the grouping.
The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.
We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. This will entail reviewing anew our relations with both Georgia and Russia. As the NATO secretary general has said, Georgia remains in line for alliance membership, and I hope NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine.
At the same time, we must make clear to Russia’s leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. The U.S. has cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia, an important step in this direction.
The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn’t forget it.
The Washington Post’s David Broder: “It’s Particularly A Moment Where John McCain Can Claim To Have Been Prescient.” NBC’s DAVID GREGORY: “David Broder, is this a 3 a.m. moment for foreign policy for these candidates?” WASHINGTON POST’s DAVID BRODER: “It is and it’s particularly a moment where John McCain can claim to have been prescient. Because in his basic foreign policy speech two months ago and in an interview that I did with him last week, he draws a very sharp line when it comes to Russia. He says these people are being aggressive and imperialist. There is no confusion, in his mind, about the character of the Putin-Medvedev government and he is prepared, I think, to make the case that this is a demonstration of exactly what he has been arguing for.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/10/08)
The Politico’s Jonathan Martin: John McCain “Appears To Have Been Ahead Of The Curve In His Assessment That Moscow Was The Bad Actor Here.” “When violence broke out in the Caucasus Friday morning, John McCain quickly issued a statement that was far more strident toward the Russians than that of President Bush, Barack Obama and much of the West. But, as Russian warplanes pounded Georgian targets far beyond South Ossetia this weekend, Bush, Obama and others have moved closer to McCain’s initial position. It has been a rough few weeks for McCain on the foreign policy front — paging Dr. Maliki — but he appears to have been ahead of the curve in his assessment that Moscow was the bad actor here.” (Jonathan Martin, “McCain Prescient On Russia?” The Politico, 8/10/08)
Chicago Tribune’s Jill Zuckman: “It’s Not Just This Part Of The World, But Senator McCain Has Been To So Many Exotic Places Like Waziristan And South Ossetia, And He’s Very Comfortable With These Issues. He Knows What He Thinks.” “And it’s not just this part of the world, but Senator McCain has been to so many exotic places like Waziristan and South Ossetia, and he’s very comfortable with these issues. He knows what he thinks. He’s been in contact with the leaders involved in these places for many, many years. So it’s really sort of a perfect thing for him. And so the question is each time something like this pops up randomly, we may see a cautiousness on the one hand by Senator Obama who has not been dealing with these things for years and maybe a little more aggressive voice from Senator McCain. And I’ll just tell you his favorite thing to say about Vladimir Putin is, When I look into his eyes, I see a K, a G and a B. ‘ He’s been very, very tough on Putin for quite some time.” (Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” 8/10/08)
Senator McCain’s sense of humor has been both an asset and a liability over the years. It is certainly part of his basic appeal, and it is one of the reasons he relates so well at town hall meetings as his humor creates an immediate connection with the audience. His detractors will note that some of his jokes have been inapprporiate, and in some cases that’s true, hence his humor as liability. It can also cause problems because in print, jokes often don’t come across the way they do in person. For instance, during the primaries Senator McCain jokingly called a student who asked him a somewhat inappropriate question ‘a little jerk’. There was quite a buzz in the papers until people actually saw the clip, and it was quite evident that he was joking.
So now comes the humorous and sarcastic McCain ad The One. In this case humor turns out to be the perfect remedy for an over-inflated ego. It’s hard not see lines like, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” or “a light will shine down from somewhere” as flat out funny. To add to this Obama’s reaction is priceless. His stern condemnation of the ads ‘juvenile’ just shows his inability to laugh at himself. You know that if you make a joke at Senator McCain’s expense he’ll likely be the first one to laugh (as he has done numerous times when teased about his age). On the other hand, Senator Obama blew it by taking this joke and himself so seriously.
