Posted by
Dennis Pemberton on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 7:24:31 PM
Much to the chagrin of the MSM, McCain drew a very large crowd in Tampa today, even without Girl Friday Sarah Palin. He gave a focused stump speech, energetic and short. He attacked greed on Wall Street, which brought to mind some of the anti-corporatist statements he had been making during the primaries. That is the beauty of the Palin pick, no pun intended. Palin embodies (no pun intended) the conservative cultural agenda, which gets us off his back, allowing McCain to tack left (where he really wants to be) and go after Wall Street, fellow Republicans, and executives fingering the ripcords on their golden parachutes. I'm not the first to say it, but the only guy who could beat Barry H. Obama (sounds like a Warner Brothers cartoon character) is a crotchety war hero with as many enemies as friends in his own party.
By the way, in an otherwise forgettable introductory speech given by someone I can't remember, the speaker gave the "who am I" riddle that's making the rounds:
"I am not yet 45 years old but already I have taken the nation by storm. I am known for my avid love of the outdoors. I hunt, fish, hike, and camp whenever I possibly can. I have made my mark in politics as an unlikely Republican reformer. Of course, I have had to take on the Republican Party establishment. Not that the Democrats are too fond of me either. I have a large, happy, but rather rambunctious family. I have been governor of my large northern state for less than two years. Nevertheless, I was the surprise pick to be the vice presidential candidate in a crucial national election."
No, it's not Sarah Palin, it's Teddy Roosevelt. Of course, taking the point a little farther leads to dangerous territory. TR was thought a lightweight lunatic, shuffled off on McKinley by the Tammany Hall bosses and the Republican establishment, who believed TR would do the least damage as a Vice President. Leading to a big "oops!" when McKinley was shot by an anarchist, and Roosevelt moved from the Blair House to the White House.
It gives one pause. If McCain is the next President, I'd see if Keith Olbermann gets a gun license.