It’s the Dems by a point

That’s the Guardian’s take on the dueling conventions.

McCain speaks!

Then, he rolls over and plays dead!

(After that, he did “Stupid Republican Tricks.”)

God, the enthusiasm level!

About the right level for a 72-year-old has-been reading his own political obituary. And, in a convention hall that STILL is not a sellout.

The title of the convention DVD, of course, is "Dead Man Talking."

(I was right in my advance speculation Thursday afternoon, when the “town hall” style speech was announced — which it was not. McCain was trying to paper over his speaking weaknesses. But, by speaking this long, he probably exacerbated them, if anything. At least Rudy was a more dynamic bloviator.)

More seriously, I don't know when I've last heard a mix of platitudes, bromides and, "I was a POW."

Beyond that, isn't it interesting that talk about "fighting" gets the biggest applause? Warmongering schmuck.

McCain to do town-hall style acceptance speech

Per RNC e-mail, it looks like John McCain is going to go “conversational” with his acceptance speech tonight. I’m guessing that he may take a gander at giving the appearance, at least, of Post-Partisan Politics™ as part of that. I’m assuming that’s why his campaign blocked out a full hour of media time for the speech.

Anyway, here’s the details::

The podium used for the first three nights of the convention was modified to enable John McCain to deliver his acceptance speech from the center of the Xcel Energy Center. The new podium is a reflection of the town-hall style that has been a hallmark of McCain’s campaign. In the new forum, he will be surrounded by the delegates that nominated him the night before.

The new podium was constructed by removing the front corner sections of the existing platform and extending its midsection by 30 feet. The extension will be eight feet wide. Near the conclusion of tonight’s program, Sen. McCain will address the convention from a lectern positioned near the end of this newly-constructed extension. To accommodate the modified platform, delegates from the state of Ohio will be re-seated on either side.

So, maybe Democrats and other progressives should stay tuned.

It sounds like he’s playing down his weakness of not being the best stump speaker, and trying to go with a new, conversational angle.

This will also let him play off Palin’s speech in a way Obama didn’t with Biden. She clearly is going to play bad cop/attack dog, while Schmuck Talk Express™ will set himself up as the “kinder, gentler” avuncular presidential candidate.

IMO, Dems weren’t tough enough in some ways at Denver, nor did Biden get set up enough to be the attack dog. (See Edwards, John, and 2004 vice presidential nominee, along with Lieberman, Joe, and 2009 vice presidential nominee.) Dems need to remember we’re at two months and counting now.

Palin speech - official advance release

From my work e-mail to you, per RNC e-mail, here’s an early release on Palin’s speech highlights.

Either the McCain campaign, or Sarah Palin herself, think the American political public is even bigger idiots than Mencken might wager.

On her experience as a public servant:
"I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town. I was just your average hockey mom, and signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education better. When I ran for city council, I didn’t need focus groups and voter profiles because I knew those voters, and knew their families, too. Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."

Truth: Nobody’s “looked down” on your experience, but your lack of experience. Being mayor of a town of 6,000 is NOT experience that translates to national politics.

Besides, given your attempt to ban books, your firing of the librarian who refused to ban books, your deficit budgets, and your raising taxes, is this really experience you want to highlight? Didn’t think so.

On why she is going to Washington, D.C.:
"I’m not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion — I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country."

Truth: Plenty of people outside the “establishment” think you’re a novice and an idiot, too.

On energy policies that the McCain-Palin administration will implement:
"Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems — as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all. Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines...build more nuclear plants...create jobs with clean coal...and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal, and other alternative sources. We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers."

Truth: Lay more pipelines? WTF? Is the GOP speechwriting machine THAT bad? And “produced by American workers?” What, we’re not going to have either the Chinese or illegal immigrants produce American energy?

“Clean” coal gets a pass because B.O. and the Dems are down with it, too. Nuclear, if done responsibly and without handouts, gets a pass from me.

Oh, one final thought — is this the BEST that was excerptable from her speech? Wow.

NOTE: My "show me the birth certificate post will be up later.

GOP — the gang that can’t even speak straight

Rudy Giuliani is out as Tuesday night’s keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention.

And, Der Gobernator won’t be speaking, either. Instead, Fred Thompson will be channeling him:

According to Fox News, Thompson will be speaking in the slot previously reserved for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), who is no longer attending the convention. Schwarzenegger’s original speech has been “amended and edited in Fred Thompson’s voice.”

So, Fred Thompson is now Shirley MacLaine?

Michael Williams the token at GOP convo

The Texas Railroad Commission chairman is on the speakers’ list for next week’s GOP convention.

Protest group sues GOP

Impeach for Peace wants to be able to protest within sight of the Republican National Convention.

Now, the question is, will they be further isolated than protest groups in Denver?

Ron Paul taking his own ball to Twin Cities; will Barr be on team?

Not yet officially rebuffed from speaking at the Republican National Convention, but not feeling any love from Schmuck Talk Express™, Texas Congressman and GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is going to hold a parallel convention.

He’s already indicated he won’t endorse John McCain, so, just like Bob Casey with the Democrats in 1992, he shouldn’t be surprised, or upset, he’s not getting an invite.

That said, now that he’s officially establishing an alternate venue …

Will he endorse, if in not so many words, Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr? Hmmm …

Meat – it’s what keeps the FBI away from dinner

The Federal Bureau of Instigation is seeking “moles” to infiltrate “vegan potlucks” of presumed protestors in Minneapolis during the Republican National Convention.

Why does this not surprise me? Can you say “summer surprise”?

Could Ron Paul be the Buchanan of 1992 for GOP, even on McCain health?

Especially with former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr announcing his Libertarian candidacy, I think John McCain is in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” vise over the issue of letting Ron Paul address the Republican National Convention.

Beyond the major issue of whether he, in a more avuncular way, might be as disruptive a presence for Schmuck Talk as Buchanan was for Poppy Bush, there’s another issue that Dems could exploit.

Who looks older, Ron Paul or Schmuck Talk?

But, who IS older?

Paul, by a few months.

The relatively vigorous, peppy, and even-tempered Paul videoed side-by-side with the not all that McCain could put not just McCain’s age, but McCain’s health at his current age.