Palin's convention speech
Article added on September 4, 2008 at 05:40 Swiss time
The most awaited 2008 Republican
National
Convention speech was the one by vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. On
September 3, the Alaska governor spoke in St Paul. Before her, several other
speakers appeared.
The former eBay CEO Meg Whitman explained in a convincing way McCain's
and the GOP's economic principles. Former HP CEO Carly Fiorina outlined
McCain's reform agenda.
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney warned of the
“dangers of big government” and stressed that not government, but the American
people create jobs and wealth. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee
thanked the
“liberal media” for uniting the GOP behind McCain and Palin. The Hawaii governor
Linda Lingle offered a rather dry biography of Sarah Palin, which explains
why she is not on the ticket.
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani made the case for his friend John
McCain. Brilliantly attacking Obama's
Chicago legislative record, Giuliani said that as president, it is not good
enough to be present, you have to make a decision. This election is
substance over style. He reminded the audience that the Democrats had said
that the war in Iraq was lost. He argued that Palin
“has already more executive experience than the entire Democratic ticket
combined”.
According to the GOP's convention website, the convention's overall theme is
“Country First”, which smells like a Democrat slogan for protectionism as
represented by John Kerry in 2004 and by Barack Obama in 2008. For the GOP,
it has a different meaning: John McCain will put country's interest above
the party's and his own interests.
The theme for the Wednesday event is
“Reform”, which sounds a bit like
“Change” advanced by Barack Obama. Change and reform are needed, not as populist
campaign slogans, but as a program that will become reality. Change should
start with an end to torture and to Guantanamo. Romney and Giuliani are not
the ideal speakers for that.
Change and reform are needed when it comes to fiscal discipline. The wrong
strategy in Iraq has cost some 100.000 innocent people's (mostly Iraqi)
lives as well as American taxpayers several $100 billion. In the eight years
of the administration of George W. Bush, the Republicans have totally
abandoned their credo of fiscal discipline.
Luckily, the Republicans have John McCain on top of their ticket. He has
championed legislation in that direction, and Sarah Palin, his running mate,
has a reputation as a fiscally responsible mayor and governor, although her
record is not completely clean on the subject. As a mayor, federal pork was
no taboo for her. In addition, she first was in favor of the
bridge-to-nowhere. But once elected governor, she sank the project and opted
instead for more reasonable ways to spend the money.
As I pointed out as early as in March 2003 in my articles on
U.S. American foreign policy on Iraq
and
on European foreign policy on Iraq,
nobody looks good in the Iraqi foreign and military blunder. Bush went to
war for the wrong reasons. The problem where not the WMD's, the problem was
Saddam Hussein, and he had to be removed.
If democracy will flourish in Iraq, it will not be thanks to Bush the
Torturer, but despite Bush and his failed strategies.
In May and
in November 2004, I pointed out to the fact that more troops were needed
to stabilize Iraq.
The damage had already been done. As we know, John McCain would have sent in
more troops too, following the Powell doctrine instead of the Rumsfeld
doctrine. What would Sarah Palin have done? What are her ideas on Iraq,
Afghanistan and foreign and military policy in general?
Of course, Sarah Palin's convention speech is just a speech, well-crafted by
or with the help of speech-writers and read by her from a teleprompter.
Nonetheless, it is a first indication on where she stands and whether she
can credible move on the national scene. She explained how she put the
luxury jet of her predecessor on eBay, and how she broke the oil companies
monopoly on power and resources in Alaska by bringing back competition and
basic fairness to end their control of Alaska and return it to the people.
Sarah Palin had the tough job to speak after Rudy Giuliani, and the radiant
vice presidential nominee delivered. She directly attacked Obama:
“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. I might
add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who
lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks
about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people
aren't listening. We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one
way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.”
You could see why she was nicknamed
“Sarah barracuda”. She was in an attacking mood:
“In politics, there are some candidates who use
change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain,
who use their careers to promote change.”
If she can honorably stand up
to Biden in a debate on foreign and security policy, this is the beginning
of a national career.
For more clues on Sarah Palin's national stature and her positions on
foreign and military policy, we will have to wait for the debate between the
vice presidential nominees. The real test would of course be her tenure as
vice president.
Whether she will get that
chance remains unclear.
Watch Palin's September 3, 2008 Convention speech (added on September 4,
2008 at 10:53 Swiss time).
Kaylene Johnson: Sarah: How a Small Town Mom Turned Alaska's Political
Establishment on Its Ear. Epicenter Press, April 2008, 159 pages.
Order the book from
Amazon.com. More of an introduction than a profound book, but that's all
that is available about Sarah Palin right now.
Added on September 4, 2008 at 05:53 Swiss time Full transcript of Alaska governor Sarah Palin's 2008 GOP convention speech
Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored to be considered for
the nomination for Vice President of the United States...
I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America.
I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election... against confident
opponents ... at a crucial hour for our country.
And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much
harder missions ... and met far graver challenges ... and knows how tough fights
are won - the next president of the United States, John S. McCain.
It was just a year ago when all the experts in Washington counted out our
nominee because he refused to hedge his commitment to the security of the
country he loves.
With their usual certitude, they told us that all was lost - there was no hope
for this candidate who said that he would rather lose an election than see his
country lose a war.
But the pollsters and pundits overlooked just one thing when they wrote him off.
They overlooked the caliber of the man himself - the determination, resolve, and
sheer guts of Senator John McCain. The voters knew better.
And maybe that's because they realize there is a time for politics and a time
for leadership ... a time to campaign and a time to put our country first.
Our nominee for president is a true profile in courage, and people like that are
hard to come by.
He's a man who wore the uniform of this country for 22 years, and refused to
break faith with those troops in Iraq who have now brought victory within sight.
And as the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want
as commander in chief. I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each
night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way.
Our son Track is 19.
And one week from tomorrow - September 11th - he'll deploy to Iraq with the Army
infantry in the service of his country.
My nephew Kasey also enlisted, and serves on a carrier in the Persian Gulf.
My family is proud of both of them and of all the fine men and women serving the
country in uniform. Track is the eldest of our five children.
In our family, it's two boys and three girls in between - my strong and
kind-hearted daughters Bristol, Willow, and Piper.
And in April, my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a
perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems
typical.
That's how it is with us.
Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and
the same joys.
Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge.
And children with special needs inspire a special love.
To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a
message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your
sons and daughters.
I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in
the White House. Todd is a story all by himself.
He's a lifelong commercial fisherman ... a production operator in the oil fields
of Alaska's North Slope ... a proud member of the United Steel Workers' Union
... and world champion snow machine racer.
Throw in his Yup'ik Eskimo ancestry, and it all makes for quite a package.
We met in high school, and two decades and five children later he's still my
guy. My Mom and Dad both worked at the elementary school in our small town.
And among the many things I owe them is one simple lesson: that this is America,
and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity.
My parents are here tonight, and I am so proud to be the daughter of Chuck and
Sally Heath. Long ago, a young farmer and habber-dasher from Missouri followed
an unlikely path to the vice presidency.
A writer observed: "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty,
sincerity, and dignity." I know just the kind of people that writer had in mind
when he praised Harry Truman.
I grew up with those people.
They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America ... who grow our
food, run our factories, and fight our wars.
They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of
America. 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. I might add that in small towns, we don't
quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people
when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their
religion and guns when those people aren't listening.
We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and
another way in San Francisco.
As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is
listening, John McCain is the same man. I'm not a member of the permanent
political establishment.< br>
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. Americans expect us to go to Washington for
the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people.
Politics isn't just a game of clashing parties and competing interests.
The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and
to leave this nation better than we found it.
No one expects us to agree on everything.
But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and
... a servant's heart.
I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice
president of the United States. This was the spirit that brought me to the
governor's office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau ... when I
stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the
good-ol' boys network.
Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests and power
brokers. That's why true reform is so hard to achieve.
But with the support of the citizens of Alaska, we shook things up.
And in short order we put the government of our state back on the side of the
people.
I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of
self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law.
While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I
didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for.
That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay.
I also drive myself to work.
And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef -
although I've got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her. I came to
office promising to control spending - by request if possible and by veto if
necessary.
Senator McCain also promises to use the power of veto in defense of the public
interest - and as a chief executive, I can assure you it works.
Our state budget is under control.
We have a surplus.
And I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a
billion dollars in vetoes.
I suspended the state fuel tax, and championed reform to end the abuses of
earmark spending by Congress.
I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere.
If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves. When oil and gas prices
went up dramatically, and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of
that revenue back where it belonged - directly to the people of Alaska.
And despite fierce opposition from oil company lobbyists, who kind of liked
things the way they were, we broke their monopoly on power and resources.
As governor, I insisted on competition and basic fairness to end their control
of our state and return it to the people.
I fought to bring about the largest private-sector infrastructure project in
North American history.
And when that deal was struck, we began a nearly forty billion dollar natural
gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence.
That pipeline, when the last section is laid and its valves are opened, will
lead America one step farther away from dependence on dangerous foreign powers
that do not have our interests at heart.
The stakes for our nation could not be higher.
When a hurricane strikes in the Gulf of Mexico, this country should not be so
dependent on imported oil that we are forced to draw from our Strategic
Petroleum Reserve.
And families cannot throw away more and more of their paychecks on gas and
heating oil.
With Russia wanting to control a vital pipeline in the Caucasus, and to divide
and intimidate our European allies by using energy as a weapon, we cannot leave
ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers.
To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of world
energy supplies ... or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility
in Saudi Arabia ... or that Venezuela might shut off its oil deliveries ... we
Americans need to produce more of our own oil and gas.
And take it from a gal who knows the North Slope of Alaska: we've got lots of
both.
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 new-clear 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. I've noticed a pattern with our opponent.
Maybe you have, too.
We've all heard his dramatic speeches before devoted followers.
And there is much to like and admire about our opponent.
But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has
authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the
state senate.
This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting,
and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own
campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the
crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek
columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's
plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the
waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take
more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce
the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our
opponent is against producing it.
Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit.
Terrorist states are seeking new-clear weapons without delay ... he wants to
meet them without preconditions.
Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's
worried that someone won't read them their rights? Government is too big ... he
wants to grow it.
Congress spends too much ... he promises more.
Taxes are too high ... he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine
print in his economic plan, and let me be specific.
The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ...
raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax
... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people
by hundreds of billions of dollars. My sister Heather and her husband have just
built a service station that's now opened for business - like millions of others
who run small businesses.
How are they going to be any better off if taxes go up? Or maybe you're trying
to keep your job at a plant in Michigan or Ohio ... or create jobs with clean
coal from Pennsylvania or West Virginia ... or keep a small farm in the family
right here in Minnesota.
How are you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to
the American economy? Here's how I look at the choice Americans face in this
election.
In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers.
And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote
change.
They're the ones whose names appear on laws and landmark reforms, not just on
buttons and banners, or on self-designed presidential seals.
Among politicians, there is the idealism of high-flown speechmaking, in which
crowds are stirringly summoned to support great things.
And then there is the idealism of those leaders, like John McCain, who actually
do great things. They're the ones who are good for more than talk ... the ones
we have always been able to count on to serve and defend America. Senator
McCain's record of actual achievement and reform helps explain why so many
special interests, lobbyists, and comfortable committee chairmen in Congress
have fought the prospect of a McCain presidency - from the primary election of
2000 to this very day.
Our nominee doesn't run with the Washington herd.
He's a man who's there to serve his country, and not just his party.
A leader who's not looking for a fight, but is not afraid of one either. Harry
Reid, the Majority Leader of the current do-nothing Senate, not long ago summed
up his feelings about our nominee.
He said, quote, "I can't stand John McCain." Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no
accolade we hear this week is better proof that we've chosen the right man.
Clearly what the Majority Leader was driving at is that he can't stand up to
John McCain. That is only one more reason to take the maverick of the Senate and
put him in the White House. My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not
supposed to be a journey of "personal discovery." This world of threats and
dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organizer.
And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about
how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely.
There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in
places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is
John McCain. In our day, politicians have readily shared much lesser tales of
adversity than the nightmare world in which this man, and others equally brave,
served and suffered for their country.
It's a long way from the fear and pain and squalor of a six-by-four cell in
Hanoi to the Oval Office.
But if Senator McCain is elected president, that is the journey he will have
made.
It's the journey of an upright and honorable man - the kind of fellow whose name
you will find on war memorials in small towns across this country, only he was
among those who came home.
To the most powerful office on earth, he would bring the compassion that comes
from having once been powerless ... the wisdom that comes even to the captives,
by the grace of God ... the special confidence of those who have seen evil, and
seen how evil is overcome. A fellow prisoner of war, a man named Tom Moe of
Lancaster, Ohio, recalls looking through a pin-hole in his cell door as
Lieutenant Commander John McCain was led down the hallway, by the guards, day
after day.
As the story is told, "When McCain shuffled back from torturous interrogations,
he would turn toward Moe's door and flash a grin and thumbs up" - as if to say,
"We're going to pull through this." My fellow Americans, that is the kind of man
America needs to see us through these next four years.
For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words.
For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.
If character is the measure in this election ... and hope the theme ... and
change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause. Join our cause and
help America elect a great man as the next president of the United States.
