McCAIN: I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN

John McCain had a great night Thursday. He was surrounded by his devoted fans, filling a stadium and roaring cheers with every high note of his speech.

America’s maverick had em chanting “Fight with me” “Stand up and fight” “We don’t run from history, we make history”
He gets points for making clear distinctions between he and Obama.

With a focus on national safety and our military as well as negotiating with rogue nations, McCain held the spotlight with issues he understands while avoiding the subjects he doesn’t. He also touched on the political gridlock that kills so many good bills during each session.

The culmination of four days of the Republican Convention after last week’s Democratic event, didn’t come soon enough. Both contenders are on their way to November with nothing to trip over - accept their own words.

Obama is ahead in the Electoral College by 20+ points. But that could change. If McCain taps into the female vote with his pick of Palin, I don’t think it will work. Most Hillary fans stick to their core values rather than the flash of the disingenuous pick of Palin. I don’t think McCain’s staff vetted her very well, but what do we know?

Let’s check the national polls in a few days to see what kind of impact the two conventions had. I’m happy the two events are over!

REPUBLICANS DAY 3: SARAH'S MOMENT

Matthew Scully did well Wednesday night. Who is Matthew Scully?
He is the Bush speech writer who wrote Sarah Palin’s speech for the convention.

After just meeting her for the first time last week, he did well. Sarah came off as a “Hockey Mom” as she put it, and the Republican filled stadium ate it up.

From what we’ve heard, McCain met and decided on Palin for VP just last week without much research. Since her arrival on the national scene, her personal history has started to come to light. Some of it not-so-good.

Outside of her inexperience, like I beat up on Obama for, Palin has some explaining to do regarding her climb to the offices she occupied as well as her abuse of power once getting there. So, I have to admit, I am intrigued by the first-woman VP novelty of this race. For that McCain really stirred up this Presidential race, but the unethical actions that brought her to this point are starting to flood everyone’s email box.

Things that I wont go into without hearing more proof, just as I said about Obama and those crazy emails. I do like her stance on abstinence only sex-education though.

Sarah had her big night. Alaska is now in our daily vocabulary, like never before, and the debate on ready-ness on day one has been nullified. John McCain will speak Thursday night and I Can hardly wait to see where this race will end up.

McCAIN/PALIN 2008: SHOCKED!

So John McCain has picked a woman for VP. Can you imagine? I think I see a few more cracks in the glass ceiling.

Today on NPR, I heard the press conference with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as she accepted McCain’s offer. She congratulated the strong women who dared to venture before her, Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton; noting how close they came and acknowledged that without their triumphs, she may not have been at this point in our political history.

I wonder what kind of debate we would have seen with Sarah and Hillary at the same table, but were stuck with 20th century Joe Biden. Sarah will ask: “Didn’t you vote to give the president the authority to go to war just like Hillary?” He’ll say “Yes, we were mislead, but yes”, then she’ll say “Didn’t Obama beat Hillary to death over that vote?”

Governor Palin is a God-fearing, gun-toting former beauty queen who could just become America’s next vice president. She’s a lifelong member of the NRA who hunts, shoots, and fishes regularly.

With only a few years as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska before becoming Governor for two years, she’s got the same credentials as Obama, but is seeking the VP position as an understudy. These are points the Republicans will pound home for the next two months.

What works for Democrats? She’s ultra conservative on social issues. She’s Anti-Choice, anti-equal rights for the LGBT community. She doesn’t believe humans are influencing the climate change and rails against affirmative action and universal healthcare.

Palin would drop the assault weapons ban and feels our country’s addiction on oil can be satisfied with advanced drilling in Alaska. I can only assume she wants prayer back in public schools.

McCain shocked the country with this one. I didn’t see this one coming at all. I expected Hutchison from Texas.
I’m not sure Sarah Palin will be an issue three weeks from now, but it sure gives us all something to chatter about in the meantime.

I WENT TO GREG BALL's FUNDRAISER

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, such as this one, what would you do?

Well, I read on Jeremy's Blog that Assemblyman Ball was having a fundraiser BBQ in Patterson NY. So I called Blaber and said, lets go!

A 55 minute drive, we got there, and to my suprize, it was a joint fundraiser for the NRA. I said...cool! Something for my resume'.

Anyway, Ball is considered the most conservative member of the Assembly. He has pushed issues that havent been embraced by either party and is poling 3 to 1 against an oponent in a Republican primary.

What brought me to this event? I saw some clips on YouTube from a rally he had pertaining to the Illegal Alien work station in his district. I agree with a number of his points, as do many of my colleagues here in Kingston. It's not a partisan issue.


Jeremy and I were welcomed, no-one was shot, and we enjoyed the country band during our 2 hour visit. I wish Greg Bell the best in his challenge for re-election in November.

Matt (pictured right) is doing a great job as campaign manager and we expect to see him in an elected position himself very soon.

This will make some friends of mine upset, but hey, youve got to support what you believe in.