The Ocean State Republican

I actually forced myself to watch the speech. I also read the prepared remarks which were available online, just before it all began. The delivery fell short of the prepared text on quite a few occasions. As for the scene, it was certainly a sight to behold. I’m struggling to find the exact word to describe it all (and it was quite a lot to visually absorb), but I think it might be “hubris.”

The only thing particularly memorable about the whole thing was the over-the-top made for television stage behind him. We’ve been told that it was created by Britney Spears’ own set designer, but it looked a bit more like something designed by Albert Speer (of course, I’m not drawing any direct parallels about policy).

The main words I remember, because it was repeated so often was “I, I’ll, and I will.”

…I’ll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America.
…I’ll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars.
…I’ll invest $150 billion over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy — wind power, and solar power, and the next generation of biofuels…
…I’ll invest in early childhood education.
…I’ll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries, and give them more support.
…I’ll ask for higher standards and more accountability.
…I will end this war in Iraq responsibly and finish the fight against Al Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
…I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts, but I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression.
…I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation, poverty and genocide, climate change and disease.
…I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.

What ever happened to all that “we” stuff?

I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a temporary “bounce” in the polls, but I think it is very likely to be short-lived. I really think it’s going to backfire in the end.

There is one particular line that I think is going to come back to haunt him:

“If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.”

And then he tried to do just that. It’s exactly what Obama and his followers have been attempting to do, by repeatedly trying to link Senator McCain with President Bush. There will surely be plenty of material for the GOP to “work with” at the Republican National Convention next week. I’m sure they’ve already started. Stay tuned.