What Did You Think Of Sarah Palin's Speech At The GOP Convention?

Thanks Phil, you were quicker than me on replying!

Sarah delivered an amazing speech, which was well crafted and fit her personallity perfectly.

It is all the more incredible knowing that she had prompter problems.

Tony, "Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies."

What does that mean??? Who are you blaming for the steel plants closing and people losing their jobs?

Exactly did Obama do that fixed the problem of unemployment in the area? Did he bring in jobs? Make it easier for small businesses to start up?

Or perhaps did he help people find out what government programs were there for the taking?

Please tell me one tangible thing the guy has done?

What has he ever run or managed?

Barak Obama described the work of a community organizer in a chapter he wrote for a 1990 book called After Alinsky: Community Organizing in Illinois.

"In theory, community organizing provides a way to merge various strategies for neighborhood empowerment. Organizing begins with the premise that (1) the problems facing inner-city communities do not result from a lack of effective solutions, but from a lack of power to implement these solutions; (2) that the only way for communities to build long-term power is by organizing people and money around a common vision; and (3) that a viable organization can only be achieved if a broadly based indigenous leadership — and not one or two charismatic leaders — can knit together the diverse interests of their local institutions. This means bringing together churches, block clubs, parent groups and any other institutions in a given community to pay dues, hire organizers, conduct research, develop leadership, hold rallies and education cam­paigns, and begin drawing up plans on a whole range of issues — jobs, education, crime, etc. Once such a vehicle is formed, it holds the power to make politicians, agencies and corporations more responsive to commu­nity needs. Equally important, it enables people to break their crippling isolation from each other, to reshape their mutual values and expectations and rediscover the possibilities of acting collaboratively — the prerequi­sites of any successful self-help initiative."

"In theory" your quote begins.

I understand the theory. Tell me what exactly Obama did ...not what his theory was/is.

Where is the evidence of the success of any program he master-minded?

I felt it was not so much a put-down of community organizers, as an answer to all the media and Democratic criticism of Palin's experience. "As if" a mayor of a small town does not have credible experience...

If the Democrats had someone just like Palin on their ticket, they'd be singing a different song.

Without a doubt, community organizing is a valuable thing. However, I think Palin was on target for making the contrast between "small town mayor" and a "community organizer." Obama supporters were definitely belittling her experience and she was pointing out that those two positions are of the same essence. She was sarcastic, but it's the convention! Of course there will be jabs! If she was a man, would people be making a big deal about those jabs? I think not.

However, we should remember the race is not between Palin and Obama. IT's between Obama and McCain.

Sarah Palin's comments were in response to the minimizing of her role on the city council and as mayor of a small town. If the Obama camp is going to capitalize on Palin's supposed inexperience, then we will see just how much Obama is inexperienced. Obama pales in comparison to Palin. Palin governed from the Governor's office daily with major far-reaching decisions, while Obama sat in his senate office and voted, "present," because he was too political to make a ballsy decision that Palin was capable of doing without reservation because she knew what the people wanted and needed! She took risk with decisions that set her far above the status quo of the political machine of her state.

I think the it's partly because traditionally, the VP has assumed the role of "attack dog." It's one of the key reasons Obama picked Biden (talk about a loose cannon), and certainly a key reason McCain picked Palin. It's part of the job description.

Joe, I understand that and thanks for bringing more depth to the point. What I was trying to express without going into great length was that Palin, as with any candidate, is going to be bringing a mix of her own values and strengths to the campaign as well as those themes the campaign wants stressed, the way they want them stressed. Simply put, I would have been more enthusiastic about the speech and peoples' response to it if it had been her own words, her own expressions of thought in her own voice.

I realize that's not how things are these days but to me, that's the problem. Granted, every candidate is mouthing the words of a speechwriter and yes, that is an underappreciated art and craft. But I couldn't tell where Palin herself began and ended in all the verbage. On the one hand that's probably a compliment to the writer. But to me it reflects the increasing tendency in politics of creating candidates and campaigns that are based on research, focus groups, polls and political calculations rather than heart, logic and common sense. The first time I remember that being codified was Joe McGinniss's book 'The Selling of the President' in 1968. I may be too much of an idealist but to me politics has devolved to something like Kraft Food and Jello brand products. You can go to the same supermarket and buy Jello brand or the store brand; in many cases, the likelihood is it's virtually the same product because Kraft also manufactures generics for large chains. The only difference is the label.

So on one level some may consider Palin's speech a 'home run', and on that level it may have been. But I'm growing tired of campaigns (on both sides) that basically contain the same ingredients and rhetoric simply updated every four years with new packaging. I'm sensing earnestness from the candidates (you should believe this, we need to do that, etc.) but beyond the speeches and rhetoric, I'm still not sure what's really there. That's all.

CVH....did you read the previous posts? I had already heard this elsewhere...the failing of the teleprompter. Palin did not miss a beat but continued, "in her own words..." Keep listening....time will reveal what you/we do not know. However, I think Palin's record speaks for itself....she is the most popular governor in the nation with >80% approval rating!

This entire post could easily be written about either side of the aisle.

If you're looking for earnestness in a poorly polished package look no further than Thursday night's keynote from Sen. McCain. Courageous leader, horrible prompter man.

If the GOP could have managed to bungle the production of this convention any further, I don't know how.

The venue- "Boy, Minnesota is really going to be a swing state and this hockey arena looks like a shoebox. Perfect"

The set design- "Look, we discovered flat led screens. RNC'96 is gonna rock!"

The V/O - Fred Thompson is ok for Voice Over work (Two Election in a row BTW) but not for the nomination?

The b-roll- Um, what in the world was that about? Bad Stock shots completely irrelevant to his points and the green lawn is exactly the back drop you want on the tight shot. Maybe they'll chroma him into Mile High Stadium.

The Shot selection- If Thursday's feed was RNC controlled and provided to the network, then the director who showed 11 consecutive shots of hecklers needs to be shot him/herself.

In spite of all of that, McCain seemed to rise above the fray a bit, though I think that might be the last time he can go to the "I-admire-my-opponent" well until a concession speech. That he's a poor prompter follower seems to work for him. Adds a sense of genuine passion when he drops off the script, landing on something from the stump speech.