and nice word cloud. It was clearly aimed at the middle. And so I am dying to know how the middle received it.

I can’t understand a moderate. I can’t even pretend to think like them, so I can’t even begin to take a guess at how they will respond. Looking forward to data.

You spoke of emails- can you share more?

I was looking for the specific ideas that set him apart from Obama. What are the major policy ideas he will bring to the job.

Tax cuts? Little too general, although for the first time i did hear him say double the child tax credit. So I will give him that 1 item.

So what is the bulk of the substance you refer to?

I really could care less about social issues and just would like the candidates to focus on real issues.

I missed a certain large amount of the speech, but “dry” for lack of better word is not the way I would call it. As it might have been for some who comment, I would grade it much better than a “C.”

John speech left me with an impression of a likeable a guy that is trustable, and that would be good to sit and talk with, and who has much wisdom to share of his knowlege and experiences.

For someone to talk about being crashed, injured, fished out of a Lake, and talk with such matter-of-fact “dry” delivery, and a sort of sense of humour about the people being angry is indicative of someone who has the even keel and experience, and common sense that may be best for our country at this point in history.

Let’s hope for his to be the winning ticket, without dealing with the ill will of attacks from or towards either side, or prejudice that ignores valid concerns of our State of the Nation from both camps.

There once was a man named McCain
Who had an unusual brain
He talked for an hour
In a voice stiff and dour
Primarily about his own pain.

John Sidney McCain
Speaking, haltingly, slowly
In front of some weird building with a green lawn that nobody can identify

Pragmatically reassuring on policy, passionate on reform and a most moving finish.

The Reagan conservative of the primaries is gone and the maverick of eight years ago is back.

It was surreal. Like he was talking past the people in the convention hall who nominated him. No mention of family values, only a passing reference to the abortion debate, no specifics about national security (why no discussion about border security?)

On issues:

He seemed to reinforce the party line that an energy policy built around “Drill Baby Drill” is the answer. This seems to be the dominant policy issue of the covention, and he may need to dial it back a bit.

How about some forward-looking straight-talk on Iraq? Following the success of the surge, do you now have a sense of when victory will be achieved? How about some clarity around whether or not it still too early to discuss a timetable for withdrawl?

As the parent of a child with autism, my ears always perk up when this is mentioned as an issue. Unfortunately McCain has not committed to additional necessary funding of the Combating Autism Act as Obama has. Maybe his running mate will encourage him to take a stand on this issue.

The key message I took from the speech is that change trumps experience. He’s just got to sell it now.

I’m trying to understand how they got in there. According to the media, even they had problems with their credentials. I’m concerned that there are moles in the security staff and this needs to be investigated by McCain’s campaign officials. How well have these people been vetted? If these people are entrenched in the campaign staff, then there will be further problems down the road with leaks and consequently large demonstrations at McCain’s and Palin’s campaign stops. These distractions we absolutely don’t need.

The speech seemed largely devoted to an already existing base – I didn’t hear much that would appeal to moderates.

I think he should have given us a bit more detail on how his administration would be different from Bush’s, something I think he could have done without consuming too much time.
Perhaps that is yet to come.

I also think it is going to be a huge mistake for McCain to insulate Palin from any interviews – letting the rumors swell as to some of this issues surrounding her past, unanswered, is not going to sit well in the minds of undecided voters.

I think that the speech fit right in with what seems to be a great strategy. His team has clearly decided that they can effectively “invent” a pair of candidates that both match the aspirations of their base and play into the weak-kneed, celebrity-obsessed media. They put Palin out there as a “folksy”, tough mom unafraid of the big boys and since she really has no meaningful record to tear at they can claim any attempt to vet her is an “attack” on this nice lady. McCain then is the “war hero” who will protect her and keep taxes low. They can also resurrect the “maverick” theme to tie this all together and walk into the election with no concerns about substance or about how tight he has really been with Bush and the Administration and their lobbyists.

First, Democrats complain about everything. First they complain that the Republicans are attacking them after they attacked the Republicans. NOW, Obamas camp is complaining that McCain did not attack Obama last night at his acceptance speech. Democrats are running scared, they don’t know how to respond..it’s like a chicken with it’s head cut off. They are in grave trouble, and they game plan is in ruins. Their inexperience is showing, their bad judgement is showing, and all they can do is stumble around in the dark. This shows what might happen at 3 a.m. in the morning if they got that call…SCARY. John did a great job, and he did it without attacking Obama. I can feel the country shifting over to McCain..it’s awesome. It’s about time the country see’s McCain as the REAL agent of CHANGE. I still see the Liberal Media as complicit with Obama, and I feel that NBC has lost all journalistic integrity. All the other liberal media outlets are put on notice. The more they attack, the more that helps McCain. People are sick of the Media’s lies and improper reporting. This is unpreciented in the History of the United States. There should be laws to not allow the media to do this…only on Cable or opionion pieces should that be allowed, and limited opinion pieces should be allowed. McCain is for change, Palin is for change, Obama is for more of the same with the candidate that he picked…a Washington insider who is the longest serving senator ever, who is part of the broken machine of big government. Congress has failed the American People, and they need to be replaced. People should not be afraid of their Government, their Government should be afraid of the people. Everyone, let’s get this right. Let’s go out to the Nursing homes and make sure the people there can vote for John, let’s reach those who are Republican who cannot get out, let’s help them to absentee vote, or help them get out on election day. We can win this, and we will if everyone gets involved.

…and one of McCain’s better deliveries – not great, but parts were quite good. I thought McCain did a solid job of explaining that, unlike Obama & Biden, he has an actual record of working with both R’s & D’s and against both R’s & D’s.

There was a nearly total absence of rancor toward Obama, especially compared to Obama’s “angry man” speech in Denver where he repeatedly tore the bark off McCain.

I have to thank the protesting ninnies and pinkies for helping to further draw the clear distinction between civility and childish tantrums. Do you undecided indies want to fight alongside John McCain or alongside a bunch of bitter Bea Arthurs in pink tiaras?

I was not expecting much from McCain’s speech and really wasn’t planning to watch it. Boy, am I glad that I did! Dan McLaughlin mentioned that it was a traditional, pre-1960s speech and I agree, but that was just what we needed. His style was just fine.

No, it wasn’t the height of oratory, but it was a solid speech given by one who actually meant what he said, and definitely played to his strengths. I believe it was probably the best political speech that I have heard (I missed the Palin speech and was too young during the Reagan years). He said enough to appeal both to us and to the independents if they have any sense of American pride at all.

I agree with you, especially on the following lines:

Obama hires the longest serving senator of all time, is that change? That is more of the same partisan Washington bull crap.

Obama is a follower, and he follows McCains movements because Obama knows that McCain has the experience, knows what to do, So Obama follows what McCain does to give himself some credibility.

I like your last 3 comments so far. But they are very long. I suggest you separate your long comment into several paragraphs next time for better readability. (Hope it’s not an imposition). Thanks.

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Obama’s choice of venue really limited it’s appeal on TV, he talked to the crowd there. McCain, thankfully, talked with the viewer at home. Fred, Rudy and Palin spoke to the convention. Palin and McCain spoke to the people at home.

After watching nearly every minute of the two conventions, I have decided to go with the McCain-Palin ticket. I am a woman and a registered democrat but I like the Republican ticket for the following reasons…
The War is nearly won and it is important as a nation to win and not retreat.
The experience on the Republican ticket gives me a greater level of confidence.
I cannot afford higher taxes and I do not believe our economy can withstand a National Health Care Plan.
I believe McCain’s love of country is what really won me over. The Obama family has lukewarm affection at best for the nation and its people and that has really turned me off!