I had the same impression.  I got so bored through it I started to count how many times he stumbled on his words (4 that I heard).  There were a lot of words, but nothing that you could put together and say hey, this is good.  There was no plan layed out at all. 

McCain said "I will stand on your side and fight for your future".  Really?  How?  No response.

After the first 20 minutes I also became quite irritated at his cocky, I am experienced attitude.

I was really expecting so much more about the future, not the past  I know what his past is but I really wanted to hear some sort of plan for the future.....got nothing.

It was a pep rally, not a speech for a presidential candidate. 

Maybe you didn't listen very closely! He said he would drill for new oil, something the democrats don't want to do.  He said he would open new avenues for energy use, like nuclear energy plants, something the democrats won't do. He said he would help people out of work with new job training. He said he would remove corruption in government and stop ear marks on new bills. He said he stood up to his captors in time of war and would defend America first and always in the future. Try to take the Democrat or Republican label off the candidate and measure him as a future President by his experience. Try to stop listening to the liberal media of NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN and use your own native intelligence to decide. Good Luck.

 

I saw it and was very inspired by it. That man has quite a story and he is his own man. I was never a McCain supporter and I don't know WHO I support yet but I really liked his speech and felt it came from the heart. I look forward to the debates when they go head to head. That will tell me much more than either speech.

I have found that it is hard to find the campaign promises of either candidate.  I discovered a site that lists them without an opinion. 

For Obama's promises to date go to:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/campaigns/2008/wh08/promises_obama.htm

Just some of the things I find scary considering I am in support of a Sovereign America and I am concerned about our national debt-
 
1. Open "America Houses" in Islamic countries
"We will open 'America Houses' in cities across the Islamic world, with Internet, libraries, English lessons, stories of America's Muslims and the strength they add to our country, and vocational programs."-8/1/07, Washington, D.C.
2. Support a global education fund
"I will support a $2 billion global education fund to counter the radical madrassas."-8/1/07, Washington, D.C.
3. Pay tuition for students going into teaching
"I will make this pledge as president: If you commit your life to teaching, America will commit to paying for your college education."-11/20/07, Manchester, Iowa
4. Encourage community service by students
"So when I'm president, I will set a goal for all American middle and high school students to perform 50 hours of community service a year, and for all college students to perform 100 hours of service a year."-12/5/07, Mt. Vernon, Iowa
5. Launch childhood initiative
"Obama will launch a Children's First Agenda that provides care, learning and support to families with children from birth up to 5 years old."-Obama's Blueprint for Change
6. Double funding for after-school programs
"Obama will double funding for the main federal support for afterschool programs, the 21st Century Learning Centers program, to serve a million more children."-Obama's Blueprint for Change
7. Sign law to phase out incandescent light bulbs
8. Consider Al Gore for Cabinet-level climate change position
9. Expand Iraq refugee services
10. Increase aid to the Americas
11. Provide $30 billion to Israel
12. Work to halve poverty worldwide
"Obama will embrace the Millennium Development Goal of cutting extreme poverty around the world in half by 2015, and he will double our foreign assistance to $50 billion to achieve that goal."-Obama's Blueprint for Change
13. Establish loan forgiveness program for rural doctors and nurses
14. Invest $60 billion in infrastructure
15. Invest $1 billion in transitional jobs programs
"I will invest $1 billion over five years in innovative transitional jobs programs that have been highly successful at placing the unemployed into temporary jobs and then training them for permanent ones."-7/18/07, Washington, D.C.
16. Reinstate special envoy for Americas:
"I will reinstate a special envoy for the Americas in my White House who will work with my full support."-5/23/08, Miami
17. End restrictions on Cuban-Americans
"I will immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island [of Cuba]."-5/23/08, Miami
18. "He will provide at least $2 billion to expand services to Iraqi refugees in neighboring countries, and ensure that Iraqis inside their own country can find a safe haven."-Obama's Blueprint for Change
19. Expand U.S. forces in Afghanistan
"As president, I would deploy at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan to reinforce our counterterrorism operations and support NATO's efforts against the Taliban."-8/1/07, Washington
20. Provide more non-military aid to Afghanistan
"We will start with an additional $1 billion in non-military assistance each year, aid that is focused on reaching ordinary Afghans."-3/19/08, Fayetteville, N.C.
21. Expand diplomatic relations
"Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem."-4/2/08, Philadelphia  (In response to question)
22. Help states adopt paid-leave systems
"Obama will initiate a strategy to encourage all 50 states to adopt paid-leave systems. Obama will provide a $1.5 billion fund to assist states with startup costs and to help states offset the costs for employees and employers."-Obama's Blueprint for Change
23. Provide every American broadband access
"As president, I will set a simple goal: Every American should have the highest-speed broadband access-no matter where you live or how much money you have."-6/16/08, Flint, Mich. Boost R&D funding
*****************************
John McCain's can be seen at:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/campaigns/2008/wh08/promises_mccain.htm

There isn't a lot of substance but it isn't anti-American.  I found McCain's speech to be somewhat lukewarm in the beginning but towards the end he had my complete attention.

PattyTherre said…
I saw it and was very inspired by it. That man has quite a story and he is his own man. I was never a McCain supporter and I don't know WHO I support yet but I really liked his speech and felt it came from the heart. I look forward to the debates when they go head to head. That will tell me much more than either speech.

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I agree.  I am looking forward to the next round of debates.  As one who hasn't made up her mind I hope something comes out of them!

vta38 said…

Maybe you didn't listen very closely! He said he would drill for new oil, something the democrats don't want to do.  He said he would open new avenues for energy use, like nuclear energy plants, something the democrats won't do. He said he would help people out of work with new job training. He said he would remove corruption in government and stop ear marks on new bills. He said he stood up to his captors in time of war and would defend America first and always in the future. Try to take the Democrat or Republican label off the candidate and measure him as a future President by his experience. Try to stop listening to the liberal media of NBC, CBS, ABC, and CNN and use your own native intelligence to decide. Good Luck.

 

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Despite the fact that I feel asleep for part of the speech, I heard enough!  Yes, he wants to drill for oil, but drilling for new oil will not yield enough of the black stuff to even come close to ending our dependence on foreign sources of oil.  What is needed, and what has been advocated by the "Democrats" is a comprehensive energy policy that DOES include drilling for new oil and pursuing as well as funding other (renewable) sources of energy.  And any comprehensive energy policy MUST include a plan to move the nation's automobiles away from fossil fuels, lacking that ANY energy plan will fail and; DRILLING ALONE WILL NOT GET IT DONE!

I am an advocate of nuclear energy, but until we move forward with new nuclear power plants we have to deal with the problem of nuclear waste.  As a retired sailor who served on a number of nuclear submarines I have a healthy respect for the dangers spent nuclear waste presents.  We have to have a plan for dealing with nuclear waste; ignoring the problem will not make it go away!  Barak Obama has said as much in several speeches.     

How is McCain going to stop ear-marks; by the veto?  Veto enough bills and nothing gets done.  And eventually he will be over-written by Congress, a democratically controlled Congress that is likely to swing even further towards Democratic control come November.  He can't end government corruption alone and it is misguided to believe he can.

I will venture out on a limb and state that John McCain is not the only American willing to defend America.  Being a prisoner of war does not bestow McCain with more love of country than the rest of us.  Millions of us have worn the cloth of our country's military and millions us have fought to defend this nation! 

As far as experience is concerned, McCain has no more or less (Executive) practice than any other candidate on the ticket save Mrs. Palin.  Should she instead of McCain be at the top of the ticket given her vast governing experience?    

Just because a media outlook reports both sides of the story in a (truly) objective fashion doesn't make it Liberal, it makes the outlet credible!     

I live near a Naval Nuclear training facility so this area of the country is used to the  nuclear plant being part of our lives.  If you can believe John McCain will stick to his word he said ,

"If I am elected president, I will set this nation on a course to building 45 reactors by the year 2030. And I will set the goal of 100 new plants to power the homes and factories and cities of America." 

He also said,"The need for more production extends as well to another long-neglected source of energy, and that is nuclear power," McCain said in prepared remarks this morning.

"Here, too, opposition to this clean and proven technology has more to do with politics than with the merits. The experience of nations across Europe and Asia has shown that nuclear energy is efficient. It is safe, it is proven, and it is essential to America's energy future," he said.  

[These are from remarks he made in June of this year in Vegas.]

Other than storing it in Yucca Mountain, Nevada he has not addressed nuclear waste that I can find but he has given other ideas for alternative fuel and proposes incentives for added research.

Meri, you are a great source of info. You do the research for me!

Very interesting remarks by Obama.......

Of course, the truth is, if you were already for Obama,  you've already decided nothing McCain can say will change your mind and vice versa.  And, no matter what, if you've already made up your mind, every thing that comes out of the other candidate's mouth if flawed and foul.  Several people here have already made up their minds and that's fine.  Good for you! 

AND, just like many, if not all of the news outlets, your opinions are jaded by your politics.  I see that in the withering attacks.  Everyone is able to justify their positions in their own mind.   I truly haven't made up my mind yet, although I'm leaning toward McCain/Palin now, after leaning the other way just a couple of days ago.  I think it's because they seem to have more of a passion that resonates with me, whereas I find the Obama campaign to be more business like and I get a feeling of less sincerity.  Those things, for me, count as much or more than experience.  These are my perceptions, and I'm entitled too them.

 It has been very, very enlightening reading all these posts and I'm very impressed with everyone's involvement.  Sure beats apathy, which is the disease that will afflict millions of Americans this year. The sad truth is, normally our president is elected by a majority of a minority of Americans.

As for the comment the McCain is not the only American willing to defend America.  That's very true, but a sadder truth is,  there are more who are not willing.  They want someone else to do it while they drive their Lexus' and keep track of their stock portfolios.  In my 51 years on earth, I've seen countless people do everything in their power to avoid service.  That's because we live in, like it or not, a narcissistic America and it's every man for his or herself.  Luckily for us, there ARE some willing and who do.  Most, however, are just glad others do.

Being a prisoner of war might not bestow more love of his country on McCain than the rest of us, but I bet he loves it more deeply than most of us.  I can only imagine the horror of that experience, but I'm guessing he has a much better appreciation of what our troops are facing than most, even me, because even though I spent 20 years in the military and had many training exercises from a foxhole, he actually got shot at in war.  Like the death of a child or a terminal illness, that's something you can't empathize with until you've been through it.

I felt McCain spoke from the heart, even though most of his proposals, like Obama's work better during a campaign than they do once a guy actually gets into office.  That's because it isn't just up to him. Washington is rife will self-serving politicians who will make either of these fine men's lives unbelievably difficult once they get there.  It would be naive to think congress is going to just fall in line with  either man.

Sarah Palin is fresh and new, much like Obama.  If find it interesting that Obama supports support him in large part because he represents something new.  Yes, I know his positions count, but a large part of his draw is his oration skills and his representation of change.  Yet, those folks attack Sarah Palin for the very same reasons! Seems like a double-standard to me.  The skeletons that have been found in her closet are baby skeletons.   Shoot, some of us have bigger, badder skeletons than she does.  Oh, and the argument that "But she's running for the second highest office in the land!" doesn't cut it.  She's human, she's flawed, just like the rest of us.  This notion that she should be less flawed than the rest of us because she's a vice-presidential nominee is idealistic but not realistic.  Only Jesus Christ himself could possibly fit THAT mold, but should he run, he would be attacked by the other side just as vehemently.  I guess it just makes us all feel better about ourselves if we can shoot others down.

As long as a candidate doesn't have a criminal record, beat his spouse or just steal, that's pretty much all we can ask of anyone.

I was  wondering when he was going to say how he was going to do anything he said. YIKES and he stole the change theme from Barck!

But 1. Did he say how he was going to do this? and

2. As one who lives 4 miles from a nuclear power plant I would like $ put into making it safe before more are built!

The BARD, I agree with you whole heartedly!  McCain just spewed out the same stuff Bush puts out.  All you had to do was take Bush's head and put it on top of McCain's body, and there wouldn't have been much difference.

Yawn!!!! \0/

MikeMaroon said…
Of course, the truth is, if you were already for Obama,  you've already decided nothing McCain can say will change your mind and vice versa. 

Yes, I have made up my mind unless something I didn't know arises and causes me to reconsider.. 

AND, just like many, if not all of the news outlets, your opinions are jaded by your politics....I think it's because they seem to have more of a passion that resonates with me, whereas I find the Obama campaign to be more business like and I get a feeling of less sincerity.  Those things, for me, count as much or more than experience.  These are my perceptions, and I'm entitled too them.

 Absolutely!  I think everyone is entitled to vote for whomever they wish for whatever reason that moves them.  I agree that Obama seems very business-like and capable, but that's one of the reasons I support him.  After 8 years of Bush "listening to his gut" I like the idea of what I consider to be Obama's more balanced and thoughtful approach to life in general, and politics in particular.

As long as a candidate doesn't have a criminal record, beat his spouse or just steal, that's pretty much all we can ask of anyone.

Again, that's your right and I respect it, but I do ask much more than that from a Presidential candidate.  I think that part of the problem with the Bush elections was that people didn't ask much of him.  It didn't matter that we learned he was incurious about details and not terribly bright.  Too many of us thought, hey, he's someone who looks like me and I'd like to have a beer with him.

I am glad that people are tuned into the campaigns, and I think it's okay if you've already made up your mind or if you're still thinking about it.  I still appreciate reading your comments even when I don't agree.

I sure wish I had a strong feeling one way or the other and really supported one side or the other. This would all be so much easier for me if I did. I am one of those people who is just terribly undecided and who wants the best for the country yet has no idea who can get that done. Mostly though, I want to be SAFE. Having a good economy is very important but not if we're attacked again on a wider plane. So, I am looking at security first then all the rest. I don't a want president who sympathizes with the enemy or potential enemy. I want one who will take action immediately.

But I also want to be able to put food on the table, gas in my tank, and have my sons get health care at affordable rates. Maybe I'm just asking for too much. I sure am NOT looking at personalities and who is the better speaker. I want the better leader. I'm leaning but not swayed just yet. Keep on debating because your points are actually helping me to understand why you all feel so strongly about the candidate of your choice. And your points have actually given me a lot of insight!

Fact Check Please: Here is an excellent articles on Newsweek.com, fact-checking some of of the "out there" remarks made at the recently ended Republican Nation Convention: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157206/page/1

 

PattyTherre said…
I sure wish I had a strong feeling one way or the other and really supported one side or the other. This would all be so much easier for me if I did. I am one of those people who is just terribly undecided and who wants the best for the country yet has no idea who can get that done. Mostly though, I want to be SAFE. Having a good economy is very important but not if we're attacked again on a wider plane. So, I am looking at security first then all the rest. I don't a want president who sympathizes with the enemy or potential enemy. I want one who will take action immediately.

But I also want to be able to put food on the table, gas in my tank, and have my sons get health care at affordable rates. Maybe I'm just asking for too much. I sure am NOT looking at personalities and who is the better speaker. I want the better leader. I'm leaning but not swayed just yet. Keep on debating because your points are actually helping me to understand why you all feel so strongly about the candidate of your choice. And your points have actually given me a lot of insight!

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Patty, I understand your concern; I dare say all Americans share them.  We all want to be safe, but we live in a free and open society with thousands of miles of (land and sea) borders.  There is no way any President can keep us completely safe, not if we want to remain free and exercise the Fundamental Rights set forth by the U.S. Constitution and Civil Right delineated by law.

Launching an immediate attack without accessing the situation and carefully weighing all options before taking the appropriate action is what is called for.  Failing that careful and deliberate action leads us to invade countries like Iraq, spend billions, kill thousands of innocent people, and waste the lives of over 4000 American serviceman.  That kind of action we as a nation do not need and cannot afford!

I do not think either John McCain or Barak Obama would "sympathize with the enemy or potential enemy."  But Barak would bring a more measured and studied head to the world stage; he understands the need for the U.S. to be a part of the world community not set apart from it.  And that includes the need for allies, and the need to adhere to and respect International Laws and treaties. 

Read on Patty, and I am sure you will make the right decision.     

TheBard said…

Fact Check Please: Here is an excellent articles on Newsweek.com, fact-checking some of of the "out there" remarks made at the recently ended Republican Nation Convention: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157206/page/1

 

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Great article...thanks!