I have been so busy I haven't had time to post the best of Sarah Palin's convention speech. But judging from the enthusiasm she has generated, I think a review of her best lines would still be appreciated - and as I was going through her speech, I was struck by how many great lines there were! Here's a sample:
- They [small town people] love their country in good times and bad -- and they're always proud of America.
- And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor if sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities.
- But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or even a reform, not even in the state senate.
- This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word "victory" -- except when he's talking about his own campaign.
- But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of the crowd fades away, when the stadium lights go out and those styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot...
- What does he actually seek to accomplish after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet?
- Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America, and he's worried that someone won't read them their rights.
- In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.
- He [Harry Reid] said, quote, "I can't stand John McCain." Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no accolade we hear this week is better proof that we've chosen the right man. Clearly, what the majority leader was driving at is that he can't stand up to John McCain...
- My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery.
And two final more serious, but excellent quotes:
- This world of threats and dangers, it's not just a community and it doesn't just need an organizer.
- And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they're always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely. There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you.
- To the most powerful office on Earth, he would bring the compassion that comes from having once been powerless, the wisdom that comes even to the captives by the grace of God -- the special confidence of those who have seen evil and have seen how evil is overcome.
Sarracuda Palin's best will be up as soon as I can get to it.
- On the other hand, you have a resume from a gifted man with an Ivy League education. He worked as a community organizer-WHAT?! ...Maybe this is the first problem on the resume....
- And nearly 130 times, he couldn't make a decision. He couldn't figure out whether to vote yes or no. It was too tough!
I didn't know about this vote "present" when I was mayor of New York City. ...Sarah Palin didn't have this vote "present" when she was mayor or governor. You don't get "present" -- it doesn't work in an executive job. For president of the United States, it's not good enough to be present! You have to make a decision!
- They would have you believe that this election is about change versus more of the same. But that's really a false choice, because there's good change and bad change. Because change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy.
- Well, I'll tell you, if I were Joe Biden, I'd want to get that VP thing in writing.
- So he changed his position again, and he put out a statement exactly like the statement of John McCain's three days earlier. I have some advice for Senator Obama: Next time, call John McCain.
- In choosing Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain has chosen for the future. The other guy looked back, John looked forward.
- She's been a mayor. I love that. I'm sorry -- I'm sorry that Barack Obama feels that her hometown isn't cosmopolitan enough. I'm sorry, Barack -- that it's not flashy enough. Maybe they cling to religion there.
After Thompson;s rousing speech, Joe Lieberman came on stage and initially seemed to suck the life out of the auditorium. It was a tough act to follow, but eventually Lieberman hit his stride. He went after his Senate colleague and former fellow party-member Obama directly which I found to be slightly surprising. Here are my favorite Lieberman lines:
- It’s pretty clear there are two questions we will never have to ask ourselves, “Who is this man?” and “Can we trust this man with the Presidency?”
- My friends … that is character you can believe in.
- The respect he is given around the world is not because of a teleprompter speech designed to appeal to American critics abroad, but because of decades of clearly demonstrated character and statesmanship.
- To deal with these challenges the Democrats present a history making nominee for president. History making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for President.
- Apparently they believe that he would match up well with the history making, Democrat controlled Congress. History making because it’s the least accomplished and most unpopular Congress in our nation’s history.
- No, they’re just going to tax “businesses”! So unless you buy something from a “business”, like groceries or clothes or gasoline … or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small “business”, don’t worry … it’s not going to affect you.
- And we need a President who doesn’t think that the protection of the unborn or a newly born baby is above his pay grade.
All in all a great night of speeches - the Republican base is pumped up and hopes to have attracted undecided voters with Lieberman's appeal to independents and Thompson's focus on character. Can't wait until tomorrow night!
- I’m here to support John McCain because country matters more than party.
Both presidential candidates this year talk about changing the culture of Washington, about breaking through the partisan gridlock and special interests that are poisoning our politics. But only one of them has actually done it.
My Democratic friends know all about John’s record of independence and accomplishment. Maybe that’s why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince voters that John McCain is someone else.
- Eloquence is no substitute for a record — not in these tough times.
- In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party.
- The McCain-Palin ticket is the real ticket for change this year.
- When others wanted to retreat in defeat from the field of battle, when Barack Obama was voting to cut off funding for our troops on the ground, John McCain had the courage to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge, and because of that, today, our troops are at last beginning to come home, not in failure, but in honor!
