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Suffering Through a Night of Republican Speeches

I’m not sure I can do this without popping a vein, but I’m watching the Repulican National Convention on CNN and will live blog through it. With a stiff drink near the keyboard.

10:15 pm - Sarah Palin’s sister Heather Bruce described her sister as “one of the smartest women I know.” I wonder if she would be willing to recommend one of those smarter women she knows for Vice President. When asked about the controversy surrounding Palin’s family this week, she said the family keeps their opinions private. Hmmmm…..

10:23 pm - Rudy Giuliani just made his first reference to 9/11. He made it through 10 or 15 minutes before he used his tagline.

10:25 pm - CNN just cut to Cindy McCain holding Sarah Palin’s infant son. I’m just wondering, why do you never see the Dad holding the baby? This is the first time I’ve not seen the baby in the arms of his pregnant sister Bristol.

10:30 pm - Giuliani just used Sarah Palin’s approval rating as proof of her readiness to be vice president. And it’s true she is very popular. But if approval ratings are the measure of readiness, George W. Bush should have submitted his resignation months ago.

10:34 pm - Giuliani used the old Republican spin again. Saying the opposite of reality. Like America being an inspiration around the world. His party destroyed respect for the country. How can he claim it with a straight face?

10:36 pm - Sarah Palin is onstage. Here we go. BTW, her husband is finally holding the baby.

10:41 pm - Five minutes into the speech, and Gov Palin has only talked about McCain.

10:43 pm - Palin just introduced her family. Boy, does Levi Johnston, Palin’s “future son-in-law” looks soooo uncomfortable.

10:49 pm - Palin is going to explain to Democrats why being mayor of a small town qualifies you to be vice president. “Unlike being a community organizer, you have actual responsibilities.” Yeah, Republicans really hate do-gooders who try to help people in need. The only people in need they care about are lobbyists.

Security just hustled a protester out of the arena, who was flashing a peace sign. Amazing she got in.

10:50 pm - An attack on the media. Yes, it’s liberals and media. What a great diversion. It’s worked for Republicans since the 1980s. How long will Americans fall for that? I’ve not heard a thing yet about economic policy. Just a chant of “Drill, baby drill.” And the same old drumbeat for a fruitless and costly war.

10:55 pm - Palin is patronizing Democrats for saying that drilling offshore will not bring energy independence “as if we don’t know that.” Then, she proclaimed that was no excuse for doing nothing. What I’m wondering is, if drilling is not the whole answer, why has Sen. McCain voted against every measure for renewable energy in the Senate?

10:56 pm - Palin is accusing Obama of wanting to increase the size of government and send more orders from Washington to the American people. She’s learning from her colleague Mayor Giuliani: say it like you mean it, and conservative sheep will believe it. Nevermind the facts–that government is significantly bigger now, thanks to six years of Republican control of Washington and two more of Republican obstruction in a razor-thin Democratic majority Congress. And is she serious about “orders from Washington?” Oh, I guess anti-gay marriage amendments, airport security, warrantless wire taps and limits on abortion rights are not orders from Republicans; they are merely “suggestions.”

11:01 pm - Interesting. Sarah Palin says it was lobbyists and comfortable committee chairmen who have fought against John McCain since the primaries in 2000. Funny, everyone knows that it was George W. Bush and Karl Rove who “push polled” McCain in 2000, using McCains adopted daughter as political bait. Funny how “families are off limits” is the rule until it can benefit a Republican. And by the way, John McCain’s adopted daughter is one of only maybe three people of color at the Republican Convention. And the others are being paid to be there–like Donna Brazille, for example. And even CNN has put her and her Republican token black female commentator away from the other pundits, isolated in a viewing box above the sea of white faces. It’s so white in St. Paul, I had to pause my TiVO and go fetch my sunglasses.

11:09 pm - You have to hand it to Sarah Palin. She nailed it. It was a great speech. It was full of lies and devoid of any substance other than “War is good,” and “Drill, baby, drill.” But it was a good speech. She looks relieved. She actually took a deep breath and sigh of relief. And who can blame her. On a side note, someone should tell Levi not to chew gum on national television.

11:16 pm - CNN just halted their commentary to stand for the national anthem. An honorable gesture, but I can’t help but notice how CNN has been groveling all night. The “liberal media” and Campbell Brown’s call on the carpet with McCain’s senior strategist a couple of days ago must have really pissed off some of those rich, white Republicans who run the “liberal media.”