Live Blogging: John McCain’s RNC Acceptance Speech

Live blogging of John McCain’s acceptance speech of the Republican nomination for the Presidency of the United States of America. John was introduced by his wife Cindy McCain at the Republican National Convention from St. Paul, Minnesota.

10:08pm - The speech was about an hour long. It was extremely strong and as good a speech as I have heard McCain over the past 8 years. He had several very personal moments in it and like Reagan breathed a breath of fresh air into what our country is and where it should go. The biggest thing that will be remembered is that his country saved him and that he will give ever last breath working for and defending her. McCain, as a speaker, doesn’t hit grand slams like Palin did last night. He is more like Pete Rose was as a baseball player. He is tough, gritty, and hits double after double all the while trying to turn it into a triple. Sometimes he is thrown out by 10 feet, but often John end up standing on third with that toothy grin while dusting the dirt off his pants.

The loudspeakers are blaring “Barracuda” by Heart. Palin fever continues

10:04pm - “Fight with me, fight with me, fight for what is right for our country!”

The crowd is totally in a frenzy. McCain just did something BO couldn’t do last week. He got the crowd so riled up then was smart enough to end on that night. Great Speech!

10:03pm - Are there more African-Americans at this convention than last week in Denver? Just something I am starting to notice. Has Obama out-elited most of them? Maybe Jesse was right!

10:00pm - There are lots of U.S. veterans in the crowd. Many are touched by McCain’s words.

9:57pm - McCain has gone into a detailed and new leaf of his being shot down and captured story.

9:56pm - “Instead of trying to take credit for something, let’s share it. My administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.”

9:55pm - “I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not!”

9:52pm - McCain is really connecting, “I hate war,” and states he will use all his expertise to avoid it. He wants other families to avoid what his has faced. The most raw and powerful moment I have felt from a politician in 20 some odd years.

9:51pm - “I know how the military works….I know how the world works.”

9:50pm - “We can’t turn a blind eye to aggression and international lawlessness.”

9:49pm - About time to wrap it up. Surely it is past McCain’s bedtime.

9:47pm - And the energy portion of the speech ensues. More nuclear power plants, clean coal, drilling, wind, hybrid, electric. You name it and McCain mentioned it as part of his energy plan.

9:45pm - “I want schools to answer to parents and students.” JM is spending a lot of time going on about education and ways he wants to improve it.

9:43pm - “Education is the civil rights issue of this century.”

Competition, power and choice for parents in choosing education for their kids.

9:42pm - Mac is going into detail about several things his administration will do to help improve the economy and health care.

9:40pm - JM gets in a few jabs at Obama but only refers to him as “opponent” and basically just states their differences. He has been classy so far in regard to Senator Obama.

9:39pm “I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can.”

9:37pm - ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

9:36pm - “The party is going to get back to basics.”

9:34pm - So far McCain’s speech has been a lot more positive than Barack’s from a week ago. Of course that could turn here in the second half.

9:33pm - “I’d rather lose an election than see my country lose a war,” in response to pundits who rode him for backing the surge in Iraq.

9:32pm - “I fought for more troops in Iraq when it wasn’t the popular thing to do.”

9:29pm - Promises change coming to Washington and that he and Palin will shake it up like never seen before. Solid speech so far. Not any big fireworks but that’s McCain for you. Slow and steady!

9:27pm - “I can’t wait to introduce her to Washington.”

9:25pm - He mentions Sarah Palin as his running mate and the masses are going nuts. Only a blind squirrel could argue that she hasn’t charged up the base and is becoming a rising star.

9:23pm - States clearly that he will reach out to everyone once he is elected to rebuild this country. A protestor tries to charge the stage but is stopped well short of it. McCain gets in a couple of off the cuff jokes from it.

9:21pm - He gives some very polite words to Barack and says a lot more unites us than divides us and that as Americans that association means more to him than any other.

9:17pm - He doesn’t shy away from President Bush and thanks him for leading us out of 9/11 and keeps us safe from an attack since then. He also thanks Laura Bush for being so gracious. That will likely be the last time he mentions W tonight.

9:16pm - The applause dies down and Senator McCain accepts the nomination for President of the United States.

9:12pm - Fred Thompson introduces McCain out of the dark and onto the stage. The stage is altered from last night and he has the crowd all around him. He appears truly as one of the people.

9:04pm - And here is the well edited McCain campaign video. Roberta McCain (John’s 145 (96) year old mom) looks mighty good for being so old in the tooth.

9:02pm - Everyone in the arena is dancing around to Kool and the Gang and Johnnie B. Good. McCain obviously had a part in selecting tonight’s music. I am still cracking up at Obama having a Brooks & Dunn song to play as his fireworks went off last week in Denver.

8:57pm CST - Cindy is finally done after rambling on and on and on for way too long. She did tone down her dress tonight which is a huge first step. Now time for the campaign video on John McCain.

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September 4, 2008 | Filed Under 2008 Presidential Election, john mccain, sarah palin