My Reactions to Night 3

I'll be posting the Twitter comments from tonight's speeches by Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin on this post as quickly as I can. Last night was a frenzy for an hour or so, but whenever I get a break I'll update date. Here's the first one:

• In the immortal words of John Kerry: "I'm reporting for duty!" Expect Rudy's speech around 10ET.
• Fox is showing Bristol Palin and her fiance' Levi - good looking couple and they're suddenly media stars. That must be weird.
• Okay, here we go. Rudy's up and getting a big welcome. I could have voted for that guy pretty easily.
• "2008 is the most important election in our lifetime and we better get it right."
• "The people get to decide", not Hollywood celebrities or anyone else. Prompts chants of U-S-A!
• Rudy: Think of it as hiring someone to do a job, an important job. Two very patriotic men with different life experiences.
• Rudy - One has been tested in the service of his country, a true American hero.
• "This is a man who believes in serving a cause greater than himself, and that cause is America. America comes first!
• "Other man, gifted with Ivy League resume'. He worked as a community organizer. What?" Crowd chants "Zero, Zero, Zero!"
• He ran for state legislature. 130 times he couldn't decide whether to vote yes or no. It was too tough! He voted PRESENT!
• "I didn't know this vote 'present' when I was mayor. ..For POTUS it's not good enough to be 'present'. You have to make a decision....
• He was a "celebrity Senator". No leadership, no legislation to speak of. It's the kind of thing that can only happen in America.
• He is the least experienced candidate for president in at least the last 100 years. Not a personal attack, a statement of fact. Nothing.
• The choice comes down to substance over style...No time for on-the-job training.
• We can trust McCain to deal with anything nature can throw at us, or anything else. We will be safe in John McCain's hands.
• Rudy takes on the "change" verses "more of the same" meme put out by the Dems. Change is not a destination, hope not a strategy.
• McCain will lower taxes, reduce government, expand free trade, and will lead us toward energy independence. All of the above approach.
• Rudy's not delivering a smooth speech, but he's making his point. The house is rocking and it's hard to get his points out.
• John McCain will keep us on offense against terrorism at home and abroad. Dems were afraid to use the words Islamic terrorism.
• They're afraid to insult somebody. Who are they insulting? Terrorists! Dems are in denial and can't face the enemy.
• The crowd is really ready for Palin's speech. You can tell the place is locked and loaded.
• "On the most important issue in this election John McCain got it right and Barack got it wrong"
• Rudy is pointing out the many Obama flip-flops. Getting lots of boos from the crowd. "If I were Joe Biden, I'd get that VP thing in writing"
• Rudy is blasting the 300 foreign policy advisors, blasts Obama's plan to go to the UN on Russia. Obama forgot Russian's veto.
• "Advice for Obama: Next time call John McCain". Big roar for the crowd.
• "In choosing Gov. Palin, John McCain is choosing the future. The other guys looked back, John looked forward"
• "She's had more executive experience than the entire Dem ticket combined."
• "She's got an 80% approval rating. You never get that in NY City"
• "This is a woman who has no fear, this is a woman who stands up for what's right. She is shaking up Alaska..."
• "Can you imagine how they're going to shake up Washington!"
• "How dare they question whether Sarah Palin has enough time to spend with her children and be VP. How dare they? When do they ask a man?"
• Rudy is pushing freedom, school choice, right to work, believing in America's success. Shining city on the hill, beacon to the world.
• Rudy wraps up - the crowd is going nuts. I hope the roof is properly secured because it's going to get crazy in a minute.
• Sarah Palin is intro'd. Crowd is berzerk. She looks great and ready to go.
• The delegates don't want to sit down. Huge standing 'O'. Family beaming. Great moment for Palin after all she's dealt with since Friday.
• Gives the standard "I accept your nomination" and pushes McCain as expected. Now launching into speech.
• I'm not expecting as many "red meat" segments in this speech. It will be part biography, part praise for candidate, with some sarcasm too.
• "As the mother of one of those troops", she wants McCain as commander-in-chief. Son 19 will deploy to Iraq on September 11th.
• My wife notes that Palin isn't wearing a pantsuit and looks much more feminine than Hillary. My note - that's not hard to do.
• Intros family - promises families of special needs kids they'll have an advocate in the White House - Nice touch.
• "Every woman can walk through every door of opportunity"
• Talking about small town America. They run our factories, fight our wars, and they're always proud of America. A little shot at Michelle.
• Here comes the "community organizer" line. Great shot at Obama.
• Crowd's eating it up. Hockey Moms for Palin signs along with many others. Gets in the "bitter clingers" comment.
• "We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco" Great line.
• "I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment" She's taking on the political media - crowd booing loudly - eating it up.
• "Relentless reform doesn't sit well with the entrenched power interests...put the government of Alaska back on the side of the people.
• Sold the state jet on eBay, got rid of the chauffer and the cook (though her kids miss the cook sometimes).
• Pushing her energy reforms - very popular with the delegates. Got new pipeline that will help towards energy independence.
• "We cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers" Hits on the threats from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
• Refers to her knowledge of the North Slope - "we've got plenty of both" gas and oil.
• On Obama - "This is a man with two memoirs and not a single major law in the Senate...never uses "victory" except when talking about own
• After the "styrofoam greek colums go back to some Hollywood studio". Nice line.
• Obama is worried that "someone won't read terrorists their rights". Wants more taxes on everything.
• "How are you going to be better off if the opposition adds a massive tax burden to the economy?"
• Obama "uses change to promote his career" McCain uses his "career to promote change" Also gets a hit in on the Seal of Obama.
• "Our nominee doesn't run with the Washington herd" " A leader not looking for a fight, but not afraid of one either".
• Women in the crowd are starting to tear up. It's not idol worship like we saw in Denver, but pride in a woman Republican candidate.
• "The American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery". Ouch
• No wonder she scares the hell out of the Dems and media - she's knocking it out.
• "There's only one man in this election who has actually fought for you, in places where fighting meant surviving or death"
• Talks about the journey from a cell in Hanoi to the Oval Office. He'll have the compassion that comes from having been powerless.
• Sarah blows a kiss to a former POW in the Ohio delegation and tells his and McCain's story. Gets emotional for the first time.
• "For a season a gifted speaker can inspire with his words, but for a lifetime John McCain has inspired with his deeds"
• That's the speech - hugely popular with the crowd. Standing 'O' all around.
• Brit Hume describe her as a seasoned politician, great delivery, enjoying every moment.
• Family now on stage, and her comes John McCain to huge roar. Greets the family on stage.
• From the wife: "She made me like McCain better than anyone else. Middle age women in glasses rule!"
• Well, that's it for tonight. Palin did great, Rudy not as good but effective nonetheless. Back tomorrow night for more.

Whew - another typing frenzy. I think Palin met the challenge nobly. Even Mort Kondrake liked the speech and he's been very critical of her. If all you did was read the lefty press the last three days you wouldn't even recognize the lady you saw on stage tonight. This is going to do the GOP campaign a lot of good.

After that speech I almost think McCain could walk out on stage tomorrow night and drool for 30 minutes and still get elected. The media frenzy will continue, but I think this speech took a lot of the air out of the attacks. Anyone watching won't give the press much credence anymore.

She showed tremendous poise and character, though I'm a little surprised that during the family intros she never mentioned the coming grandbaby and its father. No big deal, just surprising.

McCain probably won't do as well tomorrow night, but I don't think he'll need to. Great job by Palin, and a great choice for the ticket.