THIS IS A VICE PRESIDENT!!!!!

Please notice how, when someone yells "Give 'em hell Joe," Sen. Biden goes completely off script and brings up his grandfather's recounting of Harry Truman's response when folks used to say "Give 'em hell Harry."

"I'm not going to give 'em hell, I'm going to give them the truth and they'll think it's hell!."

Let's see what happens when Sarah tries to pull something that good out of her ass.

He's going to kill her in the debates. Folks just need to find a way to get her off script.

Oh, and for the absolute final word on Sarah's speech and that night at the Convention, I finally caught up with my "Daily Show" videos:



He nailed it!

Sarah is speaking...in words she never uses

(I don't hear one "cool")

6:33 PM -- Oh God...they are honoring Track Palin for going to Iraq. Anyone read Shannyn Moore's piece? I wonder if he deserved it?

6:38 PM -- "Too-Odd"--touting that Union affiliation again--so, what has Sarah done for Unions exactly?

6:41 PM -- Hockey mom and PTA--things she did for about 5 minutes each.

6:43 PM -- Hmmm, talking about working people -- "John McCain is the same man" -- who still doesn't know how many houses he has and hasn't held a real job. And Sarah is going to Washington to "serve the people of this great country"...until they piss her off. Then she'll have them all fired and say that "they serve at her pleasure."

6:46 PM -- Expected to govern with integrity..."I will carry myself in this spirit as Vice President of the United States." Stood up to the good old boys. "We put the government of our state back on the side of the people." Uh...that was the FBI... "That luxury jet was over the top...I put it on Ebay" and took a loss. "I love to drive myself to work." Without using child restraints.

"Our state budget is under control...we have a surplus." OMG...she's taking credit for oil prices?????

OMG--she's touting the oil money we're getting.

OK, getting ill now...yeah, she's "helping to lead America to energy independence"...by sending the work to Canada.

OMG--"Take it from a gal who knows the North Slope of Alaska, we've got lots of both." (Oil and Gas) Says Obama wants to "do nothing"--Jesus, so alternative energy is nothing?

6:54 PM Sarah Palin just lifted a bunch of Barack Obama's energy policy and claimed it as their own.

Wow, I don't think I've heard so many lies told at one time. They roll so easily off her tongue.

6:58 PM Obama will increase the tax burden on folks making $150,000 because of Bush's serious economic f*ck up. Lies, lies, lies...saying that he's adding tax burden to farmers

OK...I've had enough. Read Jane's liveblogging at Firedoglake

P.S. MSNBC reported that on the teleprompter, Sarah had a number of the bigger words spelled out phonetically.

So, where did she get that degree again?

5:50pm MST - Regular Americans and what the delegates are doing

It was pretty rough listening to this guy - Robin Golden. He is one of the chosen regular Americans to speak, and he'd just lost his job, can't pay for diabetes treatment. He was introduced just after Sweeney, the AFL-CIO president.

Alaskan delegates Patti Higgin and Blake Johnson make the Alaska pole "better."

Alaska Delegate Ryan Buchholdt on his experience at the convention:

"It's exciting and energetic - surreal at times."

On what he's been doing at the convention:

"Network - I was up on stage yesterday. I was able to meet Chairman Dean three times. I met Donna Brazile and Nancy Pelosi yesterday."

On hearing Hillary Clinton's address later today:

"I'm very excited - the Clintons have done a lot for the party. It's good that they were able to have such prominent speaking roles."

One kind of funny note - they took a commemorative photo just now, a panaromic shot. The lady announcing has been doing a great job of doing so, but stumbled over the pronounciation of "commemorative" on her first announcement. The second time around:

"We are now going to take the commem... comm.....

Thank you."

Michelle Obama's speech and the photos from the Mon 8/25 Democratic Convention

I did this video from the Alaska Delegation on the floor of the Convention. There was no way I could go anywhere else by that point since the MSM pretty much had everything blocked. She had me in tears by the end...especially when she talked about Barack's lack of a father.

Here's a contest for you: name this actor (as I have no idea what his name is). I recognize him from a few rolls but couldn't tell you which ones for sure. I think he was in Officer and a Gentleman. We were outside of the Pepsi Center at the time.


So this older man and his grandson were talking behind me and he was explaining to him about how the Convention works. It was very sweet and I turned around to look...and saw that the grandfather was Dan Rather.

Joe Scarborough appeared to be every bit the jovial, yuck-it-up guy that he does on MSNBC.

Alaska Delegation is right next to Faux News. Why must this be?

David Kellner-Rode of Wasilla was selected to be a Page for Howard Dean at the Convention. Here he is with his mom, Abby Kellner-Rode who has been hanging out with her sister, Rachel Binah...a delegate from California!


Even though it's obvious I'm trying desperately not to blink, I love this picture. Senator Jim Webb is a hero because of what he's done (and continues to do) for Veterans. I got a chance to personally thank him...and tell him that there are lots of Vets up in Alaska who want to shake his hand. I also mentioned that my good friend, Veteran Aviation Outreach's Mo Bailey, would love to take him fishing!

I'll post lots more pictures later.

Obama's new energy Ad and (Update) Energy Plan speech in Michigan--2nd Update: Gov. Sarah Palin supports parts of Obama's Plan

Here is the YouTube of his speech today in Michigan, which also mentions finishing Alaska's gas pipeline:



***UPDATE***

It seems Governor Palin likes at least part of Sen. Obama's Energy Plan:

Per her Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 08-135

Governor Pleased That Obama’s Energy Plan Includes Alaska

August 4, 2008, Fairbanks, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today responded to the energy plan put forward by the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

“I am pleased to see Senator Obama acknowledge the huge potential Alaska’s natural gas reserves represent in terms of clean energy and sound jobs,” Governor Palin said. “The steps taken by the Alaska State Legislature this past week demonstrate that we are ready, willing and able to supply the energy our nation needs.”

In a speech given in Lansing, Michigan, Senator Obama called for the completion of the Alaska natural gas pipeline, stating, “Over the next five years, we should also lease more of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska for oil and gas production. And we should also tap more of our substantial natural gas reserves and work with the Canadian government to finally build the Alaska natural gas pipeline, delivering clean natural gas and creating good jobs in the process.”

Governor Palin also acknowledged the Senator’s proposal to offer $1,000 rebates to those struggling with the high cost of energy.

“We in Alaska feel that crunch and are taking steps to address it right here at home,” Governor Palin said. “This is a tool that must be on the table to buy us time until our long-term energy plans can be put into place. We have already enjoyed the support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, and it is gratifying to see Senator Obama get on board.”

The Governor did question the means to pay for Obama’s proposed rebate — a windfall profits tax on oil companies. In Alaska, the state’s resource valuation system, ACES, provides strong incentives for companies to re-invest their profits in new production.

“Windfall profits taxes alone prevent additional investment in domestic production. Without new supplies from American reserves, our dependency and addiction to foreign sources of oil will continue,” Governor Palin said.

How many people out there think that part of the reason for this press release is a bitchy little slap at the McCain Campaign for not taking her seriously as a potential VP?

TICKETS...get yer tickets...

Photo: Invesco Field

...to Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado!!

Hat tip to AAPP for directing us to The Colorado Independent who then sends us to the form on The Colorado Democratic Website.

It's only a request for info but they do ask how many tickets you want.

Unless they perform a miracle, liveblogging Obama's acceptance is out the window

Photo: Invesco Field, Denver

Per Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic:

The big announcement comes tomorrow, according to Democrats.

On Thursday, August 28, Barack Obama plans to accept his nomination at Invesco Field in Denver, rather than at the Pepsi Center.

It's going to cost the convention committee a lot of money to make the move, but Invesco Field can handle more than 75,000 spectators and will make a much better picture.

Interesting...that comes on the heels of a negative New York Times article and the DNCC response regarding planning and money issues. I don't think it's too hard to figure out that this was probably the Obama Campaign's idea and they are probably paying for it.

1) This is good news for many in the general public as well as other bloggers who don't have DNCC credentials.

2) This also means that it's good news for my team, especially my daughter. We can all be there for the highlight!

3) However, from a credentialed blogger perspective, this is kind of a drag. This is the highlight of the Convention and not only will it be unlikely that we can liveblog it, but I can't see how I'll be able to bring my laptop at all since it's completely out in the open with no rain protection.

So, good and bad news, depending on how you look at it. We'll find out more tomorrow.