ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) - The first full night of the Republican convention's hurricane-interrupted proceedings had the unintentional feel of a valedictory.
Speeches by President Bush and first lady Laura Bush, which failed to mention administration achievements on the top issue of the cycle - the economy - seemed airlifted out of 2004.
The hagiographic series of video tributes to Republican presidents past, from Abraham Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, contributed to the impression of a nostalgia-fueled convention.
On a night devoted to service, convention planners managed to make time for a special "Tribute to Deceased Republican Leaders." Missing, however, were prime-time speakers with new policy proposals to encourage Americans to serve their country.
President Bush was treated as a leader in exile - allotted just six minutes on the schedule and beamed in via satellite from halfway across the country. But if the party's current leader was a footnote in the proceedings, embattled presumptive vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin - as much a rallying cry as a candidate - was at their center.
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I was bored last night, so I turned on the TV to see the RNC and Fred Thompson. The most ironic thing is that, he criticized Barack Obama for "reading from a teleprompter", while reading from a teleprompter. I couldn't watch after that.
Did anyone see the re-run of "House" last night?
Since when did Alaska become the 'heartland' of America. It's a frontier state with completely different issues than the other states.
Has someone informed Palin on what the VP does?
This convention was a joke. Senior Bush couldn't wait to get out of there. They know McCain is an idiot but they have to save face. We have not begun to see half of the skeltons in this woman's closet. And now that you have a real investigative team down there "The National Enquirer" you will begin to see it all. That is why McCain and the RNC sent those twelve lawyers down there. They have already failed one test when they tried to stop the federal investigation on Palin and her husband.
How can you state that President Bush is being treated as a leader in exile? My gosh, he stayed in Washington because of the weather problems in the south.
In exile? The guy was supposed to speak, in person, on Monday. That's not being exiled.
Obama's coverage was all positive and your coverage of McCain is all negative.
Maybe CNN needs to just start billing itself as the propaganda dept of the DNC.
Another one bites the dust........
Obama/Biden 08
The way they were? What about they way they are for the last 8 years?
I'm surprised the speakers didn't talk about how "hippies" are taking over.
"The angry left"? Really?
The Way We Were? What, the way the country was before the GOP screwed it up royally? Or the way the GOP was before they screwed themselves? Or the way the GOP was before they abandoned conservatism for divisiveness?
Did anybody bother to watch this snoozefest?
John McCain: putting the "Old" in Grand Old Party.
Les-Wa..
Bless you my child.
What a joke. Lincoln, TR and even Regan would not recognize this new version of the GOP. Completely taken over by religious zealots that are driving away rational thinking folks from the party. This is the party of hypercrits. I use to vote Republican, but can't anymore. Not with McCain's pick of Palin. Sorry.
Americans, Americans, Americans . . . once the greatest nation on earth (even in my opinion) and now a bunch of sad, defensive Democrat supporters fighting tooth and nail to believe that Obama brings more experience to the TOP of the ticket than Palin does to the BOTTOM of the ticket. Your media is completely starstruck by Obama, to the point that "never let the facts get in the way of a good story" will become its mantra after this election.
TIME magazine's reporting has become as questionable as NYTimes, CNN and others . . . and here's me proud to be a writer! Oh – and can anyone tell me WHY Obama fans are so DEFENSIVE? If he's the best, you don't have to keep fighting people to believe in him!!
I'm telling you – all the republicans have is the past.... they have no answers for the present or the future.
They stand for war, fear mongering, hate mongering, drilling oil here and there and everywhere, and making decisions for women.
They are shameful.
Vote for me because I was a pow – vote for me because my daughter didn't have an abortion.... yadda yadda yadda.
What about the rest of the country?
Vote smart, people, vote smart. Our country is at stake. Don't be taken in by John McDraft and TOKEN Palin.
The RNC is well organized despite the urgency of the Gustav. The speeches lastnight were energized and to the point. It did not have all of fanfare of the DNC which is not needed but looks good.
I will be watching Palin speak tonight.
I also loved when they chanted USA! It makes me proud because that's what we're about and that's why we're all here.
YOU – DON'T – HAVE – TO – BE – A – REPLUCIAN
TO – PUT – YOUR – "COUNTRY FIRST"
The Republicans ran a CULT LIKE convention night last night. They made it sound and look like if your not a Republican you are not wanted. INDEPENDENTS AND UNDECIDED REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS – BEWARE............................................................................
The way we were(conservative) is more a long the lines of Ron Paul not the "mainstream" GOP.
Fred Thompson is funny. His lackluster campaign in the primaries was a joke. Now this is the best speaker the Reps can come up wih. Not once have they touched on the issues plagueing this country. Thier only argument issue is pro-life, pro-life, pro-life. What about education, infrastructure, jobs etc.? Republicans and Evangelicals do not care about this country. They only care about their agenda. How unAmerican!!
Being the proud Daughter-in-law of a Fine American Hero who has 2 Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star , and who was a personal friend and served with Audie Murphy in WWII. I feel, as does my family , very strongly about war and so did my Father-in-law. His words"Only when it is absolutely necessary". Last night seemed so HOPELESS. You called it " The way we Were", I fear "The way WE will be" All the Republicans talk about is WAR, FEAR, TERROR, Frankly, last night was most upsetting and quite boring...it was offensive and not to mention Colorless.
This country is ready for a new and different path.
Obama all the way.
The best thing that could happen to the GOP is if McCain gets swamped in November's election. If this would happen then maybe the GOP would re-tool and forget about the extemist evangelicals and their platform of the 18th century.
Watching the entire McCain campaign and now the convention it is obvious to anyone who can think for themselves they are in a terrible rut of past practices that just don't apply to or deal with modern societies in the 21st Century.
It's time for the GOP spin masters to quit trying to cloud over the issues with slander and twisted truths and come out with a modern program and policies to benefit America and it's citizens.
The way we were translates in to the way we will be is another 4 more years of Bush. They are making such deal of pailan daughter she is not running for the office. They should make a deal of Mccain committing adultry and wanting somebody with those kind of morals in our white house.
this election is a load of MANURE, not one of these peoples choice is worth the effort to choose. on one stage are the Dems, Obama is sacred can't say anything about him the truth is Barack pushed to have a 3.2 million for Bidens son who is a loobiest, and Biden put on the ticket so bitter white guys and woman will vote for BOBO. and then there is McCain, he loves the wealthy and won't raise their taxes, with the Moose Skinner, that is really a piss poor example of a beauty queen with more ambition than record. LIKE I SAID THIS ELECTION IS A SERIOUS LOAD OF MANURE. PEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUU
Did anyone notice the lack of variety in the GOP convention hall?
I think I saw one black, two hispanics, no asians...and all were a bunch of old people. The Dems convention reflected ALL of America.
Now, if we can get all these Americans to get out and vote, the country will have a chance at fixing our issues before they get worse.
Far left Liberals and Far right Conservatives are both extremes we do not need running our country. They belong on city and county level offices. All state and national offices should be held by moderates. Moderates are the only politicians in this country will enough sense to see both sides of an issue and work out a sensical compromise.
Everyone else is crazy.
Stuck in the past you relics and fossils. Change.
House was Awesome!!! I love re-runs!
-V
Honestly, my root canals were a LOT more exciting than the RNC!!
I mean talk about BORING, FLAT, UN-INSPIRING, OLD, TIRED and LIVING IN THE PAST......CONVENTION.
We saw nothing but OLD WHITE MEN and WOMEN in the crowd cheering on speakers who were boring as hell with their speeches. George Bush's speech was laughable because we ALL know he hates John McCain. Give us a break!
Fred Thompson, his speech was lackluster. Who cares what this OLD has-been ACTOR thinks? Me thinks, he needs to stick to acting.
Joe Lieberman..... GOOD LORD could this "old foggie" come up with anything "ORIGINAL" Can anyone at the RNC? Joe "Lame"berman sounded like an old record from the 1960's that kept repeating the same thing because it was scratch. We're tired of hearing the same "song and dance" from the "Oldies but not-so-goodie" anymore.
Cindy McBarbie Doll – her speech was like watching sand in a "time bottle". VERY slow and painful. She has so much makeup on, I surprise she could even talk! Come on, Cindy, your not "young woman", you need let go of the 50's hairstyles and that caked on makeup. It makes you look like a stiff and scary.
Soon.... we'll be hearing from Rudy Gulliani and Sarah Palin...
Lord helps us...Rudy Gulliani needs to go home to his mistress wife and let sleeping OLD DOGS die peacefully.
NOW.... everyone is talking about Sarah Palin's speech. The RNC is claiming her speech is going to be the highlight of the night. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Her speech is not written by HER. The McCain camp won't even let her out of her hotel room and she's NOT allowed to speak in public unless the McCain camp says so. What does this tell us. Gov. Palin has NO VOICE, she has NO SAY and she definitely has NO authority in the McCain camp. This is exactly what John McCain wants. He wanted a woman he can dominate and control. Isn't that John McCain's MO?
She didn't even WRITE HER OWN SPEECH. Karl Rowe wrote her speech, Bush's attack dog.
I think that just about sums it up folks!