# The RNC Sarah Palin Speech Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 4, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931 "2008-09-04T02:23:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/121 "2008-09-04T14:49:01Z")
I thought that she did a relatively good job of delivering the speech. She came across to me sounding self-confident and agressive, which I think were the right qualities for the situation. But. Her speech just left me feeling sad and pessimistic. Not because I think she provided the GOP with a big boost, but because her worldview is just so very different from mine. It was a very depressing reminder about how divided the country really is. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/122 "2008-09-04T14:52:10Z")
I feel that minor children should neither be seen nor heard (not just Palin’s, but any other politicians or celebrities) and thought it was pretty dispicable (or at least tasteless) for her to introduce (pimp out?) her youngest children (obligatory camera pan) and then for her husband to have the baby “wave” to the crowd. I think it’s weird (borderline irresponsible) for minor children to be exploited in this way. Maybe exploited is too harsh a word, but, all I know is that if I were a celebrity of any kind, I would be way leery of letting the whole world know what my kids looked like! ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/123 "2008-09-04T14:54:39Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > Interestingly, [her telemprompter went out](http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/sep/04/breaking-sarah-palin-winged-her-speech-bec/) and she had to wing it. Yes, she knew the speech from memory, but she went off speech and still nailed it. > > Compare to when [Obama loses his teleprompter.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDJSVPAx8xc&feature=related) > > Empty suit. Huh? Obama writes his own speeches. Palin delivered a speech that was written for her. Bully for her for memorizing other people’s words. Is that the standard we want? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/124 "2008-09-04T15:04:31Z")
I haven’t watched her speech, and I didn’t see Biden’s either. A lot of people are comparing Palin’s speech to Obama, but how does it compare to Biden’s? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/125 "2008-09-04T15:15:32Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > Interestingly, [her telemprompter went out](http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/sep/04/breaking-sarah-palin-winged-her-speech-bec/) and she had to wing it. Yes, she knew the speech from memory, but she went off speech and still nailed it. > > Compare to when [Obama loses his teleprompter.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDJSVPAx8xc&feature=related) > > Empty suit. The link to your right wing hate site doesn’t work. Not that it would be a credible source anyway. Obama has given speeches with any teleprompters or notes at all. It’s a GOP myth that he can’t do it. Seriously, trying to compare this creationist nitwit to Barack Obama in terms of substance is an exercise in desperate futility. Empty suits don’t graduate Magna from Harvard Law School or run the Harvard Law Review. Oh, and Obama actually wrote his own convention speech and wrote both of his own books. McCain can’t write his own drycleaning list. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/126 "2008-09-04T15:16:24Z")
> [@ArizonaTeach](#): > > Interestingly, [her telemprompter went out](http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/sep/04/breaking-sarah-palin-winged-her-speech-bec/) and she had to wing it. Yes, she knew the speech from memory, but she went off speech and still nailed it. > > Compare to when [Obama loses his teleprompter.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDJSVPAx8xc&feature=related) > > Empty suit. Huh? Your link is not working for me so I cannot read the report. That said I watched the CBS broadcast (not sure if there were one set of cameras and all stations played that or if there were differing cameras/coverage between stations). Anyway, I specifically noted (because I thought it was kinda cool as I never see those things in operation) Palin’s teleprompter numerous times during her speech. One camera had and angle that quite clearly showed the text on the prompter. Never saw it broken at any time. There was always text on it. Maybe it cut out in there temporarily but on the whole all seemed in order (not to mention there is more than one prompter on the stage). ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/127 "2008-09-04T15:19:11Z")
I watched her speech and it really sunk in how much the Republican party has become the “War, Oil, Bible” Party. I am flying to the US on Nov 4 and was intending to stay and buy a home there (it’s my country after all). If the Republicans win, I’ll be leaving after the holidays for 4 more years abroad. They will do nothing to help me get health care and will continue down the same road we’ve been on for the past 8 years. Watch out Iran. Obama has two votes coming his way as my wife and I are both behind him. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/128 "2008-09-04T15:22:02Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I haven’t watched her speech, and I didn’t see Biden’s either. A lot of people are comparing Palin’s speech to Obama, but how does it compare to Biden’s? Both were red meat speeches, but Palin’s was meaner in tone. I think they did about the same in terms of firing up their bases, but Palin was put on the ticket to try to attract Hillary voters and she made no attempt to do so. Both speeches were aimed right at their respective bases, and that was fine for Biden, but not for Palin. From the responses I’ve heard and read (including my wife and my mom who were Hillary supporters) she’s very off putting to non-conservative women even if the evangelicals love her. I think she’s Hillary in reverse. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/129 "2008-09-04T15:22:22Z")
The problem with the repubs the last 8 years. Unemployment, an unpopular war, home foreclosures, bank failures, inflation, a huge national debt. ,manufacturing base and jobs being offshored. Yep. I liked how she dug into the issues and defended the repub mismanagement the last 8 years. Of course she didn’t. It was a speech to galvanize the base. She struck all the we are godly and they are just after your tax money talking points. It was a total waste to anyone who is not a firebreathing ,god loving conservative. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/130 "2008-09-04T15:23:47Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > I am flying to the US on Nov 4 and was intending to stay and buy a home there (it’s my country after all). If the Republicans win, I’ll be leaving after the holidays for 4 more years abroad. They will do nothing to help me get health care and will continue down the same road we’ve been on for the past 8 years. Watch out Iran. Okay, bye. We’re devastated and whatnot. Mostly whatnot. Why wouldn’t you get your own damn health care, by the way? Are you a child, or a mental incompetent? Just wondering. Most adults can care for themselves, it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/131 "2008-09-04T15:25:51Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > I watched her speech and it really sunk in how much the Republican party has become the “War, Oil, Bible” Party. I am flying to the US on Nov 4 and was intending to stay and buy a home there (it’s my country after all). If the Republicans win, I’ll be leaving after the holidays for 4 more years abroad. They will do nothing to help me get health care and will continue down the same road we’ve been on for the past 8 years. Watch out Iran. > > Obama has two votes coming his way as my wife and I are both behind him. I don’t know how I’m going to get over the fact that you might not move to the US if the Republicans win. We’ll send you a postcard to let you know how we’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/132 "2008-09-04T15:27:08Z")
Obama has speechwriters, in fact, the chief one is named Jon Favreau (not the actor/director, another guy). Where did this idea get out that people running for president don’t have speechwriters? Do we know for a fact that Obama penned his convention speech all by himself? I’ve not heard that claim, and I would be very surprised if he did. Good speechwriting is assisted by professionals that do it for a living. JFK had Ted Sorenson. I for one don’t think having a speechwriter is a bad thing. As **magellan01** mentioned upthread, comparing Palin to Obama isn’t helpful to our guy. Comparing her to Biden is what should be happening. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/133 "2008-09-04T15:27:22Z")
“Long ago, a young farmer and habber-dasher from Missouri followed an unlikely path to the vice presidency.” "in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines … build more new-clear plants … " Habber-dasher and new-clear. I love it. ([Link to text](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/51691.html).) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/134 "2008-09-04T15:27:53Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > Okay, bye. We’re devastated and whatnot. Mostly whatnot. > > Why wouldn’t you get your own damn health care, by the way? Are you a child, or a mental incompetent? Just wondering. Most adults can care for themselves, it turns out. Actually, if you do some research, it turns out that most can’t afford it without assistance. And I’m talking about people who work full time. Thanks for playing, though. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/135 "2008-09-04T15:28:48Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > “Long ago, a young farmer and habber-dasher from Missouri followed an unlikely path to the vice presidency.” > > "in a McCain-Palin administration, we’re going to lay more pipelines … build more new-clear plants … " > > Habber-dasher and new-clear. I love it. ([Link to text](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/51691.html).) I did not see the speech so I don’t know exactly what she said – but aren’t both of those basically correct? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/136 "2008-09-04T15:30:35Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > I did not see the speech so I don’t know exactly what she said – but aren’t both of those basically correct? He’s making fun of her pronunciations. She’s got a retarded accent. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/137 "2008-09-04T15:31:32Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > How do minorities defend their failure to vote Republican and volunteer as Republican delegates and fund their own travel to Minneapolis? > > Think it through. Or do you really live in a fantasy world where tons of minorities want to be Republican delegates but are denied for bad racist reasons? Good grief… Minority delegates volunteered and made their way to the Democratic convention just fine. Lots of them. No one is saying the Reps hired the KKK as door guards. The point is the Reps are so thoroughly pandering to white, wealthy, old folks that no minorities of any stripe want to be a part of them. Like it or not this is a diverse country and our government should be responsive to all its people. Not just white people. The Reps are clearly becoming a disturbingly homogeneous group in a melting pot country. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/138 "2008-09-04T15:31:35Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > I did not see the speech so I don’t know exactly what she said – but aren’t both of those basically correct? If it’s the actual text of the speech, the words are sometimes spelled out phonetically so you don’t stumble over pronunciation. I do this when I deliver a speech. Her script wasn’t intended to be distributed, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/139 "2008-09-04T15:31:37Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Actually, if you do some research, it turns out that most can’t afford it. And I’m talking about people who work full time. Thanks for playing, though. And here I thought people **weren’t** dying in the streets for want of health care, and that the national life expectancy **was** at or near an an all time high, and that people had muddled through for 10,000 years of creation **without** socialized medicine. Your cite for “most” people not being able to provide for their own health care (and let’s provide a definition of “health care” while we are at it – do we speak of smallpox avoidance (done), famine avoidance (done), measles avoidance (done), or government-sponsored breast enhancement (admittedly not done)) is no doubt on the way. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931/140 "2008-09-04T15:33:32Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Actually, if you do some research, it turns out that most can’t afford it without assistance. And I’m talking about people who work full time. Thanks for playing, though. Can you define “it”, and can you give us a cite to back up your claim? I’m just thinking that most people don’t get assistance (from the government) and most people do have health insurance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rnc-sarah-palin-speech-thread/461931.md?page=8)