There is no way on God's green Earth that I am going to try to compare my life and it's trials to that of John McCain and the trials and sacrifices that he endured in Vietnam. But I have some small appreciation for what it is like to have to overcome difficulties thrown at you by both life and your own bad decisions and attitudes, including some similar to what John McCain has had to overcome. Last night at the Republican National Convention, a real American hero stepped to the podium to humbly and deservedly accept his Party's nomination to be it's candidate for the office of President of the United States. And in doing so, John McCain spoke as an everyman whose heroism was not always completely altruistic. He said that on the day he was shot down over North Vietnam, and subsequently became a prisoner of war, he prepared in the Gulf of Tonkin for that mission "for my own pleasure; my own pride. I didn’t think there was a cause more important than me." At that point in his life, McCain was a 31-year old who had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy nearly a decade earlier, whose father and grandfather had each achieved the status of four-star Admiral in the Navy, and who had already cemented a reputation as an independent-thinking maverick who admitted that he thought the "civilian commanders were complete idiots who didn't have the least notion of what it took to win the war." McCain's pride extended into his personal life, where he had the reputation in his 20's as a partying man, even after marrying a Philly model named Carol Shepp, adopting her two small children, and having another with her. 1967 would prove a turning point in McCain's life. In late July, he barely survived a disastrous and deadly fire on board the air craft carrier U.S.S. Forrestal in which he was severely injured trying to rescue a fellow pilot. he would recover, and three months later, on October 26th, 1967 he took off for his 23rd bombing mission over Hanoi. This one would not end as successfully as had the previous 22 missions. McCain's plane was shot down, and he parachuted directly into a mob that beat him and took him captive, beginning a 6-year period as a POW served at the notorious 'Hanoi Hilton'. He was close to death a number of times, surviving at times only thanks to the efforts of his fellow captives and the grace of God. When it was discovered that his father was the head of U.S. Naval operations, his North Vietnamese captors offered to release him, but McCain realized that this was only as a propaganda ploy to demoralize his fellow prisoners and gain points with the American media. The United States military had developed among it's members a tradition of 'first-in, first-out' regarding POW's, and McCain was not about to go home ahead of many others who had been held captive longer than himself. It would not be until 1973 that McCain would finally be released, and he returned home a physically beaten and emotionally drained man. But he was now also one who had gained an overwhelming love and respect for his country during his captivity, finally beginning to appreciate the things that his country represented and offered, things that he had taken for granted during his younger days of freedom. On his return home, he was unable to fully integrate back into his family, and embarked on a series of extra-marital affairs that drove he and Carol, who had herself been seriously injured in an auto accident during his captivity, apart from one another. Professionally, McCain fought his way back to full flight status, and eventually became the Navy's liason to the U.S. Senate, which he credits as beginning his life in politics. In 1979 he met his future and current wife, Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher from Arizona, and the two fell in love. McCain then finally sought a formal divorce from Carol, and after a settlement granting same the two remained on good terms, allowing John and Cindy to marry in May of 1980. McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and decided to run for Congress, winning election and becoming what has been described as a 'foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution' of the 1980's, bringing conservative ideals and patriotism back into vogue. In 1986, McCain ran for a Senate seat in his adopted state and his wife's lifelong home of Arizone, winning and going on to serve his state right up until today. During his 2 1/2 decades in politics, John and Cindy McCain had three chidren together and adopted a fourth. During his relationship with Cindy and his post-Navy career, he fully overcame the selfish desires and habits of his youth. He fully healed the relationship with the children of his first marriage as well, to the point where his entire family, including all of his children, is now integrated and close. But in politics, McCain has retained the maverick reputation of his youth. He has frequently battled those in his own party over serious issues, and his record is far more bipartisan than many other conservatives or liberals on either side of the aisle. McCain continued this independent spirit with the selection of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, a woman whose own maverick and independent spirit and political reputation matches McCain's, and who is far more attractive to the Republican Party base as a woman even more conservative than McCain. A military veteran who sacrificed his body for his country. A political servant who battled through two decades in the House and Senate building consensus while remaining largely true to his conservative roots. A man who grew and learned as a human being, overcame personal difficulties sometimes of his own making, and emerged as a staunch family values man. A maverick who bucked his own party at times, and who had the courage to nominate the first woman to the top ticket of the Republican Party. John McCain wrapped up his emotional acceptance speech by saying: "I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me." John McCain was not my first choice back in primary season to lead my Party, but there is no doubt now that I am fully prepared to happily and proudly fight with and for this real American hero. Just as importantly, I am prepared to give him my vote to become the next President of the United States of America.
Showing posts with label Republican National Convention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Republican National Convention. Show all posts
Friday, September 5, 2008
Real American Hero: John McCain
There is no way on God's green Earth that I am going to try to compare my life and it's trials to that of John McCain and the trials and sacrifices that he endured in Vietnam. But I have some small appreciation for what it is like to have to overcome difficulties thrown at you by both life and your own bad decisions and attitudes, including some similar to what John McCain has had to overcome. Last night at the Republican National Convention, a real American hero stepped to the podium to humbly and deservedly accept his Party's nomination to be it's candidate for the office of President of the United States. And in doing so, John McCain spoke as an everyman whose heroism was not always completely altruistic. He said that on the day he was shot down over North Vietnam, and subsequently became a prisoner of war, he prepared in the Gulf of Tonkin for that mission "for my own pleasure; my own pride. I didn’t think there was a cause more important than me." At that point in his life, McCain was a 31-year old who had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy nearly a decade earlier, whose father and grandfather had each achieved the status of four-star Admiral in the Navy, and who had already cemented a reputation as an independent-thinking maverick who admitted that he thought the "civilian commanders were complete idiots who didn't have the least notion of what it took to win the war." McCain's pride extended into his personal life, where he had the reputation in his 20's as a partying man, even after marrying a Philly model named Carol Shepp, adopting her two small children, and having another with her. 1967 would prove a turning point in McCain's life. In late July, he barely survived a disastrous and deadly fire on board the air craft carrier U.S.S. Forrestal in which he was severely injured trying to rescue a fellow pilot. he would recover, and three months later, on October 26th, 1967 he took off for his 23rd bombing mission over Hanoi. This one would not end as successfully as had the previous 22 missions. McCain's plane was shot down, and he parachuted directly into a mob that beat him and took him captive, beginning a 6-year period as a POW served at the notorious 'Hanoi Hilton'. He was close to death a number of times, surviving at times only thanks to the efforts of his fellow captives and the grace of God. When it was discovered that his father was the head of U.S. Naval operations, his North Vietnamese captors offered to release him, but McCain realized that this was only as a propaganda ploy to demoralize his fellow prisoners and gain points with the American media. The United States military had developed among it's members a tradition of 'first-in, first-out' regarding POW's, and McCain was not about to go home ahead of many others who had been held captive longer than himself. It would not be until 1973 that McCain would finally be released, and he returned home a physically beaten and emotionally drained man. But he was now also one who had gained an overwhelming love and respect for his country during his captivity, finally beginning to appreciate the things that his country represented and offered, things that he had taken for granted during his younger days of freedom. On his return home, he was unable to fully integrate back into his family, and embarked on a series of extra-marital affairs that drove he and Carol, who had herself been seriously injured in an auto accident during his captivity, apart from one another. Professionally, McCain fought his way back to full flight status, and eventually became the Navy's liason to the U.S. Senate, which he credits as beginning his life in politics. In 1979 he met his future and current wife, Cindy Lou Hensley, a teacher from Arizona, and the two fell in love. McCain then finally sought a formal divorce from Carol, and after a settlement granting same the two remained on good terms, allowing John and Cindy to marry in May of 1980. McCain retired from the Navy in 1981 and decided to run for Congress, winning election and becoming what has been described as a 'foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution' of the 1980's, bringing conservative ideals and patriotism back into vogue. In 1986, McCain ran for a Senate seat in his adopted state and his wife's lifelong home of Arizone, winning and going on to serve his state right up until today. During his 2 1/2 decades in politics, John and Cindy McCain had three chidren together and adopted a fourth. During his relationship with Cindy and his post-Navy career, he fully overcame the selfish desires and habits of his youth. He fully healed the relationship with the children of his first marriage as well, to the point where his entire family, including all of his children, is now integrated and close. But in politics, McCain has retained the maverick reputation of his youth. He has frequently battled those in his own party over serious issues, and his record is far more bipartisan than many other conservatives or liberals on either side of the aisle. McCain continued this independent spirit with the selection of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, a woman whose own maverick and independent spirit and political reputation matches McCain's, and who is far more attractive to the Republican Party base as a woman even more conservative than McCain. A military veteran who sacrificed his body for his country. A political servant who battled through two decades in the House and Senate building consensus while remaining largely true to his conservative roots. A man who grew and learned as a human being, overcame personal difficulties sometimes of his own making, and emerged as a staunch family values man. A maverick who bucked his own party at times, and who had the courage to nominate the first woman to the top ticket of the Republican Party. John McCain wrapped up his emotional acceptance speech by saying: "I’m going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I’m going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I’m an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me." John McCain was not my first choice back in primary season to lead my Party, but there is no doubt now that I am fully prepared to happily and proudly fight with and for this real American hero. Just as importantly, I am prepared to give him my vote to become the next President of the United States of America.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Grannie Hits a Granny
Soon-to-be grandmom Sarah Palin stepped to the podium last night at the Republican National Convention as Presidential nominee John McCain's prospective running mate. There was much on the line as the brunette beauty waved off a lengthy standing ovation that very much had the feel of a group protecting a member of it's own family. The chills were palpable as the crowd's applause and cheers continued on and on, and the strength and length of the crowd reaction to her appearance was obviously as much in support of the candidate having come under vicious, personal, liberal media attacks since being announced as for her actual candidacy. It is fairly obvious that the vast majority of the conservative wing of the Party is ecstatic about the pick of Sarah Palin as the Veep nominee due to her character and her positions on the key issues. It is just as obvious that the attacks on her and her family have touched that 'don't talk bout my _____ like that' nerve (fill in the blank with 'mother', 'sister', 'daughter', 'girlfriend', 'wife'...whichever most applies to you) with many, including yours truly. But then Palin began to speak, and proved over the course of the next 36 1/2 minutes that she is plenty tough enough to stand up for herself, to stand in the box and face the hardball's thrown at her from the other side and, as local radio talk show host Michael Smerconish said afterwards "hit a grand slam". The grannie hit a granny, and a new Republican political superstar was born. She began by accepting the nomination and acknowledging the tough campaign to come: "I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election... against confident opponents ... at a crucial hour for our country." Her eldest son, Track Palin, will deploy to Iraq on September 11th of all dates, and she related to all the troops and their families: "I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way." She answered the critics of her family life being too much to handle, what with being a new mom of a special-needs child and with her 17-year old daughter Bristol Palin being 5-months pregnant: "From the inside, no family ever seems typical. That's how it is with us. Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys. Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge." She beamed over her husband Todd: "We met in high school, and two decades and five children later he's still my guy." Her parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, were in attendance and she praised them for teaching her "..one simple lesson: that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity." If she didn't win over the Dems' former Hillary Clinton supporting women with that statement, then they don't have the courage of their convictions. She answered the critics who say that she was just the Mayor of some small town: "I grew up with those people. They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America ... who grow our food, run our factories, and fight our wars. They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America. I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town." Did you notice the subtle slap at Michelle Obama there, who claimed that she was only now proud of her country for the first time in her adult lifetime. Sarah's people are "always proud of America." What a tremendous contrast. She laughed off talk that she was just some 'soccer mom' or 'hockey mom' with a joke: "What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick." Then Palin took the liberal media deep: "Now, here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this great country." She spoke of today's political partisanship: "No one expects us to agree on everything. But we are expected to govern with integrity, good will, clear convictions, and a servant's heart. I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States." She talked of how she took on the establishment in Alaska, winning the Governor's office, and then set about making reforms such as selling the Governor's private jet on EBay and getting rid of the office's personal chef. She cut taxes, reduced spending, and left her state with a budget surplus. She showed a grasp of foreign affairs and important issues such as energy and terrorism by relating to Mexico, Russia, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, al Qaeda, and Iraq among others. She was tough politically, taking a swipe at her opponents while pointing out the heroism of her running mate: "...though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely. There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain." And then she took one final comparative swing at Obama: "For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words. For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds." During this granny's grand-slam speech, she stated that the reason pols should go to Washington is "to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good, and to leave this nation better than we found it." After last night, no one doubts that John McCain and Sarah Palin intend to do just that beginning in January of 2009.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Dem Ticket Palin by Comparison
The 2008 U.S. Presidential election just keeps on getting more and more interesting with every passing day. Of course this pace cannot continue, and now that both parties have set their full tickets things will settle down a bit to the serious campaigning, particularly once next week's Republican National Convention passes. But what presumptive Republican nominee John McCain did today was toss a serious curve ball to the Democrats and their nominee Barrack Obama. For months, the McCain camp has pointed at a lack of experience on Obama's part as a serious shortcoming. And for their part, the Obama folks have called McCain nothing more than the same old tired Washington politics, and a continuation of Bush policies. So when given the chance to name Vice-Presidential running mates, who did each candidate choose? Obama chose the ultimate Washington insider, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, a man whose middle name is 'same old politics'. Then today McCain names as his running mate the Governor of Alaska, Sara Palin, whose national political experience is almost as short as Obama's. So the Dems have a man at the head of their ticket who is a 3-year Senator with no governing experience, where 2 of those years have been spent running for President, and a man at the back end of their ticket who is as 'more of the same old Washington politics' as any person around. Meanwhile the Republicans have at the top of their ticket a seasoned political veteran and universally acknowledged American hero, and at the back end of the ticket a woman, the first woman to ever be nominated on the top Republican ticket. Once the shock of not having someone like Tom Ridge, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, or even Joe Lieberman as the Veep choice wears off, the conservative base of the Republican party should find much to love about Sara Palin. First off, she is pro-life, which should be a litmus test for any Republican. Second, she is a lifetime member of the NRA, an outdoors woman with a passion for intelligent, informed environmentalism and the 2nd amendment. Her state's proximity to Russia and it's abundance in prospective oil make her experiences with those issues stronger than most. She has governed, albeit for just the past two years in Alaska. But that is two more years than the man at the top of the Dems ticket has ever governed in his life. In her personal life, she was born in Idaho and raised in Alaska. She is the 20-year wife of her high school boyfriend. And she is a 5-time mom, having just given birth in April to her 2nd son, a Downs Syndrome child. She is a woman, a wife, a mother, a Governor. She is an attractive, articulate, intelligent Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican Party, which makes this ticket every bit as historic as the Dems ticket. Uh, yes, I did say she was attractive. That is not a slight or a sin to notice. The woman was the runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant a couple decades back, and still looks great today. So sue me for noticing. In November, the United States will either elect it's first African-American to one of the top two offices, or the first woman. Experienced war hero backed by governing, conservative woman on the Republican side, or inexperienced liberal backed by old-time Washington politico on the Democrat side. The choice is now clear, and when held up against the light of the Republican ticket, the Dems choice is palin' by comparison.
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