Wow. Just ... wow. What a ... amazing, jaw dropping, awe-inspiring, just ... wow. Wow, wow, wow.
And no, I'm not talking about my incredible, unbelievable, "somebody done effed up" brain fart on the final question of trivia last night that cost us not just the victory, but placing in the competition.
(Although thankfully, we were still invited for the championship round next week afterwards).
No, I'm talking about the woman seeking to be the next Vice President of the United States.
Sarah Palin.
Just ... wow.
Let's hit the highlights first. Then my simple three word reaction.
Huge, and I mean, hu-yuge, ovation as she walks out. We're at 3 minutes and counting. Just ... nobody at the DNC generated this kind of support, save for Uncle Teddy. And the applause, the love, for Senator Kennedy was more a goodbye, not a hello.
"Mr. Chairman, delegates, my fellow citizens, I will be honored to accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States". Another historic high in a year filled with them.
"They overlooked the caliber of the man himself, the determination, the resolve, the sheer guts of John McCain".
"There's a time for politics, and a time for leadership. A time to campaign, and a time to put our country first". Solid line.
Stressing McCain's unwavering support for the war in Iraq. "As the mother of one of those troops, that is exactly the kind of man I want as commander in chief!"
USA! chants flying. This place is absolutely ready to explode. As is the main room in a comfortable house in south KC.
There was nowhere near this much geniune excitement on the DNC floor. Probably because half the delegates there knew we nominated an unelectable moron, and the other half are in denial ...
"From the outside, no family seems typical, and that's how it is with us."
"Sometimes the greatest challenges bring the biggest joys". Awesome.
"To the families of special needs ... (cut off by long, loud applause) ... to the families of special needs children all across this country, I have a special message for you. I pledge to you, if we're elected, you will have not just a friend, but an advocate in the White House!" (huge applause) As (probably) the only Democrat alive that is anti-abortion, well stated.
"2 decades and 5 children later, he's still my guy!" Man, I hope someday to meet someone I can say that about. Well, not quite, I'd say "she's still my girl!" but you get the point.
"This is America! Every woman can walk through every door of opportunity!" Great line.
Comparing herself to Truman. That's a stretch, to put it mildly.
On "small town folk" -- "They love their country in good times and bad, and they're ALWAYS proud of America!" Take that, Michelle.
"hockey mom". I love that phrase for some reason.
She is having a blast up there, you can see it shining through. She's relaxed, she's confident, she's having fun.
"You know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick!" She is effing en fuego right now.
"And since our opponents in this election seem to look down on that experience (mayor of a small town), let me explain to them what that job involves" Huge applause. She's taking it right to Barry. Awesome.
"I guess a small town mayor is sort of like a community organizer ... except that you have actual responsibilites!" Awesome. She's kicking him in the nuts and bashing him with a tire iron at this point.
The crowd is going ape sh*t. They might blow the roof off this joint. This is ... this is beyond inspiring. This is arguably the best speech I have ever sat and listened to. Just incredible.
"I might add, in a small town, we don't quite know what to make of a candidaten who lavishes praise on us when we're listening, and then talks about how bitterly we cling to our religion and guns when we aren't listening". Another awesome line. More tremendous applause.
"We prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco". Bingo.
She's going after the media now. The floor is eating this up.
Hilarious camera pan to CBS News. Bob Schieffer is even having fun with this.
"Here's a little news flash for those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek your great opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this great country!" HUGE ovation. We might need some roofers to examine the Xcel Center in the morning. Awesome stuff.
"No one expects us all to agree on everything, but we are expected to govern with integrity". Great line.
"I got rid of a few things in the governor's office I didn't think the citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet? Was over the top. (pause) I put it on eBay!" HUGE ovation. This is just awesome. I seriously, I have never watched a speech this dynamic from someone on the other side of the political aisle. She is just kicking ass and taking names tonight.
"I came to office to control spending by request if possible, but by veto if necessary". Great line.
"I told the Congress thanks, but no thanks, on that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wants to build a bridge, we'll build it ourselves!" Another great line.
Going off about how she took on Big Oil. Solid.
"We cannot leave ourselves at the mercy of foreign suppliers". Amen, Governor. Amen.
"Take it from a gal who knows the north slope of Alaska -- we've got lots of both (oil and gas)" Huge applause line.
Chick being escorted up the aisle by security.
"Our opponents say over and over again that drilling won't solve all our problems. As if we didn't know that already". Great line.
"We need American energy brought to you by American ingenuity produced for you by American workers!" Great line.
"There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, its easy to forget this is a man who has authored two memours but hasn't authored a single piece of legislation in the Senate!" Awesome line.
"This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word victory! (applause) Except when he's talking about his own campaign!" Another huge ovation from the floor. They're eating this up.
(As am I).
"When the cloud of rhetoric has passed, when the roar of applause has died down, when the stadium lights are turned out ... and when those styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot ..." and the floor explodes! Great line!
"What exactly does he (Obama) seek to accomplish? After he's done turning back the rising waters and healing the planet." Another great line. She is just nailing this.
She is just tearing him apart on foreign policy.
"Al quada terrorists are seeking to inflict harm on Americans everywhere ... and he's worried someone won't read them their rights". Ouch. She's just nailing this out of the park right now.
Going off about all the taxes Obama has proposed to raise.
"How are they going to be better off if their taxes go up? How are you going to be better off if our opponent adds a massive tax burden to the economy?" Great lines.
"In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then, there are some, who use their careers to promote change" The floor is coming unhinged. As am I. This speech is beyond incredible.
"Those candidates are the ones whose names appear on legislation and landmarks, not on buttons or signs ... or self designed Presidential seals". Awesome blast. The floor booing Obama heavily.
"There are those who give great speeches and talk about great things ... and then there are those like John McCain who actually do great things".
"He's a leader who isn't looking for a fight, but isn't afraid of one either".
"Harry Reid, the leader of the current do-nothing Senate (floor boos loudly), he said "I can't stand John McCain". Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no accolade we will hear this week is better proof that we've chosen the right man!" Awesome line. 20 seconds of uninterrupted applause.
"Clearly what the Majority Leader was driving at is that he can't stand up to John McCain".
"The American Presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery".
"This world of threats and dangers, its not just a community, and it doesn't need an organizer".
"There's only one man in this election who has really ever fought for you". HUGE applause. (and true).
"There's only one man who has fought for you where winning means survival, and defeat means death, and that man is John McCain". (steve nodding his head in agreement).
"He would bring the compassion of one that once was powerless ... the special confidence of those that have seen evil, and have seen how evil is overcome." Another great line.
Great, great, great, great story about McCain's POW experience. "Raising the thumb". Jesus, I've got tears in my eyes. Seriously. This is just incredible.
"For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words. For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds".
"If character is the measure in this election, hope the theme, and change the goal we share, then I ask you to join our cause, and help America elect a great man as the next President of the United States! Thank you, and God Bless America!"
And the floor comes unhinged.
We're at 4 minutes of uninterrupted applause and counting.
And here's ... Johnny!
And that's it.
So ... my reaction?
Three simple words.
"Second f*cking base".
The World Series game in 1977 where Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three pitches. When asked afterwards where his third shot, just a rocket off the bat, landed, that was his response. "Second f*cking base". He'd hit it so hard, so far, so out of the park, that when it finally landed, it bounced back with such force that it landed back on the infield.
Last night, Sarah Palin's speech landed at "second f*cking base".
I can't even begin to explain in words how incredible this was. I mean, this was beyond a grand slam. This was beyond inspiring, uplifting, on target. This was ...
Second f*cking base.
Governor, job well done.
(I guess my mind has been officially made up ...)
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