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GOP ticket debuts in Wisconsin
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Also by Carl Jaeger:
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CEDARBURG — Twelve hours after officially accepting the nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his vice presidential pick Sarah Palin made their first post-convention stop Friday in Cedarburg.
With wife Cindy on hand, the trio rolled up in McCain’s campaign bus dubbed the “Straight Talk Express,” telling the crowd of over 17,000 that political corruption in Washington, D.C. is “going to stop.”
“I fought corruption, and it didn’t matter if they were Democrats or Republicans,” McCain said. “We have former members of Congress residing in federal prison because of the system — earmarking and pork barrel spending has corrupted what used to be good people.”
The first earmark pork barrel bill that comes to McCain’s desk when he is president will be vetoed, he said, adding the information will be made public.
McCain also stressed the importance of becoming an energy independent nation.
“Friends, we’ll build more nuclear power plants. We’ll develop clean coal technology. We’ll increase the use of wind, tide, coal and natural gas,” McCain said. “We’ll make everything happen — it’s all of the above, my friends.”
He added the U.S. must produce more energy at home, saying “we will drill offshore and we will drill now.”
“We’re going to stop spending $700 million a year to countries that don’t like us very much,” McCain said. “Because if some of that money ends up in the hands of terrorists organizations, this is a national security issue — it’s an economic issue.”
McCain also called for some “straight talk,” as the nation is going through some “tough times.”
“You’re worried about keeping your jobs, finding a new one, struggling to put food on the table, saving your home,” McCain said. “All you ever ask a government is to stand on your side and not in your way, and that’s what I intend to do.”
McCain was introduced by Palin, calling her “the most marvelous running mate in the history of this nation.”
Palin said she empathized with the needs of people in small towns like Cedarburg, calling them people with honesty, sincerity and dignity.
“They grow our food and they run our factories and they fight our wars and they love their country in good times and in bad, and they are always proud to be an American,” Palin said, resulting in cheers of “U.S.A.” from the crowd.
McCain’s good judgment makes him the best candidate, Palin said, including his consistent stance on the Iraq war, in which troops “have now brought victory within sight.”
“This is a man who has always been there to serve his country and not just his party — a leader who’s not looking for a fight, but he certainly isn’t afraid of one,” Palin said.
Palin said McCain “had the vision and the will to see the surge through to victory” and criticized McCain’s opponent, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for saying in an interview with Fox News only one day prior that the troop surge in Iraq succeeded.
“In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers and there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change,” Palin said.
University of Wisconsin College Republicans Chair Sara Mikolajczak, who attended the event Friday, said McCain and Palin successfully spread their message to Republicans and moderates alike.
“I though that they both did a phenomenal job and that they really did try to hit home not only with the conservative base, but also to sway the moderates,” Mikolajczak said.
She added she has been “praying since the spring” that Palin would be picked as McCain’s running mate.
UW College Democrats chair Claire Rydell said it was no surprise McCain and Palin stopped in Wisconsin after the convention and said McCain’s pick of Palin was a “poor decision.”
“She is in no way qualified to be the vice president and definitely not president,” Rydell said.
Obama’s running mate, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., is making his first stop in Wisconsin as the vice presidential nominee today in Green Bay.
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I think it’s nice when someone takes grandpa out for ice cream.
“praying since the spring”
I’m sorry, but I can’t help think that that’s a lie. I wager Mikolajczak had never even really heard of her until a week or so before the VP pick. Seriously, you thought about the governor of Alaska and said, “ooh! I hope she’s going to be VP!”
HAHAHA looks like Palin was reading verbatim what she read at the RNC. Written by Bush’s speech writer. Can’t come up with anything new? Even new wording?
A couple points about Palin: -she is anti-choice even in the event of rape or incest. How would she feel if a 12 year old girl was in this position? That the little girl would have to carry a baby to full term? -she tried to ban library books as Mayor -she wants to teach only creationism in schools -her husband is part of the Alakan Independence Party, a party that wants to succeed from the United States -she believes that the Iraq war is “God’s task” -she opposed sex-ed education in schools, which obviously didn’t work out for her family
Pretty scary stuff people. Become informed please.
Is is possible to be anti-choice and pro-war? Who is going to ask Palin that question?!?!?!
“She is in no way qualified to be the vice president and definitely not president,” Rydell said.
Funny, you could make the exact same argument about Barack “the Annointed One” Obama…but, hey, at least he brings “change” to the table, right?
“She is in no way qualified to be the vice president and definitely not president,” Rydell said.
Funny how you can make the exact same argument about Jr. Senator Barack “The Annointed One” Obama.
I know, I know, the typical Lib response will include something about “change, change, change” and Bush is the devil. Good luck voting for nothing more than a tired out bumper sticker slogan…again.
I think it’s hilarious that Republicans used to puke in their mouths while thinking about McCain, but seemingly overnight the bottom of his ticket has the Right and Left all in a tizzy.
Regarding the overturning of Roe v. Wade: if this is overturned on federalist principles, then individual “states’ rights” must be respected over the law of the United States government. This means the California can legalize drugs and Massachusetts can have gay marriage (and you cannot complain).
Do you really think that national Republicans or Democrats will relinquish the power they’ve enjoyed for over 30 years?
“She is in no way qualified to be the vice president and definitely not president,” Rydell said.
Clarie - why do you make so many bold statements without backing them up? Democrats are all about these types of statements, yet fail to back them up. Sarah Palin stands up on stage and defends her views. Would you do the same? Didn’t think so.
Um … 12:37 … I assume you’re of college age? It’s SECEDE from the United States … not succeed. (What in the world do YOU think that means?)
love Palin’s jacket. grossssss
If you’re going to make point about Palin, make sure they’re accurate. She didn’t try to any books. Some of the books that she supposedly was trying to ban weren’t even published when they said the incident occured.