Palin Rocks, McCain Rolls, Barack who?

How about the old guy

McCain's character and love for America shine

After watching Sarah Palin capture the hearts of Americans and energized the Republican base, John McCain was confident he made the right choice for a running mate. While the nation was still a buzz over "Saracuda", McCain still had to deliver his speech knowing full well that a less than adequate performance could kill the momentum change favoring the GOP.

If I had to use one word to describe McCain's speech that word would be "pride." Pride in America, pride in the military, pride in his fellow captives in Vietnam, pride in his family and pride in who he is. What he didn't show pride in was what had become of the Republican Party.

When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told the Democratic convention that she was proud of the accomplishments made by the Democratic controlled congress, I couldn't help but yell back at the television, "what accomplishments?" There is no way that Pelosi is happy with congress and with a 9% approval rating either is America. However she doesn't have the integrity to admit failures, while John McCain could care less who he alienates in his own Party as he tells them they have failed the people who put them in office.

That level of honesty displayed by McCain is exactly what this country needs. Put policy aside for the moment and ask yourself when the last time you believed the President of the United States was being completely truthful? I thought so.

Don't get me wrong, your brilliant blogger believes President Bush is a man of strong character. However, I also believe he has trouble admitting when he is wrong or has made errors in judgement.

Most people don't believe President Bush and for certain President Bill Clinton were always honest with the American people. Even those who disagree with McCain on policy believe he is a man of his word.

As far as policy goes, your brilliant blogger loved the speech. What excited me the most? School Choice. McCain didn't just mention the idea in passing, he went into detail and did so in a manner that everyone can understand. Not once did he tone down his rhetoric as he attacked the teachers unions, who own the Democratic Party as well as special interests groups as a whole.

McCain addressed the need to control spending and to stop the growth of government. While this talk is the GOP standard since before Ronald Reagan, he didn't hide from the fact that his own Party has failed to live up to these fundamental principles. Paulies Point readers have heard me complain about the limited government failures of the Republican Party for years, it was nice to hear a prominent Republican confess to their mistakes.

While many in the media as well as the Democratic Party complain about McCain talking about his POW past, those people need to simply shut up. For what he went through in that Hell Hole, he earned the right to talk about it as much a he wants and everyone else needs to show their gratitude and listen.

After McCain's speech, America got a clear view inside the man's soul. To this day nobody knows what Barack Obama is about, except for punishing success and turning the United States into a European style Socialist nation. McCain made his speech a personal conversation with the country he loves and the people listened.

Palin and Israel

Paulie trying to answer the question

From the moment John McCain introduced Sarah Palin as his running mate, I was bombarded with questions about her positions regarding Israel. The only answer I had at first was one of trust. John McCain is a great friend of the Jewish people and he would certainly not choose a Vice President who would not be the same. However as great of a friend McCain may be to the State of Israel, there are so many important issues to consider and he of course wants to win the election. Selecting a VP is beyond one or two issues.

Still, I was very confident in the Arizona senator's judgement and even though the information is limited, Palin appears to be a very good friend of the Jewish people.

While there may be synagogues in New York and Chicago with membership lists larger than the entire Jewish population of Alaska, that may be all the more reason why her relationship with the states Jewish population may be so impressive.

"She's established a great relationship with the Jewish community over recent years, and has attended several of our Jewish cultural gala events," said Rabbi Yossi Greenberg of the Chabad emissary in Alaska.

As reported in the Jerusalem Connection: Palin has shown solidarity with Israel by signing a State of Alaska Resolution recognizing Israel's 60Th Anniversary and its relationship with Alaska. In the resolution, Governor Palin pointed to Alaska's special connection to Israel dating back to Alaska Airlines' participation in the rescue of 40,000 Yemenite Jews when it airlifted them from Yemen to Tel Aviv during 1948 and 1949. Drafted by members of the Alaska Legislation and heavily supported by Speaker of the House, Representative John Harris, Governor Palin signed the resolution in the presence of Alaska's Jewish community leaders this June.

Earlier this week Palin with Sen. Joe Lieberman at her side she met with AIPAC. "We had a good productive discussion on the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship, we were pleased that Gov. Palin expressed her deep, personal, and lifelong commitment to the safety and well-being of Israel," he said. "Like Sen. McCain, the vice presidential nominee understands and believes in the special friendship between the two democracies and would work to expand and deepen the strategic partnership in a McCain/Palin Administration," said AIPAC spokesman Josh Block.

While there is still much to learn about Palin on many fronts, I have no doubt that she will be a strong advocate for the Jewish State. Besides how can you doubt the sincerity of a governor who displays a small Israeli flag in her office? Palin does (7 min into video).

Madam Governor, Mazel Tov on your nomination.

Paulie