quick overview

First and foremost, it's almost 7 AM on the day the McCain plans to unveil his VP pick, and that I know of, the news hasn't made it to the nets yet. THAT is a disciplined campaign, and I only hope it's a sign of things to come in the next two months.

From last night, some gems to focus on:

-- I can only hope that the Obama camp vetted those "everyday Joes and Josephina's" that the trotted up on stage as well as they vetted. . .say, Joe Biden. It would be crushing to show any of them to have made some foolish associations with liberal groups that helped put them in their dire straits, no?

-- From Obama's speech: "Washington has been talking about our oil addiction for the last 30 years. And by the way, John McCain has been there for 26 of them" Somehow he neglected to mention that Joe Biden has been in the Senate for the same period of time. And how mindful of Obama to illustrate which party was in control of the Congress at the time that we instituted the energy policies that are proving so wanting now.

-- "I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability" from his army of newly recruited teachers. If only that could pass. . .

-- his entire attack on McCain's stance with the Iraq war was. . .wrong. Every single word of it. "I stood up and opposed this (the Iraq) war"--and you did that in what national forum? "We need a president who can face the threats of the future, not keep grasping at the ideas of the past." And what about the surge? That was an adaptation to the environment of the war on the ground, led by none other than potential CinC McCain. The surge was ANYTHING but an idea of the past. Obama, of course, just wanted to get out--which, if anything, was a grasp at an idea of the past.

-- "You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances." You know, the old alliances that had nothing to do with Georgia because they didn't even exist. Truly, did Georgia happen because a couple years ago our ties with the French became strained? If anything, the events in Georgia prove the need to toss out the old way of doing business--NATO--because our partners aren't up to the task anymore. He kinda gets around to this in a few seconds, but why take the shot at old alliances at all when they have NOTHING TO DO with Georgia?

-- "I will restore our moral standing so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom" Implication: America is not that last best hope today. Which makes me wonder: who does Obama think has eclipsed us?

-- Maybe he really is the messiah--he certainly resurrected his grandmother from that bus he threw her under during the Wright escapades.

-- Obama says "we all put our country first". That may be an effective line that is free from any counterattack--but I hope somebody is working on it. Obama hasn't once answered a call to service from his country, and it is questionable whether he has ever done anything without political aspirations. Those two elements combined don't scream "putting your country first."

-- did he actually say "If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from" DURING the part where he highlighted one of the issues that McCain has been one of the loudest voices of all (immigration reform)? What was he thinking there?

-- Let's see your actual record--and, in fact, THE record of success--in working across party lines to open up government and hold lobbyists more accountable, eh?

Now, the counterattack--which I hope to write on in the future.