If you missed Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s speech last night at the RNC, you missed a rare treat. After Rudy Giuliani fired up the delegates, Palin delivered an introduction to who she is, what she’s made of and gave notice to her Democratic opponents that it’s “game on.”
I’ll admit that I was more than a little curious how she would come across. After all, Sen. Barack Obama is a gifted speaker and has mesmerized the media for months with his artful rhetoric, and I hoped Palin’s speech would compare favorably. But Palin set my mind, and that of much of America, at ease with a fiery speech that spanned more than 35 minutes and had the crowd on their feet for much of it.
If you’re a veteran, you had to shed a tear during the last five minutes. If you have, or know someone with a special needs child, you shed a tear when she talked about her four month old baby boy, Trig, born with Down Syndrome. And if you were hoping to learn where she comes from, what she believes and what she wants to bring to the White House with John McCain, you had to feel satisfied when she left the podium. Her one-liners alone were worth the price of admission!
So far, I’m impressed. I realize Americans have become callous and distrustful of anyone associated with politics and for good reason. But if ever there was someone like you and me — an everyday hockey mom who goes to work every day, a Washington outsider who’s administered and balanced a state budget, fought corruption and bucked the system — it’s Sarah Palin. If you watched her speech, you know what I mean. She’s what we all wish we had in government but didn’t believe exists.
I’ve linked to the Wall Street Journal’s transcript and provided MSNBC’s video of her speech for those of you that missed it or want to watch it again.
I’d say the Republican base — along with Hillary supporters, women and a lot of Independents — are energized and looking forward to her debate with Joe Biden! Impressed? I am.