Barack Obama's Final Push For Battleground Colorado; Sarah Palin And Michelle Obama Returning To Colorado On Monday

The battle for Colorado isn't over.

Barack Obama drew thousands more to a rally in Pueblo, where he took shots at John McCain and Vice President Dick Cheney. His visit forced the Secret Service to shut down local businesses (h/t Complete Colorado)--exactly the change we need in this economy.

Both campaigns will seek to make closing arguments before Tuesday's election--Sarah Palin and Michelle Obama will both be in Colorado on Monday.

John McCain Concedes Colorado By Campaigning in Denver, Durango On Friday

**SP's Colorado election results and analysis

The McCain-Palin ticket is clearly giving up on Colorado by announcing a two-stop McCain visit on Friday:

McCain will start his day Friday at the National Western Arena. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with the program starting at 9 a.m. Free tickets are required and may be picked up at the campaign office at 6334 S. Racine Circle in Centennial.

He'll speak at the Durango High School football field at 5 p.m., with doors opening at 3 p.m. To get a ticket, RSVP online at www.johnmccain.com.

The Durango stop will be the first one by a major party presidential candidate since John F. Kennedy campaigned there in 1960, according to the Durango Herald.

Does McCain face an uphill battle in Colorado? Yes. But the actions of the campaign have clearly indicated a move to retain Colorado and its 9 electoral votes--despite the many wishes of Democrats and the compliant MSM.

Battleground Colorado: Sarah Palin Interview; "First Dude" A Rockstar; Biden "Blitz"

The battle of the VPs continues in Colorado--first up, a look back at Sarah Palin's whirlwind tour of Colorado, where record turnouts (22000 in Grand Junction alone) were marred by security snafus, the MSM tried its hand at voter suppression, and protesters decided to block Palin's motorcade in Grand Junction.

And the knock on Palin for not engaging with the MSM?

Maybe it's more about the quality than the quantity.

Sarah Palin's full interview with Adam Schrager of 9NEWS (so much for the MSM memes of being held back, or being incoherent on policy).

Meanwhile the "First Dude" of Alaska, Todd Palin, stuck around Colorado Tuesday to continue stumping on behalf of the McCain/Palin ticket--and has a "rockstar" following of his own.

Gaffetastic Joe "The Senator" Biden is also in Colorado, as part of a two day stump that will take him from Greeley to Commerce City today, and Colorado Springs and Pueblo tomorrow--and it appears that Obama '08 is still running against Bush, and Biden is defending his own statements about Obama being tested:

“If it looks like a Bush, if it sounds like a Bush, if it votes like a Bush, it’s a Bush economic policy."
. . .
Touching on his controversial comment this week that Obama likely will face a world crisis in his first months on the job, Biden told the Greeley audience that “every great president sees crisis as an opportunity” to make America greater.. “I believe Barack Obama will be a great president.”

The Rocky blogged his appearance at UNC in Greeley.

**Update--Meghann McCain will be in Colorado Thursday to promote her new book about her father:

Book Signing
"My Dad, John McCain"
with

Meghan McCain

WHEN: Thursday, Oct 23rd 4:00 pm

WHERE: Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch
9315 Dorchester Street
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Colorado "Gone" For John McCain Despite Appearances By Sarah Palin?

**Update--McCain campaign responds:

Two senior aides didn't deny that Colorado appeared challenging, but pointed to the two key indicators of any campaign's intent, time and money, to make the case that they were still holding out hopethere.

"We didn't send Gov. Palin there for no reason," said one, a reference to the vice presidential nominee's three rallies across the state today.

Another aide pointed out that the campaign and RNC's independent expenditure committee were both still on the airwaves there

"The combined reported spending of the RNC IE and the campaign is very similar, we trail by very small margins (around $500,000)."

Winning Colorado will be tough, but obviously the campaign thinks that the time and money invested here with Sarah Palin on Monday and the "First Dude" of Alaska, Todd Palin, on Tuesday is more than just a meaningless show of strength in a state they expect to lose.

Despite Sarah Palin's marathon Colorado stumping today--Colorado Springs, Loveland, and Grand Junction--unnamed sources believe the race for Colorado is over, and CNN reports from McCain insiders (h/t Jeremy Pelzer at PolitickerCO):

While Iowa, New Mexico and Colorado are still officially listed as McCain target states, two top strategists and advisers tell CNN that the situation in those states looks increasingly bleak. Iowa and New Mexico always have been viewed as difficult races, but the similar assessment of Colorado reflects a dramatic shift for a campaign that had long counted on the state.

"Gone," was the word one top McCain insider used to describe those three states.

This source said while the polls in Colorado remain close, he and most others in the operation were of the opinion that the Obama campaign and its allies have a far superior ground/turnout operation and "most of us have a hard time counting on Colorado."

Campaign manager Rick Davis is among the dissenters, believing the state remains within reach, several sources in and close to the McCain campaign say.

Pelzer reports that in addition to Davis, other McCain campaign staffers are similarly befuddled by this assessment:

"It's not true," McCain spokesman Tom Kise responded to PolitickerCO.com. "I don't know what the hell they're talking about."

"We see the race tightening both internally and in public polling," said Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's national communications director, in a statement. "We are within striking distance in the key battleground states we need to win."

"Insider" sources are always problematic, even for blogs. Is the campaign already cutting its losses? If so, then why waste a day of Palin blanketing the state, and announce plans for McCain appearing in Colorado later in the week? It makes little sense to believe Pennsylvania is part of the strategy (a state Bush failed to capture twice) but that Colorado is suddenly somehow off the table.

Sarah Palin In Colorado--Loveland Rally Update

"Obama calls it spreading the wealth; Joe Biden calls it patriotic. But Joe the Plumber said it sounded to him like socialism. Now is not the time to experiment with socialism"--Gov. Sarah Palin in Loveland, Colorado

Jeremy Pelzer of PolitickerCO has the details (complete video of Palin's Loveland appearance):

Bill Ayers who? For Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, on Monday, it was all about all Joe the Plumber.

Palin focused on attacking her Democratic opponents' domestic policy -- especially taxes and energy -- during a Monday afternoon rally in Loveland.

"Our opponent is not candid with you about his plans for taxes," Palin told a cheering crowd at the Budweiser Events Center.

Palin criticized Obama's claim that he will cut income taxes for 95 percent of Americans.

"The problem with that, is that more than 40 percent pay no income taxes at all," Palin said. "So how can you cut income taxes for folks who don't pay them? He's gonna cut them a check and he'll call that a tax credit. And where's he going to get the money to cut those checks? By raising taxes on all of you, the hardworking Americans who own a small business; and homeowners just like you -- and just like Joe the Plumber."

The event itself may have been marred by event logistics that resulted in many hundreds of Palin fans that were apparently left out in the cold. The events center was not filled to capacity but not because of a failure of people showing up--strong murmurs of security incompetence and a lack of planning by the event, arena, and security staff meant that many who showed up to see Palin and stood for hours in line never in fact made it through security on time. This merely served to confirm observations by those in the press area who couldn't figure out how so many people outside were filling just a small portion of the arena inside. Those who did manage to make it inside spoke of missing everything but the Hank Williams Jr. introduction with Palin.

Palin sat down with 9NEWS' Adam Schrager and Your Show during her stop on the Front Range--the full video will be broadcast on the 10pm show and posted online shortly thereafter.

Sarah Palin In Colorado--Loveland Rally

**Update--Palin's rally in Loveland--complete video of Palin's appearance; Palin does one-on-one interview with 9NEWS

SP will be at the Sarah Palin rally at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado as she kicks off early voting in Colorado. I'll be there as a member of the superior secondary media.

Tickets are already sold out, and the venue holds 7200 for a normal event. As with most ticketed political events, there are often more tickets distributed than the capacity of the venue. Turnout should be excellent, just like in New Mexico on Sunday--she's already an SNL star!

Palin's event info for tomorrow (from earlier Sunday):

Governor Sarah Palin
Road to Victory Rally Schedule Update
For October 20th

Governor Sarah Palin will be making THREE Road to Victory rally stops in Colorado this Monday, October 20th. The Governor begins the day in Colorado Springs, continues north to Loveland and then heads west to Grand Junction

Road to Victory Rally in Colorado Springs
Security Services Field - (Home of the Sky Sox)
4385 Tutt Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80922
Doors open at 6:00 am
Program begins at 8:00 am
Please call 303.952.4670 for ticketing information
Tickets are still available for this event and seats are at a first come first serve basis

Road to Victory Rally in Loveland
Budweiser Events Center
5290 Arena Circle
Loveland, CO 80538
Doors at 10:30 am
Program begins at 12:00 pm
Tickets are no longer available for this event
Standing room attendance may be available for those without tickets

Road to Victory Rally in Grand Junction
Suplizio Field at Lincoln Park
12th Street and Norht Avenue
Grand Junction, CO
Doors at 4:30 pm
Program begins at 6:00 pm
You may still RSVP online and seats at the event are at a first come first serve basis
Please RSVP by Clicking HERE
There will not be tickets issued for this event

Attendees to all events must pass through airport-like security. Please prepare accordingly.

Thank you,

McCain-Palin Team Colorado

Sarah Palin In Colorado Monday--Colorado Springs, Loveland, And Grand Junction

**Update 2--Coverage of Palin's Loveland rally (including video)

**Update--Loveland rally already sold out!

Palin-mania is back in the Rocky Mountains:

Gov. Sarah Palin will rally her party's base and try to capture key swing voters during campaign stops in Colorado Springs, Loveland and Grand Junction on Monday.

The Republican vice presidential candidate's visit will coincide with the first day of early voting in Colorado.

Palin will speak at Security Service Field, home to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, at 8 a.m. Doors open at 6 a.m.

At noon, she'll address a crowd at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

At 6 p.m., she'll speak at Suplizio Field in Grand Junction. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Free tickets are required for the Colorado Springs and Loveland events.

Ticket info at the link.

Palin will be accompanied by Hank Williams Jr.:

Gov. Sarah Palin will be joined in Colorado on Monday by country music singer Hank Williams Jr., who has retooled his classic Family Tradition into an ode to Palin and Sen. John McCain.

Williams has been performing at campaign events recently, singing the national anthem and then firing up the crowd with the new version of his song, McCain-Palin Tradition.

Anti-Palin Instructor Andrew Hallam Cleared By Metro State

**Update--Hallam needs "mentoring":

"The investigation concluded that Hallam must learn to curb the use of vulgar language in class, and that the introduction of controversal topics must have a substantial relationship with the subject of the class," according to a news bulletin released by the college Tuesday.

"While discipline is not warranted, appropriate mentoring is recommended."

The findings of the investigation was announced by Metro State College president Stephen Jordan on Tuesday.

Hallam, 36, will be assigned a faculty member to serve as his mentor for the rest of this semester, according to Cathy Lucas, spokeswoman for the college. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Lucas said the college will also add an all-day session on how to maintain political balance in classes to orientations given to part-time as well as tenure track faculty members.

Wow. More diversity training at a college/university.

Didn't see that one coming.

---

Not even a slap on the wrist or a strongly worded letter.

Shock--Metro State found no wrongdoing:

A college English instructor's assignment to write an essay on whether Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is living a fairy tale has been cleared of wrongdoing.

Metropolitan State College of Denver probed the assignment by Andrew Hallam after some students complained it was politically biased.

Hallam's class was reading "Sleeping Beauty" and the assignment was to consider Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention. The speech was based on Palin's life and the assignment was to discuss whether the nominee is living a fairy tale.

An internal investigation found the assignment didn't require students to undermine Palin. The inquiry concluded students didn't feel personally belittled or insulted by Hallam.

Oh really?

Matt Barber told WND his sister is one of five students who have been belittled by the teacher, and "bullied and harassed" by other students "because they support McCain-Palin."

The students had documented a series of incidents in which Hallam reportedly told his class, "Bush-bashing is one of my favorite things to do."

In another class, the students report, Hallam said he loved swearing and the f-word was his favorite word.

"He used the f-word a few more times that day," they reported.

When Hallam handed out the Palin writing assignment, the students reported "he said he would give the Republicans a chance to speak about it and asked who in the class was a Republican. Five of us raised our hands. When we did, [one other student] … said 'F*** you!' Mr. Hallam did nothing about this. At the end of the class period, after a lot of the Republicans had voiced their side of the issue, another kid said, 'They're full of s***, but we let them talk anyway.'"

Not even enough backbone to criticize or punish an instructor whose political derangement created an undoubtedly hostile atmosphere to those who disagreed with his views. Since those students who complained obviously held the wrong point of view, nothing could or would be done by Metro State.

I hear there is still an opening for deranged, leftist, academic hacks--perhaps Mr. Hallam should contact the CU Ethnic Studies department once his Metro State appointment has run out.

Colorado Voter Registration--October Update

Over 200,000 newly registered voters in Colorado this year:

State officials say more than 217,000 people have registered to vote in Colorado this year, including nearly 113,000 since the end of July.

Monday was the deadline for registering to vote in the Nov. 4 election.

Richard Coolidge, a spokesman for Secretary of State Mike Coffman, says preliminary figures show Colorado now has about 3.1 million registered voters. About 1.1 million have requested mail-in ballots.

Coolidge says county clerks have canceled the registrations of more than 58,000 voters since January, about 2 percent of vote total.

Nearly 31,000 had moved to another county or state. Nearly 14,000 were duplicate registrations and nearly 8,000 had died.

More than 2,200 were canceled because they were felons.

One third of Colorado voters will be voting by mail-in ballot, most likely before the final get-out-the-vote push in the final weekend leading up to November 4. For all intents and purposes, the election has already begun (or will begin the moment the first mail-in ballots arrive, and will certainly be in full swing when early voting opens).

The most recent voter registration numbers (September 2) show that Republicans maintain a small registration lead over unaffiliated voters, and a still-sizeable 75,000 voter lead over registered Democrats--

D--955,428
R--1,029,062
U--1,022,575

According to the story there are around 3.1 million registered Coloradans on the rolls, which would add about 100,000 voters to the early September numbers. How they break will demonstrate the power of Democrat-oriented voter registration efforts, and how much Republican increases came through the draw of Sarah Palin as VP on the ticket.

Sarah Palin VP Debate Liveblog

By Ben DeGrow and some of the Peoples Press Collective/RMA 2.0 contributors.

Where will the illustrious El Presidente be?

Taking an accounting exam, which is a little like listening to one of Joe Biden's speeches--painful and dreadfully pointless.

No Love For Sarah Palin At State Capitol

Drunkablog has the photos--no love from the local feminists/Code Pinkers.

60,000 Floridians might have to disagree . . .

BDS-Suffering Metro State Instructor Andrew Hallam Assigns Essay Criticising Sarah Palin

**Update 2--shocker: Metro State instructor staying silent

**Update--Metro students discuss the Palin-basing assignment with talk radio show host Mike Rosen

"Bush-bashing is one of my favorite things to do"--Metro State instructor Andrew Hallam

2000-2008: Bush Derangement Syndrome.
August 2008-?: Palin Derangement Syndrome.

Another lefty professor from the Ward Churchill school of biased teaching has earned the coveted media attention desired by so many on the left in their quest for self-promotion and "raising awareness" of their political philosophies (video):

Metro State College is investigating a professor who asked students to write an essay critical of Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin. One student said the instructor singled out Republican students in the class and allowed others to ridicule them.

"I was shocked, I was holy cow, this is just an open door for him to discuss politics with us," said Jana Barber, a student in the class.

Barber shared the first class assignment with CBS4. Instructor Andrew Hallam asked students to write an essay to contradict what he called the 'fairy tale image of Palin' presented at the Republican National Convention.

"What the faculty's responsibility is to provide opportunity for critical thinking and civic engagement so bringing something of relevancy into the classroom was the faculty's goal," said Cathy Lucas, spokeswoman for Metro State. "Should he have broadened it and included all the political figures, yes."

Metro State officials are investigating claims of bias, harassment and bullying.

Hallam declined an interview with CBS4. He has revised the assignment.

Students may now write about any of the candidates.

The Daily Blogster has the earlier known details of the story, that detail the explicit bias of the class atmosphere promoted by the instructor, including the implicit approval of harassment of self-identified conservative/Republican students in the class by their fellow students:

Matt Barber told WND his sister is one of five students who have been belittled by the teacher, and "bullied and harassed" by other students "because they support McCain-Palin."

The students had documented a series of incidents in which Hallam reportedly told his class, "Bush-bashing is one of my favorite things to do."

In another class, the students report, Hallam said he loved swearing and the f-word was his favorite word.

"He used the f-word a few more times that day," they reported.

When Hallam handed out the Palin writing assignment, the students reported "he said he would give the Republicans a chance to speak about it and asked who in the class was a Republican. Five of us raised our hands. When we did, [one other student] … said 'F*** you!' Mr. Hallam did nothing about this. At the end of the class period, after a lot of the Republicans had voiced their side of the issue, another kid said, 'They're full of s***, but we let them talk anyway.'"

The students are in the process of filing the necessary complaints.

Drunkablog makes the necessary and inevitable comparison to another local teacher with a bias problem--Jay Bennish.

Colorado Rockstar: Sarah Palin JeffCo Rally Photos And Recap

Standing room only--scores of supporters donning their hockey
jerseys--the Westernaires Arena filled with an enthusiastic crowd.

Photos to follow . . .

(Crossposted at PeoplesPressCollective)

The Daily Blogster was also there this morning, with pics and a recap of the Palin speech.

Gateway Pundit has an MSM roundup, including words from the opposition.

All in all, a solid post-convention stump speech, delayed for a few minutes while President Bush addressed the financial crisis on Wall Street.

It is clear that Palin's draw isn't the policy positions staked out in the speech itself, though they are not throw-away lines either. Palin discussed the need for reform and oversight in the financial sector, the inseparability of energy independence from our foreign policy and the imperative to produce our own energy here, and the "walking the walk" of actually doing the hard work. About her running mate Sen. John McCain, Palin spoke effusively about the only man in the race who "actually fought for you."

But in the end the rally really exhibited the incredible magnetism of the candidate herself, who struck a chord in the center-right/GOP, especially right-leaning women, in a way unmatched by any recent Republican candidate, and overshadowed only by Barack Obama's similar adulation, though in less-than-messianic terms. Palin is a Mom--like the many Moms in the crowd--and the "hockey mom"/lipstick/small business owner experience was indeed a change from the career politician/lawyer/haughty elitism that permeates the Democrat ticket.

Palin is a political rockstar seeking the support of voters in an effort to turn the tide on liberal-creep that has put Jefferson County not only in the national spotlight as the county that could decide Colorado and ultimately the entire national race, but reclaim some of the faltering GOP brand in the suburbs of areas like Denver that were once GOP strongholds and rebuild the grassroots ground game that has been damaged (rightly or wrongly) by the Bush administration since 2004.

Judging by her reception at JeffCo Fairgrounds, the enthusiasm necessary for proper volunteer recruitment and voter engagement has hit a fever pitch in Colorado, something unthinkable just three weeks ago during the Democratic National Convention. Palin's selection the day following Obama's coronation at Invesco Field changed the dynamic of the ground game here in Colorado, and will make this swing-state an even more sought-after prize.


It was really, really early.


The line snaked around the parking lot, with hundreds outside the Westernaire Arena before the doors opened at 7am.


Buttons, get your buttons!


Security was tight, though certainly nothing like the DNC (Secret Service? Yes. Riot gear? No.)


The teleprompters were covered in anticipation of Sarah Palin's speech.


A continued theme of the McCain-Palin campaign--"Country First."


Talk radio show host Dan Caplis kept the crowd going while Sarah Palin made her way to the JeffCo Fairgrounds.


The enthusiasm was palpable.


Easily the best sign of the day.


Women held their lipstick up and waved it like lighters at a rock concert--Palin was a rockstar for the eager crowd.


Former Governor Bill Owens gave a brief introduction, nearly inaudible due to the roar of the crowd.


A pitbull with lipstick!


"Real change."


Not a "Washington insider."


Palin was clearly caught up with raucous reception--"thanks Colorado!"


Palin greets the crowd after her speech.


"First Dude" Todd Palin.


The MSM photographers couldn't get enough of Palin-mania either.

Tickets Go Fast For Sarah Palin's Monday Rally At Jefferson County Fairgrounds

Only 5000 or so Palin fans will be in attendance, as initial estimates for the pancake breakfast of 1000 were easily exceeded by rampant demand at the John McCain campaign office in Centennial, forcing a change in plans and venue at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.

SP scored some valuable ticketage and will be there with coverage.

The campaign appears to clamping down on ticket sales (they were free) just as the Obama campaign did for Invesco Field tickets, but at least one posting on Craigslist has 4 tickets up for $70.

Colorado Palin-mania: Sarah Palin Event Tickets Flying Like Hotcakes!

So much so that the planned pancake breakfast has been scrapped so that the campaign could accommodate all the extra supporters:

No more pancakes.

Because of the high volume of requests for tickets to see Vice Presidential pick Sarah Palin at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Monday morning, the campaign has canceled the pancake breakfast.

Instead, it will be an event for about 5,000 people and Palin will deliver remarks.

"To accommodate more people, we had to take away the table and chairs to fit everyone in," Campaign spokesman Tom Kise said.

Kise said all day the line at their office snaked outside into the parking lot and it became clear that there wasn't a way to accommodate everyone and serve up flapjacks as well.

Barack Obama will also head to Colorado next week, with stops in Grand Junction, Pueblo, and Jefferson County (no final details).

With support for Obama flagging in the polls and the Palin appearance bursting at the seams, we'll get a comparative glimpse of two campaigns heading in the opposite directions.

And we'll also get a glimpse of how Palin stacks up (yes, pun intended) on her own, rallying voters in a county (Jefferson) that could determine the election in Colorado, and possibly nationally.

RNC Dispatch--Day 3 Photos

More pictures from the Republican National Convention, as Sen. John McCain's Vice Presidential nominee Gov. Sarah Palin gave her acceptance speech and a wonderful succession of GOP speakers--Michael Steele, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Linda Lingle, and finally Rudy Giuliani--helped build the adequate emotional charge with speeches that were quite powerful, and included great rhetorical gems like Steele's "Drill, baby, drill!" that were repeated throughout the night.


Security was tight, but once past the innermost line of defense against the uncredentialed and unhinged protesters, the mood was fairly relaxed.


Feeding frenzy at the RNC shop.


Michigan delegates sport hockey jerseys in support of Sarah Palin's veep speech Wednesday night.


Ushers were very adamant about this rule.


Even before Palin delivered her acceptance speech, "Palin Nuts" were going crazy for John McCain's pick.


Rudy Giuliani fired up the crowd and joined the audience in a bit of laughter at the Democrats' expense.


Colorado delegates wore matching shirts and occupied prime real estate in front of the center teleprompter.


"Hockey Moms for Palin" from Michigan.


The enthusiasm was palpable, even from the nosebleeds.


My (remote) view--Palin supporters nearly blew the roof off the Xcel Center.


The best look at Palin came from the large side screens behind the podium--this was my view of the convention.


As loud as the crowd was Wednesday night, it probably did little good to have the booth enclosed.

RNC--Quick Reflections; More To Come

Tons of pictures (celebrities, hardcore GOP supporters, etc.) to sort through and video to load--as well as recaps and reflections on other aspects of the RNC.

Wanna know why the usual SP coverage wasn't, shall we say, the same as usual?

The convention had a steep learning curve--in terms of expectations and ability to cover the event. Apparently I'm not alone, as Ben DeGrow points out in a link to Rick Moran. Hard to "blog" and get the type of material I would like, or make the networking connections and tap into a larger sense of community when bloggers are banished to the extreme nosebleed seats behind the stage, with no view of the speakers, and then asked to navigate the labyrinth of the Xcel Center to the press filing room where the only "free" Internet is located. And without even a temporary, revolving access to the floor to meet the state's delegates or get a sense of the convention's pulse, it is not difficult to say whether or not it might have been easier to "blog" the convention from my hotel room. Other than the "just happy to be here" feeling that quickly eroded once the reality of the arrangement set in, the convention organization and blogger accommodations made frustration the order of the day.

Oh well, there's always 2012!

Stay tuned . . . I'll blog from the road as I make my way back to Denver.

RNC Day 4: Reflections On John McCain's Solemn Acceptance

John McCain--genuine humility, a record of service to his country, solemn and understated.

Barack Obama--his ego writes checks his record can't cash.

The stark contrast between the two acceptance speeches by the respective candidates can't be stated in any easier terms or demonstrated in a simpler manner than to compare how McCain reached out to Obama in a gesture of respect, while only a week earlier Obama's hostile criticism appeared to reveal a bitterness that did little to represent "hope and change." Obama's cynicism was exceeded only by the sense of true optimism and real hope and change that a McCain administration would bring.

McCain's message and that of the RNC the entire week--freedom and responsibility, service and sacrifice.

Obama and the DNC? Government, government, government. Not "you're on your own" but "we own you."

The land of opportunity vs. crisis and criticism.

Policy specifics are overrated. It is the comparative vision of each party and each candidate that creates the path that each candidate will follow on the campaign trail and after the election. The destination matters, but so does the route by which the destination is reached.

Liberty and open-mindedness vs. dogged reliance on outdated philosophies that have been recycled again and again by a party that relies on a sense of victimization rather than an admiration for the ability to achieve and to go one's own way.

Washington insiders, government handouts, and pork barrel spending.

Mavericks, tax cuts, fiscal responsibility.

McCain envisions a future for America. Obama chooses to wallow in the past.

Of the two candidates, only one offers real hope and change.

And I just watched his acceptance speech tonight in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Guestblogging: Sarah Palin And Change

Sarah Palin: A Change More Profound than Giving Speeches
By Julian Dunraven

If this election is really all about change, then November will offer voters a choice between candidates who like to talk about change, and candidates who live for change.

On the left, we have Sen. Barak Obama who, in his extremely short tenure in the U.S. Senate, has never once broken with his party's agenda to champion needed reforms. For his running mate, he has chosen Sen. Joe Biden, a bastion of the liberal establishment for the last 35 years.

On the right, we have Sen. John McCain, who has made a career of going against anyone he thought was wrong--even if that occasionally includes members of his own party. As his running mate, he has chosen Gov. Sarah Palin, who has already proven that she is a consummate and principled reformer. She took on some of the most powerful members of her own party--including Sen. Ted Stevens--to fight corruption and bring ethics and accountability back to government. She slashed budgets, cut taxes and even sold the governor's private jet on E-Bay to bring fiscal responsibility back to government. And unlike so many modern politicians who like to talk about values but rarely live by them, Gov. Palin doesn't just say she is pro life and pro-family--she chose to have her youngest baby even though she knew he would have Down Syndrome, and she has been incredibly supportive of her daughter, who is also choosing to have her baby--despite the difficulties of young motherhood.

Gov. Sarah Palin is a remarkable woman who somehow manages to impress both fiscal and social conservatives at the same time. I can't remember the last time Dr. James Dobson and I agreed on anything but the quality of the weather, yet we are both excited about Gov. Palin and I think the reasons for that are clear: she represents what the Republican Party, at its best, used to be, what it should be, and what it will be again.

Change is coming, but not with Obamamania. Long after that fever breaks and passes, the true reformers, John McCain and Sarah Palin, will be hard at work restoring the glory of this country which Congress and Bush have so badly tarnished.