‘Change is coming’
Republicans rave about McCain’s acceptance speechBy Jessica VanderKolk, jvanderkolk@altoonamirror.com
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Kendall Ratliffe felt overwhelmed by John McCain's nomination acceptance speech Thursday night.
"What really struck me the most is how much he emphasized that he was serving us," said Ratliffe, a Juniata College senior. "That came across so well. The way he talked about his history and that he's gonna continue to fight for us - I wasn't expecting him to say that. I think he's right."
Ratliffe and other McCain supporters gathered at Juniata College and Altoona's Holiday Inn Express to hear the Republican candidate accept the party's nomination.
A giant McCain sign, McCain cardboard cutout and red, white and blue decorations set the tone for the "watch parties."
Enjoying snacks and sporting McCain/Palin buttons, many still talked of the excitement surrounding running mate Gov. Sarah Palin's speech Wednesday.
Frank Stoy, treasurer for the Juniata College Republicans, called Palin's address "phenomenal" and said she opened the door for McCain's speech.
Lisa Kasianowitz, a junior at Penn State Altoona, also expressed excitement at Palin's speech and said the campaign would be boring without her.
McCain spoke of Palin during the speech, saying he's proud to introduce her to the country.
"But I can't wait until I introduce her to Washington," he said.
"And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming."
Lindsey Lanzendorfer, a Juniata senior interning at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., said she hoped to see McCain's speech from the floor and hoped he would paint himself as the "model for change."
"I think he's done a lot, but people are still unsure because Obama has done a good job painting himself as the candidate for change," she said. "McCain is just the maverick for change, and he's gonna shake up Washington, and he needs to make sure people get that message."
Kasianowitz hopes McCain's speech "gets people riled up" and people realize McCain won't be a third term of President George W. Bush.
"I just hope he points out the key issues for everyone here," she said. "And what he's gonna do for the country to create change."
Juniata sophomore Eric Frys, a Democrat, said he would watch McCain's speech to obtain more information before he votes in November.
"I figure most people here are Democrats, and I don't hear a lot about McCain," he said. "All I hear are bad things about McCain. I think I want to hear his viewpoints on key issues and how he'll help the economy."
Others wanted to hear McCain talk more about his willingness to work with Democrats.
"He's been a rather independent person, and I think that is good," said Betty Ruhlman of Huntingdon County. "You have to work both sides of the aisle to get anything done, and I think that's good."
Brenda Carey of Hollidaysburg wrote down one of McCain's quotes she agreed with.
"He talked quite a few times, and I'm glad he did, about reaching across the aisle," she said. "One of the quotes he even said, toward the end of his speech, and I thought was really significant, to use the ideas from both sides and to hold everyone accountable for what they do."
Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.
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homerbeep
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09-11-08 8:35 AM
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Is Palin running for President? No! Vice-President! Obama's freaked out! He sent a "smear commando" team to Alaska to try to dig dirt on her. If she wasn't a threat, desperate measures like those wouldn't be taken.
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concernedcitizen
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09-08-08 9:43 AM
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GREAT RESPONSE - Did Sarah tell you how to write that one? Oh, I forgot, she is off limits to the media.
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homerbeep
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09-08-08 3:49 AM
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concerned citizen: Let's look at your letter--wah, wah, wah!
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concernedcitizen
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09-07-08 11:30 PM
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Let's look at Palin's record. She is for book-banning and looked into this when mayor. She is for teaching creationism side-by-side with evolution as science in our public schools. She was very much for the "bridge to nowhere" - the 232 million dollar federal pork project - up until it became such a national disgrace that she had no choice but to back away from it. The state kept the money anyway and tens of millions of dollars have been spent on approach roads to a nonexistent bridge. As mayor, she hired a consultant to bring in tens of millions of dollars of government money into her tiny town. SARAH PALIN - She knows what you should read, she knows what religion your kids should be taught, and she definitely knows how to spend your money. SARAH PALIN - BIG GOVERNMENT, BIG SPENDING, BIG HYPOCRITE
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Chuxspringer
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09-07-08 5:20 PM
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Palin has ALL of you running.
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Chuxspringer
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09-07-08 5:19 PM
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moveonmcpain: Wow, he must be the 'new' jesus. Hang him between his greek columns for 3 days and if he rises I'll vote for him.
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homerbeep
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09-07-08 1:01 PM
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moveon: Palin got jumped INSTANTLY as soon as they heard about her! Obama is the one who got a free pass from the leftist media! He got ONE tough question (about his wishy-washy abortion answer) and proceeded to whine! His answer, BTW, wasn't "thoughtful"--it was WAVERING! He LOVES abortion, scoring a 100% with Planned Parenthood. He has been the GREATEST proponent of abortion ever! Get real, please.
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kilgore
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09-06-08 4:37 PM
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allegheny as paul harvey used to say...and now the rest of the story... from faux news... Democratic convention organizers claimed the flags were not going to be discarded — but instead were snatched from the site of Obama’s historic address to carry out a “cheap political stunt.” Damon Jones, spokesman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, released a statement saying McCain should applaud the fact that thousands of American flags were “proudly waved” at their convention. “But instead his supporters wrongfully took leftover bundles of our flags from the stadium to play out a cheap political stunt calling into question our patriotism,” he said. i am more concerned that our Constitution has been discarded by this admin ...and exxon john mcsame only promises more of the same
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allegheny
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09-06-08 2:31 PM
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At least the two parties are coming together to promote recycling. Boyscouts in Colorado have collected the American Flags from trash bins of Denver DNC and will be used by Americans listening to the right-wing speeches in Colorado Springs today. To all Boy Scouts of America, God bless you and your patriotic spirit!
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homerbeep
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09-06-08 12:38 PM
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166481: WHAT, exactly, did Obama DO as a "community organizer"? Nobody knows! Obama doesn't tell us, either. Sounds like really valuable "experience."
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homerbeep
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09-06-08 12:35 PM
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Moveonmccain: Ever hear Obama speak without a teleprompter? Check out his answer as to when an infant has rights as a human being at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church debate: "Uh, well, you know, uh, well, you know...that can only, uh, well, uh, you know, be answered by, uh, well, you know, uh, someone above my pay grade." What an orator! Additionally. his arrogance is annoying--he acts as though it's already a done deal and he's in the White House! It ain't over yet...
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homerbeep
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09-06-08 12:24 PM
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ferndawg: I'm not a Bush supporter, BUT let's not forget about the Dem-controlled, do-nothing Congress that got a NINE percent approval rating!!!
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ferndawg44
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09-05-08 5:21 PM
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Another good point by Donkeysrule. NAFTA (free trade) has all but killed the steel workers and trades such as refractory companies (A.P. Green) etc. NAFTA was supposed to make free trade a clear a fair playing field. In two years I've personnaly watched China gouge pricing on raw materials for export by a multiple of 3. What was once $35.00 a bag is now $100.00 a bag. But heaven forbid if we did the same right back at them. They (China) have survived for decades by closing the borders and becoming a self sustaining country. I think there is some good to that. Jobs created and less Jobs lost as I see it. It will sting some though, ie. farmers and industrial companies that rely on free trade. Overall, Its killed the American economy.
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donkeysrule
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09-05-08 2:50 PM
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UNcommonsense: Who signed NAFTA into law? Put the blame where it belongs.
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cowher12
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09-05-08 2:38 PM
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I meant to say the sooner they realize the ARE NOT Entitled to PORK on that last post
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cowher12
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09-05-08 2:36 PM
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Very Good point on that Fern but Obama is going to have to battle tooth and nail with the hardline leftists to actually accomplish that. There are a lot programs that dont work that are traditionally supported by hardline liberals. He is going to need to prove that he can and will do that. Otherwise he will continue to fall into line with his record of staying far left. I agree with wanting to direct your tax dollars. Many people i talk to just dont grasp the concept that its my money our money the taxpayers money that the goverment pays for things with. If i wouldnt spend my own dollar on it I sure as H#ll dont want the goverment spending my dollars on it. I feel like the sooner we can get the very far left to grasp that concept the sooner this country can work towards a balanced budget. To the same extent the sooner the guys on the right realize they are entitled to pork and quite giving corps a free pass the sooner we get things under control.
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ferndawg44
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09-05-08 2:18 PM
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Good Point Cowher, There are additional cost with spending. I do however like Obama's approach on refirmation. "Let's look at the list of programs and see what works and what doesn't. What isn't working gets cut off. What is working receives additional money. The bottom line is that you and I are always going to pay tax's. What I'd like to see would be Have washington give us the right to choose where we spend our money. There are some really good programs on the table and in legistlation rite now. Let me choose where my tax dollars are sent. ie. Law Enforcement, Military, nations roads and bridges. I'm not interested in billions of dollars going to space exploration. This is a hobby that we've been with since Sputnik (prob mispelled) We want to go to the moon again? Since when did I get my say! It's a dusty rock. Mars We'll never inhabit another planet. Just my thoughts on tax's
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ferndawg44
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09-05-08 2:06 PM
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There you go again Ganduff. Putting words into other peoples mouths. I could care less about gay rights, I could care less about affirmitive action.. I just want to know we (AMERICANS) are fed up with what this country stands for. What we beleive isn't getting out to the world. We didn't ask for 9/11 but it came. We stood behind Howdy Duty to get those responsible. The result was an occuption of a country that has since been proven NOT to have any ties with terriorism. Although your President wants desparately for you to beleive that. PROVEN by many operatives and inspectors and everyone else who didn't beleive him. My advise is tell your party to quit the leadership in America based on FEAR. "If I'm not elected than we will most certainly be attacked again." It's inevitable! That is what you want to beleive than you are entitled. You are free to vote for whomever you want. That is your God given right as an American. But be clear on it... You are going to lo
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cowher12
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09-05-08 1:53 PM
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Fern you are probably better off ignoring Gandulf he is just on here to continually communicate the views of the far right. The area of Bi-partisanship I believe that the Dems have created this you are either a full blown liberal or you are the enemy approach. I mean Bill Clinton was a moderate Dem and things got done with a GOP congress. McCain is at lease moderate Obama scares me because he is a very liberal candidate. Our economy doesnt need more government spending the budget can be balanced by spending less and keeping taxes the same. More spending equals more taxes or more deficit the money has to come from somewhere. I just dont think americans should pay anymore in taxes period. rich or poor; black or white; married or single. IF the budget needs balanced lets started cutting costs. I dont see obama doing that he wants more programs.
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Twitch
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09-05-08 1:39 PM
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Mccain doesn't have a chance.
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ferndawg44
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09-05-08 1:38 PM
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And your statement about "Reaching accross the isle" THis is what we refer to as Bi-partism and Republicans are far and away the worst at this. That is exactly what Bush said 4 years ago. He's the one to reach accross to other parties. That worked out pretty well. Over half of his staff jumped off the sinking ship, and his approval rating of 27% is the lowest in our nations History. Why wasn't he at the biggest party of the year for the Republicans? I'll tell you why, Because they want to separate the mess they elected twice. It's called Loyalty however they're separation from Howdy Duty makes my decision real simple. ALthough you being a Republican can always fall back on, "Well we screwed it up we are the perfect group to fix our own mess" That is what McCain should use as his slogan!
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ferndawg44
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09-05-08 1:30 PM
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Biden isn't young. YOu are correct however he isn't 72 years old either. We're one heart attack away from giving Palin the keys to the country?? Not on my watch ganduff!!!
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ferndawg44
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09-05-08 1:27 PM
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Boy, Cowher, You and I could sit at a bar stool and chat for weeks. I do appriciate your input and very well written but let me point another issue out in your blog that I totally disagree with: "people could argue that Obama is using race for his but i dont believe that." Let's be honest as middle class white Americans, The fact that he is black I think hurts him way more than helps him. The Racist inequalities that exist in society today back my opnion. It hurts that he's black. If he were white it would be a landslide victory and that is totally a true statement. Especially in the deep south where racism exist today... Not to mention in Altoona or any other city in the nation that can't get past the color of a mans skin vs. what he has to say. I wasn't crazy about him either but the more he speaks the more I'm drawn to what he says.
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cowher12
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09-05-08 1:16 PM
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As a fellow Libertarian UNCOMMONSENSE...Why dont you define Bob Barr's platform on illegal drugs. Im sure the board would love to hear that.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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09-05-08 1:10 PM
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McCain has given us 26 years of his brand of change. NAFTA,CAFTA,GATT, the WTO, tens of millions of lost jobs to Communist and slave labor markets. Record energy costs and economic disaster. More than 13 million illegals, and more pouring in every day. All this while expanding the size of Government at a record pace and stripping away more and more Constitutional and civil liberties from the people. We can't tolerate any more of McCain's form of change. Bob Barr 2008 For a change the Founding Fathers would be proud of.
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