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September 07, 2008 05:56 AM UTC

Sarah Palin & John McCain visit Colorado Springs

  • 29 Comments
  • by: DavidThi808

from the Boulder Daily Camera (AP actually) we have:

The banners, buttons and signs say McCain-Palin, but the crowds say something else.

“Sa-rah! Pa-lin!” came the chant at a Colorado Springs rally on Saturday moments before Republican nominee John McCain took the stage with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a woman who was virtually unknown to the nation just a week earlier. The day before, thousands screamed “Sa-rah! Sa-rah! Sa-rah!” at an amphitheater outside Detroit.

And from the Denver Post we have a very impressive picture. 10,000 is real numbers.

So Sarah Palin is getting them charged up. Granted it’s Colorado Springs where strong support is expected, but still this is a lot of people.

Which brings up the question, has there ever been a ticket before where the VP overshadowed the president? I can’t think of one. Many VPs will do better in front of specific crowds, like LBJ over Kennedy in Texas. But in front of generic crowds?

My instinct is it’s not a good thing because it lessens McCain by comparison and in the voting booth it’s the president they vote for. But this is unique so it’s effect is, at present, a wild ass guess.

David-thanks for letting me add to this.  Due to a family emergency, I wasn’t able to get to this earlier.

I remember the picture that circulated on the internet a few months back that highlighted the “excitement” for McCain.  It was a picture of about five or six older guys slumped in their chairs.  One was asleep.

It was pitiful.

I contrast that to Saturday’s event.  There were somewhere around 15,000 people packed into the area to watch McCain speak.  One person in line told me they drove down from Fort Collins.  Another admitted to coming down from Wyoming, and showed no signs of regret over missing the Wyoming vs. Airforce football game.

Many talked about the candidates they supported in the caucuses.  Most supported Romney.  Some supported Huckabee.  The McCain folks obviously felt vindicated.  But those who supported other candidates didn’t display any sort of animosity, and many talked about how they came to eventually support McCain.

I was particularly struck by all of the parents with special needs children.  They had their own little section in the VIP area.  They watched Sarah Palin with particular attention.  It was as if they felt that for the first time there was someone running for major national office that understood them.

Yes, the wait was long.  Many people waited for many hours in the sun.  Thank goodness there was a breeze.  The scheduling could have been a little bit better to ensure that people didn’t have to wait through seemingly endless speeches to finally hear McCain and Palin.  But after the event, no one said they weren’t voting for them because of it.

And who can talk about the event without talking about the flags?  The truth of the matter is probably somewhere in the middle.  I doubt that Obama ordered the flags to be thrown away, but they were sitting on the dock next to the dumpster for a week and a day.  But it was pretty awesome to watch 12,000 people wave their flag in the Colorado breeze!  

Comments

29 thoughts on “Sarah Palin & John McCain visit Colorado Springs

  1. 1)  What books did she try to remove from her city library?

    2)  Does her church pray to convert gays to be heterosexual?

    3)  Does she believe that global warming is not caused by the rise of C02 emissions?

    4)  Would she vote to remove the endangered species act?

    5)  Would she work to overturn Rove v Wade?

    6)  Would she work to require public schools to teach creationism in the classroom?

    7)  Would she promote the idea of invading Iran?

    8)  Has she ever met anyone whose faith was Buddhism or Islam?

    1. 1. None. This is a false rumor. See http://www.fightthepalinsmears

      2. No. I have personal friends in the same church. While this church, like most Christian churches does not support homosexuality, there they respect everyone equally as God’s children, even those who disagree with their beliefs

      3. No. She supports the platform of the Republican party on this issue, which acknowledges man-made CO2 emission impact o the environment but also acknowledges that this environment is being impacted by natural temperature fluctuations that have occurred throughout history. The GOP supports aggressive environmental policies with consideration of practical application and economic development

      4. I am uncertain on this issue as it has not been specifically addressed. I would, however, encourage you to look past policy talking points and consider that Gov. Palin is an active outdoors enthusiast who has live almost her entire life in the most pristine environment in the US. Gov. Palin has expressed support for species preservation but opposed bills that would place undue restriction on development and job creation and are based on false and exaggerated impact to wildlife. Case in point is a recent bill to protect polar bears, which are thriving, as was based on completely false and alarmist data from groups who had never conducted a wildlife survey within her State.

      5. rick question. Both Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are Pro-Life. I am personally Pro-Choice, however, Roe v. Wade is a bad decision. Contrary to popular belief, Roe v. Wade does not legalize abortion, it only creates a weak case law precedent. It created more problems than it solved. Both GOP candidates, while personally opposed to abortion, support this issue being a matter of state law rather than federal. That said, they have no plans to promote overturning Roe v. Wade. As a Pro-Choice person I have no apprehensions about their stance on this issue.

      6. No. This refers to another out of context smear from discredited websites. Gov. Palin expressed her opinion that she did not see an issue with both creationism and natural selection being presented in a classroom, but has never made any effort to promote this idea, much less legislate it. It should be noted, both GOP candidates have impeccable records on church/ state separation issues. On this issue, their personal beliefs do not match mine, but there is no concern of either of them legislating this type of change. They agree that these are matters best left on a local school board level, not a City, Federal or State level. They also support school vouchers which will allow parents a choice on where their children are educated, making this a non-issue.

      7. No one promotes the idea of invading anywhere on earth. Both Sen. McCain and Sen. Palin have stated that they fully support Israel and will not condone threats of military action by Iran against Israel. To that end, Sen. McCain has a long history of working with Israel and others to prevent aggressive/ preemptive actions from Israel. Sen. McCain also supports the diplomatic dialog that has been developing with European allies to help address the current issues and instability with Iran.

      8. I am uncertain of a definite answer, especially since the term “met with” is subjective. For example, Sen. Obama met with Islamic leaders for little purpose than conducting a photo op and traditional courtesy exchanged when visiting a foreign nation. I am sure that Gov. Palin had similar meetings during her visits overseas with troops in Islamic countries, but she was not followed by ever major network anchor in the US and a 300+ person press corps.

      1. As a spin meister, perhaps even I would invest in your stock…..except, I’m afraid it would be kinda like crocs stock….short lived…difficult to expand into different products….short sighted in the long run….you get the picture. Kinda like a croc of shit.

        Keep reading this blog though. It’ll provide a great education.

        1. There is no spin, these are all facts that can be easily verified by anyone willing to do 5 minutes research on each issue.

          Call my answers “a croc of shit” accomplishes nothing but to promote ignorance on all sides.

          I welcome refutation and I am open to opposing ideas if you have them, but do not expect me to dismiss my understanding of facts because you limit your “education” to a website.

          I decided to post here for the purpose that most people seem to have intelligent viewpoints, even if they are in opposition to some of mine.

          So, the invitation is open. Refute me intelligently or keep your belligerence to yourself.

          1. 1. “Lead Investigatoe” Michelle Malkin??? Case closed.

            2. You are so full of shit

            http://www.mydd.com/story/2008

            3. Oh…because she “supports the republican platform, that explains everything!!? She’s in the pockets of big oil, which disqualifies her from being a strong and effective advocate for leading the effort towards energy source diversification:

            http://thinkprogress.org/2008/

            4. She is suing the U.S. government in their efforts to protect endangered species! Let the scientists have a word…you know, people who actually study these issues!

            http://thinkprogress.org/2008/

            5. Again, you ignore history. This wedge issue only seeks to divide America, putting government between a woman, her physician and her faith….no place for government.

            From the McSame/Palin website.

            http://www.johnmccain.com/Info

            6. Again, you ignore the public record. Luckily I don’t have to worry about the issue as public policy because the courts have consistently ruled against teaching creationism in public schools.

            Then, there is the logic that needs to be looked at.

            Creationism postulates that there is a “Magic!” man who exists in a “Magic!” space and uses “Magic!” to create the world. It further claims that he used still more “Magic!” to create false evidence which contradicts his efforts.

            Evolution says “Reproducing populations change over time through processes which are both observable and reproducable.”

            In general any “answer” which contains “Magic!” even one time is illogical.

            Here’s an example:

            How do remote controls work?

            a) You push a button sending an electrical impulse through a microchip which in turn activates a infrared light. Your TV senses the light and follows the instructions.

            b) You push the button and an invisible angel activates a magic bell summoning an invisible magic gnome who turns the channel.

            Which is more logical and why?

            Let’s have an answer.

            7. Who said anything about Israel. A country, btw, that has defended itself quite well over the years. It’s about oil.

            Let’s see what SP had to say about Iran at the RNC convention:

            “To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of world energy supplies, or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia, or that Venezuela might shut off its oil deliveries, we Americans need to produce more of our own oil and gas,” said the Alaskan governor. “Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems – as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all,” she said.

            I can’t find anything about Iran attacking Israel…can you?

            8. The term “met with” is not subjective. Either one has, or has not, met with someone! It’s that simmple. You say you’re “SURE that Palin has met with troops in Islamic countries?? Let’s see the link. She has VERY LIMITED overseas experience.

            http://www.boston.com/news/pol

            Balls in your court.

          2. But some of it was probably true.

            Here’s one lie though:

            That said, they have no plans to promote overturning Roe v. Wade.

            That is a bald-faced lie. McCain has said dozens of times that he thinks Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Palin’s feelings on the issue are well known too.

      2. 1.

        WASILLA — Back in 1996, when she first became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the city librarian if she would be all right with censoring library books should she be asked to do so.

        According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she would definitely not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, got a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. The censorship issue was not mentioned as a reason for the firing. The letter just said the new mayor felt Emmons didn’t fully support her and had to go.

        Emmons had been city librarian for seven years and was well liked. After a wave of public support for her, Palin relented and let Emmons keep her job.

         Palin attempted to censor books and when the librarian refused attempted to impoperly use the power of her office to fire the librarian (reminds me of the issues surrounding troopergate).  After there was a broad uprising of supoort for the librarian, Palin backed off.

        http://news.bostonherald.com/n

        2.

        Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

        “You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,” according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for about six years.

        Sounds a lot like praying to convert Gays to me.

        http://ap.google.com/article/A

        BTW also working to convert jews too

        two weeks ago, when Palin’s church, the Wasilla Bible Church, gave its pulpit over to a figure viewed with deep hostility by many Jewish organizations: David Brickner, the executive director of Jews for Jesus.

        Palin’s pastor, Larry Kroon, introduced Brickner …”He’s a leader of Jews for Jesus, a ministry that is out on the leading edge in a pressing, demanding area of witnessing and evangelism,” …”The Jewish community, in particular, has a difficult time understanding this reality,” he said.

        Brickner’s mission has drawn wide criticism from the organized Jewish community, and the Anti-Defamation League accused them in a report of “targeting Jews for conversion with subterfuge and deception.”

        They also blame the jews non acceptance of Jesus for the terror attacks

        Brickner also described terrorist attacks on Israelis as God’s “judgment of unbelief” of Jews who haven’t embraced Christianity.

        http://www.politico.com/news/s

        Personally I’ve heard a lot of crazy ideas in church (trinic theory is crazy enough) so I don’t worry too much about this.

        3.

        A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.

        She denies the Climate Crisis is driven by industrial/petroleum greenhouse gases.  http://www.newsmax.com/headlin

        Being a hunter hasn’t made her a conservationist

        Sarah Palin’s record on environment is abysmal

        http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/

        4.I can find no evidence that she wants to kill the ESA, but Palin has sued to keep the Polar Bear from being classified as endangered.

        The State of Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as a threatened species, Gov. Sarah Palin said Wednesday.

        She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state’s northern and northwestern coasts….A U.S. Geological Survey study completed last year as part of the petition process predicted polar bears in Alaska could be wiped out by 2050.

        http://www.adn.com/polarbears/

        5.

        Palin is not merely opposed to abortion rights.

        She said when she entered statewide politics in Alaska that she was as “pro-life as any candidate can be.” She takes the militant position of opposing allowing women to choose to terminate pregnancies even in cases where they have been raped. She also opposes allowing abortions in cases of incest.

        http://www.cbsnews.com/stories

        The GOP platform also includes a plank supporting a no exception ban on abortion.

        http://www.google.com/url?sa=U

        6.

        When asked during a televised debate in 2006 about evolution and creationism, Palin said, according to the Anchorage Daily News: “Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.”

        In a subsequent interview with the Daily News, Palin said discussion of alternative views on the origins of life should be allowed in Alaska classrooms. “I don’t think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class

        You are correct she didn’t push for it once in office, but she does believe in teaching mythology in a science class.

        http://www.google.com/url?sa=U

        7.Umm McCain supports invading just about everywhere.

        Palin just believes the war in iraq is God’s mission.

        Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a “task that is from God.”

        http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/

        8.no idea

        1. These people think they can get away with saying anything. Unfortunately, with their target audience they usually can. Many in the true middle, though, will be willing to hear the truth when dedicated researchers like you bring it out WITH back-up.  

      3. Damiano, your answer to Q1 is a diversion tactic–disprove a particular rumor, and try to present that as proving false a different charge. It proves no such thing.

        Your link is to a rumor about a particular book list, for which I find no evidence and therefore conclude is not true. But it is true, reported many places, including by Time/CNN (http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1837918,00.html), that Palin did ask the city librarian about banning some books. When the librarian refused to censor any books, Palin tried to fire her, and backed off only when there was a community outcry to the firing.

        The accurate answer to CrazyOkie’s question is that there is no credible report at this time of which specific books Palin was trying to get banned, but she definitely made an attempt at censorship.

        We can quibble about other answers also. For example, Q3. You claim Palin supports the platform of the Republican party. Maybe–but how do you know that? She certainly didn’t address that in her convention speech, and all campaign appearances I have seen since then have been a repeat of her character attacks with nothing of substance on issues. Can you show the basis for your claim that she supports the party platform on CO2–or other issues? When and where has she said that? Believe me, I am anxious to hear her views on all issues. Perhaps soon they will let her speak without a script, speak about issues, and respond to questions.  

      4. .

        Both McCain and Obama,

        both Biden and Palin are for perpetual war.

        Either party will prolong the Iraq war, and

        both will invade Iran.  And Pakistan.

        Golly, it wouldn’t surprise me if the USA was “nation-building” in Andorra or Malta 4 years from now.  

        It is dishonest to suggest Obama is any less a war-monger than McCain.  

        If you want a President that upholds American constitutional values, you must look further down the Ballot.  

        The American Constitution Party is offering the leadership of Chuck Baldwin and Darrell Castle.  

        These are not perfect candidates, but they are a lot better than what the two branches of the one major corporatist party are offering.  

        If you vote for the lesser of 2 evils,

        you are still voting for evil.

        .

  2. Listening to Colorado Springs radio this morning caused me to conclude that, plain and simple, Palin was chosen by Rove to bring the fundamentalist Christian voter to the polls for McCain.  Just think of the swing in this faction between McCain’s choice (Jewish Lieberman) and Rove/Dobson’s choice of a pro-life/Jesus-believing fundamentalist.  With this choice, the preachers will be primed to tell their congregations that it is their Christian duty to vote McCain.

    1. Fundamentalist Christians will always vote Republican because of their religious-based stance on abortion. To suggest that Palin was place on the ticket for this purpose due to a Rove conspiracy is as ridiculous as it is naive.

      Gov. Palin was selected for very valid and easily identifiable reasons, including:

      1. In all fact, McCain’s campaign lacked excitement. From the start, this has never been a campaign about issues, despite several attempts by McCain to make it so. The Democratic Party as a whole and the Obama campaign in particular have done everything possible to avoid in depth discussion and debate on issues and make it a referendum between Democrats and George Bush. Obama never mentions or debates McCain’s comprehensive energy reform plan (the Lexington Project: http://www.johnmccain.com/Info… McCain’s outspoken opposition to Bush’s handling of Iraq, the fact that McCain was one of the first to call from Rumsfeld’s resignation, etc. All the focus is entirely on an overstated caricature of George Bush and a popularity contest (which ignores that the Democrats have half of Bush’s approval rating). Palin changes the game in this regard and has ensured that the media cover the McCain/ Palin campaign.

      2. Gov. Palin has accomplished more in the past year on issues like energy, government reform, fiscal responsibility, creating new, permanent, high paying jobs and balancing budgets than anyone else in government has in the past 30 years. That type of change is exactly what Washington needs.

      3. Gov. Palin IS middle class and is personally involved with the issues facing middle and lower class families. Her entire political career was based on addressing these issues and bringing about real reform.

      4. Gov. Palin has no personal agenda. She and McCain lead through service. That cannot be said about the overwhelming majority of politicians.  

      1. Naive, spin dude? You wish. But keep on saying the opposite of what is true really loud and really often.  It’s worked for you guys in the last two elections, and there’s a good chance it will work again.

        http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

        http://www.thenation.com/blogs

        Supporting a position/candidate and showing up at the polls are two different things.  My point, which I suspect is your assignment to refute, is that fundamentalist Christians have (at best) been lukewarm on McCain. [search this site for Dobson McCain if you want the support for that statement].  Picking Palin took care of that issue rather handily, and fired up that base to show up in November.

  3. I caught a bit of Palin and McCain’s Friday appearance in Michigan. Palin just repeated parts of her convention speech, which really has to be freshened up to prove she’s more than a speech memorizer, and also to avoid overdoing it on the sarcasm.

    Sarcasm is good for the convention floor, but should be less prominent on the road.

  4. I hope that my fellow Barack Obama supporters take this as a wake up call.

    10,000 people showing up for John McCain is evidence that its going to take work for Barack Obama to win in November, especially here in Colorado.

    It’s going to take all of us to get out and organize.  Democrats, independent liberals and Republicans for Obama need to need to talk to friends, neighbors and family about why we are supporting Obama and ask them to as well.

    Forward Colorado is the group that is organizing in Colorado. if you go the website of the Colorado Democratic Party you can find out how to contact them. http://coloradodems.org/ If you want Obama to win, please contact them and do what you can!

    Peace, Love and Understanding,

    Rick VanWie

    Precinct 604 Co-captain

    Denver Democratic Party

    1. 75,000 showed up in Denver for Obama 10 days ago.

      Not saying we shouldn’t work hard, just saying wait till the next public Obama event in CO–10,000 isn’t nothing, but Obama is going to draw more.

      Plus, it’s the Springs.

    2. Here in the south burbs, Obama field directors are doing a great job of organizing door to door, phone banking and MASSIVE voter registration efforts where the young voters are coupled with strong urging toward getting that easy to do mail in ballot.  

      Easy to go to Obama site and find contact for your area.  If we all volunteer even just an hour here and there we will be hard to beat.  This is way more important than just writing a check only because lots of people are willing to do that, fewer are willing to make time.  Money has NOT been an Obama problem.  Of course writing checks IS good,too.

  5. but I went to a Bush rally in 04 then the rally in Michigan a few days ago and the feel was very different. The crowd was genuinely excited and energized which I can hardly ever say about any Republican crowd. McCain and Palin basically repeated their statements from the night before, but the overwhelming support and excitement in the air was evidence of something more-momentum.

    The choice of Palin by the McCain campaign was genius; it gave them a dynamic that was absent before and added much energy to the campaign. After the DNC all the talk was about McCain’s VP choice and really served to deflate the nationwide effect of the DNC. All this “controversy” over Sarah and her family (prego kid, etc) only serves to draw more attention to her. It keeps the Dems on their heels playing defense. If Republicans can keep up the beautifully strategic campaign they ran up til this point it won’t be a contest in November.  

  6. And so too apparently will Sarah Palin later this week.  McBush has given the go-ahead for her to be interviewed by Charlie Gibson at ABC News.  I wonder if they have to send her the questions at least 72 hours before the interview.)

    1. Gibson will ask whether the Rev. Jeremiah Wright loves his country and whether Obama should have associated with Bill Ayres. Don’t be surprised if she has good answers at hand for those.

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