Capitol View: September 4, 2008 Archive

John Kline's speech

Posted at 1:16 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck

GOP Rep. John Kline delivered a speech to Minnesota's GOP delegates this morning. You can listen to it here:

Update: Kline's DFL opponent, Steve Sarvi, released a TV ad today.

Jim Ramstad's speech

Posted at 1:20 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck

GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad spoke to the delegates earlier this morning. It was basically a good-bye to them since he's retiring. He told the audience that his district is turning blue but will work for Republican Erik Paulsen. Paulsen is running against DFLer Ashwin Madia and I-P candidate David Dillon.

Here's the speech:

37 million watched Palin

Posted at 2:10 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - More than 37 million U.S. TV viewers tuned in to watch Sarah Palin accept the Republican nomination for vice president Wednesday, just shy of the record set last week by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, Nielsen Media Research reported.

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The next stage

Posted at 2:53 PM on September 4, 2008 by Mike Mulcahy (1 Comments)

You may have heard by now that carpenters spent the night rebuilding the convention stage inside the Xcel Energy Center. Here's what it looks like now:

That ramp in the front is supposed to give it more of a "town hall" feel because McCain is more comfortable in that setting than giving a more traditional speech with a telepromter. Who knows what other surprises the campaign will pull out to try to compete with Barack Obama's Mile High Stadium speech last week?

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Inside the mind of Frank Luntz

Posted at 4:30 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Prominent GOP pollster Frank Luntz spoke to Minnesota's delegation this morning. He offered advice on how the delegates can help deliver Minnesota for McCain. Among the topics:

-Call it deep sea exploration as opposed to offshore drilling

-Call it American oil, American gas, American solar...

-Why John McCain and Sarah Palin shouldn't highlight social issues

-McCain's liabilities

It's an interesting listen as to how issues are framed and spinned for political gain.

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Grover on Pawlenty

Posted at 4:37 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform, talked today with MPR's Mark Zdechlik about Governor Pawlenty. Norquist said Pawlenty's choices are wide open and that he could be considered a future top Republican contender for president. Have a listen here....

Minnesotans will have an up close view of McCain

Posted at 4:58 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The McCain campaign said ten Minnesotans (in addition to the delegates) will be watching John McCain's acceptance speech up close. I'm told they'll be in the front row (right in front of Ohio). on the stage behind McCain.

Among them are Jerry Driscoll, who was a prisoner of war in the Hanoi Hilton with McCain, and Lisa Sisinni, a Clinton supporter who wrote an op-ed saying she'll vote for McCain. The McCain campaign says the other Minnesotans are a police officer, a fire fighter, a paramedic, a gold star mother (a woman who lost a son or daughter in Iraq or Afghanistan), a member of the McCain Hispanic Coalition, a McCain volunteer and Olympic wrestler Jacob Deitchler.

Schedule for tonight

Posted at 5:35 PM on September 4, 2008 by Mike Mulcahy (1 Comments)

A couple people asked, so here is the schedule of speakers at the convention tonight:

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Entertainment (Music): Al Williams
Entertainment (Monologue): James McEachin
Call to Order, Introduction of Colors: Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan
Presentation of Colors: Fort Snelling Joint Services Color Guards
Pledge of Allegiance: Olympians Ryan Berube, Mitch Gaylord, Brittany Hayes, Barbra Higgins, Larsen Jensen, Elle Logan, Marcus McElhenney and John Naber
Singing of the National Anthem: Trace Adkins
Invocation: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Speaker: U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.)
Speaker: Erik Paulsen
Speaker: Jay Love
Speaker: Charlie Summers
Speaker: Aaron Schock
Speaker: David Cappiello
Speaker: U.S. Sen. John Ensign (Nev.)
Video: "Country First: Peace," with narration by Robert Duvall
Speaker: Gov. Jon Huntsman (Utah)
Statement of Rule Regarding Vice Presidential Nomination; Recognition of Delegates Making Motions; and Adoption and Announcement of Nominee: U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.)
Speaker: Maria Cino, President and CEO of the 2008 Republican National Convention
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.)
Speaker: The Honorable Rosario Marin

7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Speaker: Joe Watkins
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.)
Speaker: Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.)
Speaker with Video: Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.)
Speaker: Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter, USMC (Ret.)
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.)
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin (Okla.)
Video: "World Stood Still"
Speaker: Joe Gibbs
Speaker: Brian Clay

8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Speaker: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
Video: "Vice Presidential Nominee Governor Sarah Palin"
Speaker: Former Gov. Tom Ridge (Penn.)
Video: "America's Place in the World"
Speaker: Mrs. Cindy McCain

9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Video: "Senator John McCain"
Speaker: Presidential Nominee John McCain

10 p.m. to Conclusion

Floor Demonstration, Balloon Drop, McCain and Palin Families on Stage
Introduction of Presiding Officer: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)
Benediction: Pastor Dan Yeary
Introduction of Delegate for Motion, Adoption and Adjournment: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)

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Excerpts from McCain's speech

Posted at 6:16 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The RNC released some excerpts from John McCain's speech:

On running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin:

"I'm very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country. But I can't wait until I introduce her to Washington. And let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming."

On solving problems in Washington:

"The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.

Again and again, I've worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That's how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not."

On love of country:

"I fell in love with my country when I was a prisoner in someone else's. I loved it not just for the many comforts of life here. I loved it for its decency; for its faith in the wisdom, justice and goodness of its people. I loved it because it was not just a place, but an idea, a cause worth fighting for. I was never the same again. I wasn't my own man anymore. I was my country's."

As McCain speaks, Obama appears on Fox

Posted at 7:35 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck

Barack Obama sits down with Fox on McCain's big night.

The problem with pundits (AKA the problem with archives)

Posted at 7:55 PM on September 4, 2008 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)

Comedy Central (which is broadcasting right up the road from the Xcel Energy Center) points out some double standards on the Palin controversy.

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