I am optimistic that McCain will ultimately be able to remind the independents of this nation that he has never been a partisan hack. He's tacked that way somewhat during the primaries because he has to mobilize his base (learned that hard lesson in 2000), but at his heart we know what he is: he's been a practical, balanced, fair-minded, fearless, independent conservative from the beginning. With Palin on board to help him with the GOP base, he can himself start re-asserting his true self more. I appreciated this example from Palin: he supported the surge when it looked like political suicide, and everyone else was pandering. He thought it was good policy. He was right. He's like that.

He's got a real shot at this. Fingers crossed....

Were we listening to the same speech I don't recall hearing anything about how he will help just the regular crap I was neither inspired or uplifted )Actually I was Bored) sorry but electing mr. McCain will get us nothing but more of the same

Funny, when I heard McCain talk for over an hour, I was shocked by how devoid of real plans I heard from him. He asked us to "fight with him," but he didn't given me any plans or initiative specifics to feel like he's got any ideas on solving the crises that face us -- stay in Iraq, cut more taxes, drill for oil, and add nuclear power plants was about all I got. The cut taxes part hasn't really helped us so far -- and less government oversight of business has led to corporate corruption and the collapse of our housing market, Enron and reduced faith in Wall Street, skyrocketing oil prices, and the fall of our auto industry. While Republicans say they don't want more government oversight/involvement with industry, they squawk about how the current situation is killing the middle class. More subsidies for oil companies (allowing more drilling off-shore on public areas) -- that is, lining the oil industry's pockets even further -- isn't the solution to our energy situation. We need government efforts to steer our nation onto a better path. Waiting for a "free market" solution doesn't seem to be working!

I don't know what you were listening to, but it certainly wasn't a John McCain speach (and especially not the one he gave a couple of days ago). McCain didn't offer anyh type of hope -- he just offered, dressed up a bit differently, more of what we've gone through these last 8 years. I don't like or want Obama either, but even HE is better than McCain. True hope comes from saying "No thanks, John -- we want better."

You're right about Mitt. He showed himself in his speech to be nothing but a party hack. But you're wrong about MCCain. He frankly offers nothing hopeful, just more of the same militaristic swill we've been living with for 8 years. I heard no specifics beyond "drill now, drill everywhere."

My hope is that McCain won't be quite as bad as Bush.

Mitt Romney did exactly what he should have done at the Republican Convention.

I would have loved to have Mitt as the nominee, but clearly, McCain and Palin are the only possible choice now. Electing Obama would be a disaster for our country.

Sarah Palin could be the next Maggie Thatcher. GO SARAH!!!

I agree. However, from my perspective Obama offers hope in spades. And the continuation of georges' war is not hopeful.

I heard alot of "fight" and "stand up to" and bellicose phrasing. Enough with the quick-draw crowd. How about someone who actually asks questions before shooting? For someone who "hates war", John McCain has no problem being in Iraq infinitely, and I can almost see him seethe with excitement at the prospect of attacking Iran and Russia. Want World War 3? Vote McSame/Pal'in.

I agree! Mitt's comments about the mortgage industry were ridiculous. The truth is, most people who were selling mortgages had no control over which products their companies offered. Even if those products were too risky for some people, the average loan officer was only doing his job in offering that product. I realize there were some unscrupulous, dishonest loan officers, but there are also lots of honest ones just trying to make a living. Now, they're out of work through no fault of their own. It's interesting too that banks were more than willing to buy up those loans to make money. Now however, the banks want to blame the mortgage companies for all the troubles.

Sorry joe moe but voting with your party 90% of the time does not make you a maverick in an interview on a a radio station (Not republican radio(KSL)) I heard a man that has been doing biographical stories on John the interviewer asked how he would be seen after the election if he lost she asked whether people would think he sold out his maverick ways to get elected the answer was that he wouldn't because he really isn't a maverick and he didn't sell out

Isn't it interesting that the Republican strategy for running against eight years of the Republican Party is to try an re-invent John McCain, cast him as the old John McCain, but keep him as the "new and improved" John McCain.

This transformation into the form of McBush is relevant to any conservative wanting to make us forget about Bush/Cheney and maintain the Bush/Cheney status quo. It certainly will be instructional to see how a political party successfully runs against itself and the primary candidate disassociates himself from himself in the next two months.

Why is it that the "new and improved" John McCain does not support any of the ideas put forward by the old John McCain? Americans will have to see if his face lift of personality and idealism has been successful and we have to endure another four years of Bush/Cheney.

I heard nothing at all in McCain's speech about the economy.

And his lip service to bipartisanship rang hollow after the childish and churlish speeches by Palin and Giuliani the night before.

Youv'e got to be kidding. Comparing Palin to Margaret Thatcher is like comparing Paris Hilton to Condolesa Rice! Take off the rosey glasses and accept the fact the Palin is nothing more than a campaign gimmick, just a side show in the repub. dog and pony show...Oh did I mention, McPony was a POW. His camp so seldom mentions it!

"Country First. Rich Babes Later."

When you're unemployed do you want hope barbecued, fried or boiled?

Voting with Bush 95% of the time isn't needed hope, it's insane.

Yes, McCain offers "Hope" -- Hope for more of the same!!

Hope to keep the tax cuts for the top 5% of Americans.

Hope to give the top 5% of Americans more tax cuts.

Hope to stay in Iraq indefinately.

Hope to go to war with Iran.

Hope to continue the expansion of presidential power.

Hope to continue with the partisianship that divides American and keep power in the hands of Conservatives and Corporate America.

Hope to put Creationism into our schools as a part of the science cirriculum.

Hope to increase the national debt far beyond what George Bush has done.

Hope not to do anything to help the economic lot of the majority of Americans.

Hope to outsource more American jobs thereby increasing joblessness at home.

Hope to make Christianity the national religion and have the evangelical version of Christianity the standard across the country.

Hope to continue the attack on education making American a third-class competitor on the world stage.

Hope to end civil rights progress once and for all.

Hope to keep gays, lesbians, and transgender people out of sight and out of mind.

Hope to overturn Roe v Wade and a woman's right to choose.

To all you small minded libs. Get over President Bush. He is not running. Your entire campaign is based on your hate of him. You haven't offered new solutions to America's problems in 50 years. Trying them again certainly won't help, and will likely harm this great nation. McCain is a far better choice than the empty promises of change the democrat contenders propose.

Jackie, I don't think you have been paying attention. That is putting it as kindly as I can. All McCain said in that speech beyond repeating his biography was that Washington is broken and is will fix it. Other than vetoing any bills with earmarks which will affect less than 1% of the total budget. His earmark savings will total about 72 Billion dollars, but the treasury deficit due to he huge tax cuts in the same 4 years will be over 1 Trillion dollars? Doesn't make me feel secure.

All he offer was the "promise" he would change things, but he neglected to specify what and how. His speech was content- and fact-free. The reason for that is if you read his policy positions at johmmccain.com you will find policies that have no positive benefit on any of the serious problems affecting this country.

Please, take the time and read the policy statements on his web site, then read the policy statements at barackobama.com and then provide us with an update.

McCain offered hope and change, mmmmm he was repeating Obamas words but with no foundation from his own heart. Tell me folks, how are we going to pay of the debt that is sitting waiting for the next president -- more tax breaks for the wealthy of course