"What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this? The answer is simple. I'm here to support John McCain..."

"McCain Praised As His Own Man"

"Aides Say Team Interviewed Palin Late in the Process"

http://www.causegreater.com/ Help deliver aid to those in need who are affected in the gulf coast.



The John McCain 2008 Jewish Advisory Coalition


So, somehow through someone who is important in the organization I work for I ended up with an invitation the The John McCain 2008 Jewish Advisory Coalition Lunch with Mitt Romney. (Who refused to take a picture with myself and some other young women...) We were in a private party with not a whole lot of guests... and the Governor definitely had time. Besides being a jerk, Romney's message was typical but lacked passion. He made some Obama jokes about lack of experience and promised an unwavering support for Israel and that the GOP and especially John McCain had a keen understanding of the clear existential threats to Israel and the U.S. posed by Iran. Then His Excellency, Ambassador of Israel to the United States, Sallai Meridor spoke, echoing Romney and McCain's sentiments and expressing great gratitude for the strong American-Israeli relationship. I have heard Meridor speak many times before (I think he's great.) It is always an interesting experience to be a part of fancy fundraising events!



While "wandering" the press stands, (thanks to the all access press credentials that I scored through my organization) I stumbled across the 2008 Republican Platform pamphlet which I found to be informative and useful.



The Table of Contents and a few Excerpts:



Defending Our Nation, Supporting Our Heros, Securing the Peace
"For seven years, the horror of September 11, 2001 has not repeated on our soil. For that, we are prayerfully grateful and salute all who have played a role in defending our homeland."
"In our multiethnic nation, everyone-- immigrants and native-born alike-- must embrace our core values of liberty, equality, meritocracy, and respect for human dignity and the rights of women."
"The principle underlying our Megan's Law--publicizing the identities of known human trafficking offenders-- should be extended to international travel in order to protect innocent children everywhere."




"Israel is a vigorous democracy, unique in the Middle East. We reaffirm America's commitment to Israel's security and will ensure that Israel maintains a qualitative edge in military technology over any potential adversaries."



Reforming Government to Serve the People

"Republicans will uphold and defend our party's core principles: Constrain the federal government to its legitimate constitutional functions. Unleash the power of enterprise, innovation, civic energy, and the American spirit--and never pretend that government is a substitute for family or community."

"Judicial activism is a grave threat to the rule of law because unaccountable federal judges are usurping democracy, ignoring the Constitution and its separation of powers, and imposing their personal opinions upon the public."


Expanding Opportunity to Promote Prosperity
"Economic freedom expands the prosperity pie; government can only divide it up. That is why Republicans advocate lower taxes, reasonable regulation, and smaller, smarter government. That agenda translates to more opportunity for more people."

"The recent attempt by congressional Democrats to deny workers a secret ballot in union referenda is an assault, not only against a fundamental principal of labor law, but even more against the dignity and honor of the American work force."


Energy Independence and Security

"In the long run, American production should move to zero-emission sources, and our nation's fossil fuel resources are the bridge to that emissions-free future."

"The Republican goal is to ensure that Americans have more conservation options that will enable them to make the best choices for their families."


Environmental Protection
"By balancing environmental goals with economic growth and job creation, our diverse economy has made possible the investment needed to safegaurd natural resources, protect endangered species, and create healthier living conditions."

Health Care Reform: Putting Patients First

"It is not enough to offer only increased access to a system that costs too much and does not work for millions of Americans. The Republican goal is more ambitious: Better health care for lower cost."

"We want all Americans to be able to choose the best health care provider, hospital, and health coverage for their needs. We believe that real reform is about improving your access to a health care provider, your control over care, and your ability to afford that care."

Education Means a More Competitive America
Education is essential to competitiveness, but it is more than just training for the work force of the future. It is through education that we ensure the transmission of a culture, a set of values we hold in common."

Protecting Our Families
"The two most effective forces in reducing crime and other social ills are strong families and caring communities. Both reinforce constructive conduct and ethical standards by setting examples and providing safe havens from dangerous and destructive behaviors."

"The innocent have far fewer rights than the accused. We call on Congress to correct this imbalance by sending to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of crime victims."

Preserving Our Values
"Individual rights-- and the responsibilities that go with them-- are the foundation of a free society. From the time of Lincoln, equality of individuals has been a cornerstone of the Republican Party."
"At its core, abortion is a fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life. Women deserve better than abortion. Every effort should be made to work with women considering abortion to enable and empower them to choose life."

Actor Ron Silver


Can this socially conservative woman governor bring to the GOP the energy that they need?

http://www.johnmccain.com/about/governorpalin.htm
Governor Sarah Palin delivered the following remarks after John McCain announced that she was joining the ticket as the nominee for Vice President. Governor Sarah Palin:
"And I thank you, Senator McCain and Mrs. McCain, for the confidence that you have placed in me. Senator, I am honored to be chosen as your running mate. I will be honored to serve next to the next president of the United States."I know that when Senator McCain gave me this opportunity, he had a short list of highly qualified men and women, and to have made that list at all -- it was a privilege. And to have been chosen brings a great challenge. I know that it will demand the best that I have to give, and I promise nothing less."First, there are a few people whom I would like you to meet. I want to start with my husband, Todd. And Todd and I are actually celebrating our 20th anniversary today, and I promised him a little surprise for the anniversary present, and hopefully he knows that I did deliver."And then we have as -- after my husband, who is a lifelong commercial fisherman, lifetime Alaskan -- he's a production operator. Todd is a production operator in the oil fields up on Alaska's North Slope, and he's a proud member of the United Steelworkers Union, and he's a world champion snow machine racer. Todd and I met way back in high school, and I can tell you that he is still the man that I admire most in this world."Along the way, Todd and I have shared many blessings, and four out of five of them are here with us today. Our oldest son, Track, though, he'll be following the presidential campaign from afar. On September 11th of last year, our son enlisted in the United States Army. Track now serves in an infantry brigade. And on September 11th, Track will deploy to Iraq in the service of his country. And Todd and I are so proud of him and of all the fine men and women serving the country in uniform."Next to Todd is our daughter Bristol; another daughter, Willow; our youngest daughter, Piper; and over in their arms is our son Trig, a beautiful baby boy. He was born just in April. His name is Trig Paxson Van Palin."Some of life's greatest opportunities come unexpectedly, and this is certainly the case today. I never really set out to be involved in public affairs, much less to run for this office. My mom and dad both worked at the local elementary school. And my husband and I, we both grew up working with our hands."I was just your average 'hockey mom' in Alaska. We were busy raising our kids. I was serving as the team mom and coaching some basketball on the side. I got involved in the PTA and then was elected to the city council and then elected mayor of my hometown, where my agenda was to stop wasteful spending and cut property taxes and put the people first."I was then appointed ethics commissioner and chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and when I found corruption there, I fought it hard and I held the offenders to account. Along with fellow reformers in the great state of Alaska, as governor, I've stood up to the old politics as usual, to the special interests, to the lobbyists, the Big Oil companies and the 'good old boy' network."When oil and gas prices went up so dramatically and the state revenues followed with that increase, I sent a large share of that revenue directly back to the people of Alaska -- and we are now -- we're now embarking on a $40 billion natural gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence."I signed major ethics reforms, and I appointed both Democrats and independents to serve in my administration. And I've championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress thanks, but no thanks, on that "Bridge to Nowhere." If our state wanted a bridge, I said, we'd build it ourselves."Well, it's always, though, safer in politics to avoid risk, to just kind of go along with the status quo. But I didn't get into government to do the safe and easy things. A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why the ship is built. Politics isn't just a game of competing interests and clashing parties. The people of America expect us to seek public office and to serve for the right reasons. And the right reason is to challenge the status quo and to serve the common good."Now, no one expects us to agree on everything, whether in Juneau or in Washington. But we are expected to govern with integrity and good will and clear convictions and a servant's heart."Now, no leader in America has shown these qualities so clearly or presents so clear a threat to business as usual in Washington as Senator John S. McCain. This -- this is a moment when principles and political independence matter a lot more than just the party line. And this is a man who has always been there to serve his country, not just his party."And this is a moment that requires resolve and toughness and strength of heart in the American president. And my running mate is a man who has shown those qualities in the darkest of places and in the service of his country. A colleague once said about Senator McCain: That man did things for this country that few people could go through; never forget that. And that speaker was former Senator John Glenn of Ohio. And John Glenn knows something about heroism."And I'm going to make sure nobody does forget that in his campaign. There is only one candidate who has truly fought for America, and that man is John McCain."This is a moment -- this is a moment when great causes can be won and great threats overcome, depending on the judgment of our next president. In a dangerous world, it is John McCain who will lead America's friends and allies in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."It was John McCain who cautioned long ago about the harm that Russian aggression could do to Georgia and to other small Democratic neighbors and to the world oil markets."It was Senator McCain who refused to hedge his support for our troops in Iraq, regardless of the political costs. And you know what? As the mother of one of those troops and as the commander of Alaska's National Guard, that's the kind of man I want as our commander in chief."Profiles in courage, they can be hard to come by these days. You know, so often we just find them in books. But next week when we nominate John McCain for president, we're putting one on the ballot!"To serve as vice president beside such a man would be the privilege of a lifetime, and it's fitting that this trust has been given to me 88 years almost to the day after the women of America first gained the right to vote."I think as well today of two other women who came before me in national elections. I can't begin this great effort without honoring the achievements of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, and, of course, Senator Hillary Clinton, who showed such determination and grace in her presidential campaign."It was rightly noted in Denver this week that Hillary left 18 million cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling in America. But it turns out the women of America aren't finished yet, and we can shatter that glass ceiling once and for all."So for my part, the mission is clear. The next 67 days I'm going to take our campaign to every part of our country and our message of reform to every voter of every background, in every political party, or no party at all. If you want change in Washington, if you hope for a better America, then we're asking for your vote on the 4th of November."My fellow Americans, come join our cause. Join our cause and help our country to elect a great man the next president of the United States. And I thank you, and I -- God bless you, I say, and God bless America. Thank you."

More on Palin's Speech, tomorrow...