John McCain is a smart politician.
His stop at Sturgis, a gathering of Harley bikers from all corners of the country, was the perfect place to find a ready-made audience of thousands to address.
McCain hit all the right notes at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the annual honoring of veterans during the Sturgis motorcycle rally.
Joined on stage at the well-known Sturgis rally venue by his wife, Cindy, daughter, Meghan, Sen. John Thune and Gov. Mike Rounds, as well as military veterans, McCain argued that Obama's energy plan was based on weak conservation premises rather than needed oil exploration drilling.
Referring to recent comments by Obama that properly inflated tires and well-tuned cars can help reduce the need for more oil production, McCain continued the "drill now-drill here" message that has become a focus of his energy plan.
"I'll tell you that when I'm president, we're not going to be paying $4 for gas. We're going to drill offshore, and we're going to drill now," McCain said. "My opponent doesn't want to drill. He doesn't want nuclear power. He wants you to inflate your tires."
McCain spoke for only about seven minutes, focusing on the two issues he discussed in more detail with a few local journalists during a bus ride from Rapid City -- where he was to spend the night at the Hotel Alex Johnson -- to the Buffalo Chip, by way of Interstate 90 and a circuitous sidetrack on dusty gravel roads. During the ride, the Arizona Republican predicted a rousing response to his energy points, and wasn't disappointed. The crowd reacted with cheers and the roar of strategically placed Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the audience.
McCain got a similar response when he criticized Obama for wanting to set time lines for withdrawing troops from Iraq.
"My opponent wants to set a date to come home," McCain said. "I want us to come home with victory and honor, so we'll never have to go back again."
..."As you know, not long ago a couple hundred thousand Berliners made a lot of noise for my opponent," McCain said. "I'll take the roar of 50,000 Harleys every day."
He might not have gotten quite that many Monday night. But at times, it sounded like it.
That line about Obama appealing to Berliners was a good one.
I also liked that Cindy McCain mentioned the military service of her sons.
His wife, Cindy, also paid tribute to the crowd, saying: "I'd like to thank all of you for your support of our troops, and here's why: I'm many things in my life, and one thing I'd like to be is your first lady. But more importantly, I'm Jack McCain's mother and Jimmy McCain's mother, one in the U.S. Navy and another one in the Marine Corps, an Iraqi vet."
The fact that the McCains' children are proudly serving in the military should be noted.
The Dems' favorite chicken hawk label certainly can't be applied to John McCain and his family.
If I had a dollar for every time I heard some lib say that the Bush twins should be serving in Iraq, I could buy a Harley.
McCain should make a stop in Milwaukee for Harley's 105th anniversary celebration at the end of August.
A visit could serve as a nice place for McCain to springboard to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. It would also provide some balance at the celebration, politically speaking.
Vocal Obama supporter Bruce Springsteen will be appearing at the Roadhouse at Milwaukee's lakefront to close out the rally festivities on August 30.
Will Springsteen deliver one of his trademark anti-Bush, "America sucks now" rants during the concert?
I hope not.
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9 comments:
How come the McCains aren't staying for some of the other events scheduled at the Rally, like the 3rd Annual Gay Men's Biker Run, the Fake Orgasm Contest and the World Pickle Lickin' Federation's Pickle Lickin' Contest?
McCaina nd the rapist/drug-dealing/gun-smuggling Hell's Angels?
No wonder Obama's going to win. People are tired of perversions by the Republicans.
Global demand for oil is rising while global supplies are being sucked dry.
Even Bush said we are addicted to oil and need to change our habits.
McCain goes to a rally to say don't worry, we'll do everything we can to continue the addiction as long as possible.
Not exactly a sign of polital courage to tell a bunch of addicted oil consumers that even though the cost of their addiction has risen, he knows a place where he can get more of the good stuff.
Even though that "place" only has a little bit of the good stuff and will only provide a very temporary fix.
Jerry, I don't know the McCains' schedule. Maybe they couldn't attend all the events you cited.
I suppose the McCains were interested in attending the event honoring veterans, given McCain's past service and the service of his sons.
Just a guess.
PIA, are you addicted to oil? Do you live in a tent? Do you drive a car? Do you grow your own food or do you buy it?
Should you really be casting stones? That doesn't take much political courage.
I haved reduced my oil consumption in many ways. I don't feel my life is any worse because of it.
I go to a gym that is closer to my house. I take the bus instead of driving for some of my errands and nights out. (This especially helps since the drunk driving limit has been reduced to .08 which is like one beer per hour : )I've only had my air conditioning on a few days this summer. I get most of my food from a local farmer's market and I also get a weekly delivery of vegatables and eggs from a local farm. It all is delicious! I pay $4 extra per month to have my home completely powered by wind power. I do this not only to use wind power, but also to let my power company know that there is a demand for sustainable forms of energy.
So yes, I still use oil, but its not like I'm driving around in an air conditioned Hummer. I know that my small reduction of oil use is a miniscule drop in the bucket, but hopefully my example will lead others to think of ways they can reduce their use of oil. Plus it is just how I have decided to live.
I'm sick of people who try to engage in a debate by throwing stones at the person instead of at the argument being made.
Al Gore has a good message about the environment and the amount of carbon we are pumping into the air. He offsets his own energy use through various means and uses wind and solar power for his electricity and yet people try to discount what he is saying by pointing out that he has a big house that must use a lot of energy. This is a weak debate strategy from people who don't want to talk about the climate and energy issues.
I like the way John McCain says (or at least used to say) it. If we are wrong about hmumans being a partial cause for global warming, then all we are doing by leading more environmentally friendly lives is leaving a healthier environment for our children. But if the higher global temperatures are being caused by the carbon humans are pumping into the air, then we are ignoring our responsibility to future generations by doing nothing.
If you're "sick of people who try to engage in a debate by throwing stones at the person instead of at the argument being made," then why slam the bikers, that "bunch of addicted oil consumers"?
When I wrote it, I was thinking about his recent oil related ads and how he is promising more of the good stuff to an entire nation of oil addicted consumers. But yes this thread was about how he took that same message to Sturgis.
Along the same lines, I'm not a big fan of politicians who bribe us with things we all want. Bush promised everyone three hundred dollars so he could pass his tax cuts. Obama is basically promising everyone $1000 if we vote for him. There is no political courage in any of these examples.
I don't like bribes either.
"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
They edited out all the parts that made him sound like a crazy.
"Were gonna win the war the right way and thats by winning it."
~McCain
Oh come on.
Do you really want to go there?
Obama sounded crazy when he rambled on about visiting 57 states. He sounded a bit nutty when he talked about a child needing a breathalyzer.
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