McCain Pledges to Unite America

THE TELEGRAPH: John McCain vowed to transform Washington, denouncing the “partisan rancour” he said had plagued the ruling establishment for decades.

Attempting to take the sting out of rival Senator Barack Obama’s message of change, he said: "Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big spending, do nothing, me first, country second Washington crowd: change is coming.”

As he formally accepted his party's presidential nomination, the Vietnam War veteran promised to fight for his country “as long as I draw breath”.

“I'm going to fight for my cause every day as your President,” he told a packed hall in St Paul, Minnesota.

"I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not," he said

Bringing the crowd to its feet, he continued: "Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide form history. We make history."

Mr McCain made just one direct mention of the outgoing President George W Bush, thanking him for leading the country safely through the years since the September 11 attacks.

Needing to distance himself from the most unpopular US president of the modern era, he made a thinly veiled criticism of Mr Bush.

He said Republicans had lost Americans' trust "when we valued our power over our principles. We're going to change that.

"We're going to recover the people's trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire. The party of Lincoln, [Theodore] Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics."

At 72, the four-term Arizona senator once again presented himself as a maverick capable of working across party lines, having moved to the Right during the campaign to woo the party’s activists.

He said proudly of his past disagreements with the party: "I've been called a maverick. Sometimes it's meant as a compliment and sometimes it's not.

"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. John McCain Vows to Unite America in Republican Convention Speech >>> By Alex Spillius in St Paul | September 5, 2008

THE TELEGRAPH:
John McCain Offered Republicans Vision Rooted in Reality, Not Barack Obama's Empty Promises >>> By Simon Heffer | September 5, 2008

NZZ Online:
Aufruf McCains zum Kampf für Amerika: Bekenntnishafte Rede des republikanischen Kandidaten >>> Von Beat Ammann, St. Paul | 5. September 2008

LE FIGARO:
John McCain promet le changement: Dans son discours d’investiture aux accents guerriers, le candidat républicain à la Maison-Blanche a invité les Américains au combat >>> J.B. (lefigaro.fr) Avec AFP et AP | 5.9.2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>

Sarah Palin Electrifies Republican Convention and Launches a Blistering Attack on Barack Obama

THE TELEGRAPH: Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, John McCain's vice-presidential running mate, has electrified the Republican convention, declaring herself an "average hockey mom" and launching a blistering attack on Barack Obama.

After three days of scorn from Democrats and relentless scrutiny from the press, Mrs Palin came out punching, mocking Mr Obama, the Democratic nominee as someone who makes "dramatic speeches before devoted followers" and has "authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate".

In the Republican convention audience in St Paul were her husband and five children, including her son Trig, four months, who has Down syndrome, and daughter Bristol, 17, who is five months pregnant and gripped the hand of her fiancé Levi Johnston, 18.

To resounding applause, Mrs Palin, 44, Alaska governor for just 20 months and a virtual unknown on the national stage, said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I would be honoured to accept your nomination for vice president."

With just over two months to election day, Mrs Palin's selection has transformed an already gripping race for the White House.

Mr Obama and his running mate Senator Joe Biden of Delaware edged narrowly ahead in the polls after last week's Democratic convention but Republicans hope for a similar boost after Mrs Palin's speech and Mr McCain's address on Thursday night.

After Mrs Palin's confidently-delivered 37-minute speech, Mr McCain made a surprise appearance and asked to cheers: "Don't you think we made the right choice?"

He added, looking at the seven Palins and Mr Johnston standing beside him: "What a beautiful family."

Mrs Palin presented herself as a reformer and outsider who reveled in the disdain of the coastal elites.

"I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.

"But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion; I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country."

Mr McCain's senior campaign adviser Steve Schmidt had earlier denounced what he called a "faux media scandal designed to destroy the first female Republican nominee" for vice president.

Mrs Palin emphasised her humble origins and status as an "average hockey mom", ad-libbing a joke about the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull. Answer: lipstick. Sarah Palin wins over Republican Convention with attack on Barack Obama >>> By Toby Harnden in St Paul | September 4, 2008

TIMESONLINE:
This Is Alaska's Margaret Thatcher: Oh boy. I don't know what is going to happen next in the Sarah Palin story, but one thing is now for sure: John McCain has picked an Alaskan Margaret Thatcher to be his running mate.

She spoke for 36 pugnacious, stilleto-heeled, in your face, Barack Obama is a limp-wristed cover boy minutes. She blew the roof off. Sarah Palin has now shaken up a presidential race like no other nominee in modern times.

She took to the stage to the back-drop of a breaking National Enquirer story, flatly denied in a press release by the John McCain campaign, that she had had an affair with her husband's former business partner. If I were the editor of the Enquirer tonight, I might be locking my front door. Who knows what will transpire from Alaska in coming days, but Mrs Palin delivered one of the most mesmerising vice-presidential nights in convention history. >>> By Tim Reid in St Paul | September 4, 2008

LE FIGARO:
Sarah Palin enflamme la convention républicaine >>> 4.9.2008

eMARRAKECH:
McCain promet de capturer Ben Laden de sécurité: Saint Paul : Le candidat républicain à la Maison Blanche, John McCain, s'est engagé à attraper l'ennemi public n 1 des Etats-Unis, Oussama Ben Laden, s'il est élu >>> | Jeudi 04 Septembre 2008

THE TELEGRAPH:
Sarah Palin Is 'the New Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan': American conservatives have reacted with near ecstasy to the Republican convention speech by Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, comparing John McCain's running mate with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan >>> By Toby Harnden in St Paul | September 4, 2008

TOWNHALL.COM:
Want Real Change? Quit Nominating Lawyers! >>> By Victor Davis Hanson | September 4, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>

Tomasky Talk: It’s All about Sarah
Watch Guardian video: Tomasky Talk: It's all about Sarah: Michael Tomasky looks back at a week of Sarah Palin stories and considers what she has to accomplish in her speech tonight at the Republican convention >>> By Michael Tomasky | September 3, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US) >>>