Speech-Less

For those of you who were left wondering why in the world John McCain would use a green backdrop again, you'll really be confused after reading this.  

Talking Points Memo today reveals for us another McCain blooper.  This one's a doozie though.   Actually, this goes beyond blooper.  This is incompetence with a capital "I." 

Another look at the green backdrop reveals a building of what was supposed to be a picture of Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington D.C. Instead, for reasons only known to GOP Convention staff/interns, the image is actually of Walter Reed Middle School, located in North Hollywood, California.  

And these are the people who want to reform our government?

First Reactions To McCain's Speech

Taegan Goddard's Political Wire highlights some first reactions to McCain's acceptance speech last night.

Walter Shapiro: "His acceptance speech Thursday night was a mirror of McCain the contradictory political figure -- sometimes unorthodox and daring, sometimes plodding and pedestrian; rich in character, light in policy substance, much stronger in its sincere tone than in its rhetorical gloss."

Joe Klein: "More a valedictory than an acceptance speech -- more the end of a career than the beginning of a presidency."

Andrew Sullivan: "Quite a deflation after the drama of last night with the sportscaster-governor. It made me realize how much I am still fond of this guy. And also clearer about why this is not his moment. The specifics were very vague, and the entire presentation based on biography, nostalgia and a kind of strained, exhausted mildness. His performance at Saddleback was much, much better. He seemed very tired to me."

Jonathan Martin: "McCain hit all his message targets, eschewing partisan red meat to cast himself as a man who will work across party lines to reform a broken capital. But his delivery, especially in the first portion when he was discussing policy issues, was uninspired and did little to captivate the audience."

Michael Crowley: "...this is a very underwhelming speech. Familiar points explained in pedestrian terms. No overarching themes--right now it's sounding like a State of the Union laundry list. Even the crowd in the hall isn't jazzed. This is the sort of reception Tom Ridge got."

David Corn: "He offered an unexciting mix of GOP orthodoxy and declarations of personal maverickness--which was capped by yet one more long and detailed recounting of his POW days of forty years ago. Enough already."

Mark Halperin: "All in all, he came across as calm, honorable, and dedicated rather than fired up and ready to go."