JayarJackson

John McCain’s running mate got her opportunity to show the Republican Party who she was on Wednesday night, since virtually no one had heard of her before she became their 2nd in charge just a few days ago.  Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wrapped up a night full of direct and completely false attacks on Barack Obama, Joe Biden and the entire Democratic Party. 

Former Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, along with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani warmed up the crowd with comebacks to discredit the validity of the Obama/Biden ticket.  They spoke of their lack of experience, record of doing nothing, and sole plan to destroy the country while handing it over to Al Qaeda.  Wednesday night seemed like the one set aside by Republicans to answer all the one-liners and reputation destroyers that Democrats threw at them last week. 

The two conventions have begun to mirror a schoolyard argument between 3rd graders. 

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After dodging the potential political killer of Hurricane Gustav and solidifying their slogan of “Country First,” the Republican National Convention finally got going Tuesday evening in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Headliners finally got the opportunity to speak to the crowd to make their case for John McCain and Sarah Palin. 

Former Senator and Presidential candidate Fred Thompson and Demopendapublian Joe Lieberman ended the night with glowing words for McCain and direct shots at Barack Obama.  George Bush joined the party via satellite with an SNL style endorsement of McCain sure to have his campaign running from for the next 2 months. 

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The subject of the first scandalous, off the point discussion regarding John McCain's running mate Sarah Palin is the unexpected pregnancy of her 17 year-old daughter, Bristol. 

Some Democrats have brought this issue up as another indication of the hypocrisy of the GOP.  Although many actually don't really think the unplanned pregnancy of Bristol Palin is an issue to determine the election, their reason for harping on it is to point out the way Republicans flaunt a flawed "I'm better than you" perspective when it comes to teenage pregnancy. 

One calling card for the Republican Party's
"Family Values" campaign has been a policy of avoiding the teaching of safe sex in schools, while advocating abstinence programs that have been proven to be largely ineffective.  When young women do make mistakes and become pregnant, the parents are blamed for their childrens' desire to have sex if they didn't preach complete and utter abstinence.  They are painted as irresponsible mothers and fathers, looking to depend on abortion as a cop out if or when the unplanned happens.  Looks like it happens in the "family values" households, too!! 

The bottom line is that NO ONE ADVOCATES ABORTION.  No one thinks its a great thing, but many Pro-Life supporters label Pro-Choice Americans as evil baby killers.  Nothing separates good people like a good old fashioned good guy vs. bad guy scenario.  And the GOP is always the good guy with perfect children that never falter.  

Prominent Evangelical leaders such as James Dobson and Richard Land have come out performing instant damage control in hopes of spinning the criticism of the situation to benefit their candidate.  Instead of noticing that people from all walks of life, from both ends of the political spectrum sometimes have to deal with unplanned pregnancies, they take it straight to the issue of abortion. 

Dobson noted, "We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances."

No one is demanding the head of this unborn child, with evil dreams of another aborted baby.  But maybe responsibly educating teenagers about the dangers and consequences of unprotected sex will keep them from ever having to be faced with such a challenging point in their young lives.  Stop looking down on and condemning those that find themselves there and start trying to keep them from ever getting there. 

--JJJ

I showed up in Minneapolis at the same time Hurricane Gustav showed up along Louisiana's coast.  Gustav is  prepared to bring the pain to the Gulf Coast, but am I ready to reign over the RNC?  Everyone knew this was coming, so the Republican Party planned accordingly, going into anti-natural disaster mode, aka anti-National Party disaster mode.  A party atmosphere of a Convention just wouldn't be a good look for the Party with such a recent unfavorable track record when hurricanes attack America. 

With this in mind, the theme of the Convention has turned to "America First" with headline speakers deciding to not show up in order to handle the business of the country, in an attempt to prove that George Bush does care. 

This altered Convention has brought with it a subdued feeling and a lack of energy so far.  As the week goes on an as Gustav (hopefully) loses steam, we can settle in and get a real sense of what John McCain and the Republicans have planned for this event. 

So as I stroll the aisles of the Excel Center donned in a USC Football T-Shirt, (my travel gear) looking a bit sloppy, The Young Turks is like a rebel group dropped in the middle of a jungle of enemy fighters. 

Conservatives that are prepared enough to know the angle of our show and the facts we bring to interviews are avoiding us like the plague.   Although there are no tricks and schemes pulled, the natural thought is that we have something up our sleeves.  Some Senators and Representatives that almost walk into the fact-laden den of our remote Rebel HQs in Minnesota get advised otherwise immediately. 

Our guest booker and Associate Producer Ana Kasparian has been tirelessly chasing potential guests down and has been at odds with members of the radio booking team that is supposed to help book guests on radio shows granted a place in radio row.   A couple of these employees have instead been "counseling" each guest about their decision to have an adult conversation with us. 

As she gets shunned, our small rebel army's determination grows.  Ana's wounds are healing in the medical tent right now.  We're hacking through some serious jungle brush, setting trip wires and keeping the large "coalition of the unwilling to talk" in front of us.  Day 1 has been a bit brutal, but no casualties to report.  We're waiting until the end of the week to unleash the secret weapon: JJJ. 


HA!  We'll see if I crumble under the pressure...


--JJJ