ST. PAUL, Minnesota (CNN) -- Sarah Palin praised John McCain on Wednesday night as a man who has met grave challenges and "knows how tough fights are won."

Sarah Palin ripped Barack Obama and said she's ready for the "challenge of a tough fight."

 

She then blasted Democratic rival Barack Obama, saying he "wants to forfeit" in Iraq while victory is "finally in sight."

 

"It's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform, not even in the state Senate," she told the Republican National Convention.

 

The crowd erupted with chants of "Zero!" and some delegates made zeroes with their fingers. Video Watch Palin attack Obama »

 

Throughout the speech, it was clear the first-term governor of Alaska had won over the hearts of the crowd.

 

"I think Sarah Palin can do a one-two punch better than Muhammad Ali," said Karin Brownlee, a state senator from Kansas. "I think she delivered it just square on the opponents' face."

 

Palin told the crowd that Obama "wants to forfeit" in Iraq while victory is "finally in sight."

 

"This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word 'victory' except when he's talking about his own campaign," she said. Photo See photos of Palin take the stage »

 

"What exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make the government bigger and take more of your money."

 

She began with a lengthy, minutes-long standing ovation as she accepted the Republican Party's nomination for vice president. It marked the first time in history that a woman has taken the stage as the GOP vice president pick.

 

"I accept the challenge of a tough fight," she said. Video Watch Palin say McCain has fought for change his entire life »

 

The crowd waved banners reading "Hockey moms for Palin" and shouted, "We love you, Sarah."

 

"I love those hockey moms," she said.

 

Palin, the former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, contrasted her résumé as a former mayor of a small town with that of Obama. "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."

 

Palin presented herself as both a mother and as an outside-the-Beltway reformer in the McCain mold, saying she "took on the old politics as usual in Juneau" and "stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good ol' boys network."

 

She tied oil, a major industry in her home state of Alaska, to foreign policy and national security on a night when convention delegates repeatedly burst into chants of "Drill now, baby, drill now!"

 

She insisted that the United States seek "energy independence," including through more drilling, in the face of threats as diverse as hurricanes in the Gulf and Russian military power in the Caucasus.

 

And Palin dismissed criticism about her that have appeared in the press. "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."

 

She also praised McCain as a "true profile in courage" compared with Obama.

 

"In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change," she said. iReport.com: Share your reaction to the convention speeches

 

Palin, whose youngest child has Down syndrome, also promised that families of special needs children will have "a friend and advocate in the White House."

 

At the end of the speech, McCain came out on stage amid raucous cheers and said, "Don't you think we made the right choice for the next vice president of the United States?" Video Watch McCain take stage, get crowd fired up »

 

The Obama campaign issued a statement immediately after the speech, saying it was "well-delivered, but it was written by George Bush's speechwriter and sounds exactly like the same divisive, partisan attacks we've heard from George Bush for the last eight years."

 

"If Gov. Palin and John McCain want to define 'change' as voting with George Bush 90 percent of the time, that's their choice, but we don't think the American people are ready to take a 10 percent chance on change," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said.

 

Just before Palin took center stage, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani warmed up the crowd by continuing the barrage on Obama, calling him a "celebrity senator" with no leadership experience.

 

"He's never had to lead people in crisis," Giuliani said. "This is not a personal attack; it's a statement of fact. Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada.

 

"The choice in this election comes down to substance over style. John McCain has been tested. Barack Obama has not. Tough times require strong leadership, and this is no time for on-the-job training."

 

His speech was the third of the evening by former GOP presidential candidates who pumped up the Republican faithful ahead of Palin.

 

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee got the crowd cheering when he ripped Obama for looking to Europe for ways to change America.

 

"Barack Obama's excellent adventure to Europe took his campaign for change to hundreds of thousands of people who don't even vote or pay taxes here," he said.

 

"The fact is, most Americans don't want more government; they want a lot less."

 

Huckabee said McCain represents small government and has ideas for change that will make the nation's economy better. He added that McCain is "a man with the character and stubborn kind of integrity that I want in a president."

 

Huckabee took a jab at the "elite media" for "unifying the Republican Party and all of America" in support of McCain and Palin, a first-term governor of Alaska.

 

"The reporting of the past few days has proven tackier than a costume change at a Madonna concert," Huckabee said. "I am so tired of hearing about her lack of experience. I want to tell you folks something. She got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

 

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney blasted "liberal Washington," saying McCain is a "prescription for every American who wants change in Washington."

 

He added that it's time to take a "Weedwacker" to excessive regulation and to impose lower taxes and to stop big-government spending.

 

"Throw out the big-government liberals and elect John McCain," Romney said. "We need change, all right: change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington."

 

He also threw his support behind Palin, saying the McCain-Palin ticket "will keep America as it has always been: the hope of the world."

 

"We will never allow America to retreat in the face of evil extremism," Romney said.

 

The Republican Party officially nominated McCain for president at the convention Wednesday. McCain will give a speech accepting the nomination on Thursday night.

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Police said two protesters were removed during Palin's speech. They said they were members of the anti-war group Code Pink. A spokesperson for the Joint Information Center said the two women were escorted by law enforcement officers from the Xcel Center for heckling.

 

They stood and yelled off to the side of the podium during Palin's speech. They were not charged and have been "sent on their way," this spokesperson said.

 

 

 

What a vile and disgusting woman. Lies lies lies.

She then blasted Democratic rival Barack Obama, saying he "wants to forfeit" in Iraq while victory is "finally in sight."

 

f*** me, what a retarded c**t...and I thought this was about Michael Palin too.

 

McCain is a great patriot

 

He was offered early release as a POW in Vietnam but turned it down as he could not dessert his fellow men who were under his command who were captured too so spent 5 years extra as a POW being tortured, beaten, starved etc etc his arms were broken so badly by his captors that he has very limited movement in one arm, this is a man that made great personal sacrifices in the name of honour and patriotism, Obama has spent his life behind a desk and writing books and fancy speeches, who is the bigger patriot ?

 

McCain is a man of honour who has undergone great sacrifice personally for his nation and his men, Obama while a great orator is nothing more than the black Blair, all spin, soundbites, celebrity lifestyle and self publicity

 

McCain for President

Edited September 4, 200816 yr by B.A Baracus

Heard that Obama's 10 points ahead in 3 key swing States now anyway.

Heard that Obama's 10 points ahead in 3 key swing States now anyway.

 

It is just the "Tiger Woods" effect, a novelty of a black man in a white male dominated environment, based on his record as a junior senator if Obama was in fact a white male called Barry O'Bama he would not have got past the first round of the voting process for the democrat nomination so the fact is he is where he is because of the fact he is black

 

A black man taking on the establishment in a country that is known for its racism makes a great story same as with Tiger Woods, Obama talks constantly of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks so it is clear to me that he is using his colour to his advantage

 

I couldn't care less about his colour I want the best man for the job as president and that man is McCain

I couldn't care less about his colour I want the best man for the job as president and that man is McCain

Oh please. What would McCain do differently from Bush, apart from being militaristic enough to lead the world into a stupid pointless war with Iran for the sake of it? Electing McCain would just basically be a more disastrous version of re-electing Bush for ANOTHER four years...

re-electing Bush for ANOTHER four years...

 

That's exactly what it would be. I'm not really bothered which Democrat becomes the next President of the USA just as long as this horrendous foreign policy based around stealing other country's natural resources to keep the 'well-oiled' (ha!) machine that is America running (or to allow massive company owners to make gigantic profits).

 

McCain is a great patriot

 

He was offered early release as a POW in Vietnam but turned it down as he could not dessert his fellow men who were under his command who were captured too so spent 5 years extra as a POW being tortured, beaten, starved etc etc his arms were broken so badly by his captors that he has very limited movement in one arm, this is a man that made great personal sacrifices in the name of honour and patriotism, Obama has spent his life behind a desk and writing books and fancy speeches, who is the bigger patriot ?

 

McCain is a man of honour who has undergone great sacrifice personally for his nation and his men, Obama while a great orator is nothing more than the black Blair, all spin, soundbites, celebrity lifestyle and self publicity

 

McCain for President

 

That's exactly what worries me about McCain.

It is just the "Tiger Woods" effect, a novelty of a black man in a white male dominated environment, based on his record as a junior senator if Obama was in fact a white male called Barry O'Bama he would not have got past the first round of the voting process for the democrat nomination so the fact is he is where he is because of the fact he is black

 

A black man taking on the establishment in a country that is known for its racism makes a great story same as with Tiger Woods, Obama talks constantly of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks so it is clear to me that he is using his colour to his advantage

 

I couldn't care less about his colour I want the best man for the job as president and that man is McCain

 

 

Rubbish. Bush clone ,means more wars and aggression. OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT.

Voting McCain would be just like voting Bush in again. He's voted with Bush on 90% of the issues, and he's stated that he's proud of that. There would be literally no change with him in office.

McCain is a great patriot

 

He was offered early release as a POW in Vietnam but turned it down as he could not dessert his fellow men who were under his command who were captured too so spent 5 years extra as a POW being tortured, beaten, starved etc etc his arms were broken so badly by his captors that he has very limited movement in one arm, this is a man that made great personal sacrifices in the name of honour and patriotism, Obama has spent his life behind a desk and writing books and fancy speeches, who is the bigger patriot ?

 

McCain is a man of honour who has undergone great sacrifice personally for his nation and his men, Obama while a great orator is nothing more than the black Blair, all spin, soundbites, celebrity lifestyle and self publicity

 

McCain for President

A man of honour? :lol:

 

Perhaps we're not talking about the same man. I'm thinking of a man who ran for the Republican candidacy eight years ago against Bush. The Bush camp spread rumours about McCain's coloured daughter suggesting that McCain had had an affair with a black woman. They knew that was a ile. In fact, the daughter is adopted. This "man of honour" has now appointed the same people who told lies about him to tell lies about Obama.

 

McCain has criticised people who have had a go at Sarah Palin's daughter for her pregnancy - something for which Bristol Palin shares responsibility. This is the same McCain - a "man of honour apparently" - who made a "joke" about Chelsea Clinton's looks which was not only deeply offensive to Chelsea (whp couldn't do anything about her looks as a teenager) but also Hillary Clinton and a memeber of Bill Clinton's administration.

A man of honour! ?????

 

Someone is really having a laugh.

 

McCann - Bomb Iran gag

 

Anyone who thinks war is funny, needs their head testing. Likewise anyone else who supports someone who thinks it is funny is as bad in my book, because War and the loss of life & trauma that comes with it is no laughing matter.

A man of honour! ?????

 

Someone is really having a laugh.

 

McCann - Bomb Iran gag

 

Anyone who thinks war is funny, needs their head testing. Likewise anyone else who supports someone who thinks it is funny is as bad in my book, because War and the loss of life & trauma that comes with it is no laughing matter.

Spot on.

 

McCain is a great patriot

 

He was offered early release as a POW in Vietnam but turned it down as he could not dessert his fellow men who were under his command who were captured too so spent 5 years extra as a POW being tortured, beaten, starved etc etc his arms were broken so badly by his captors that he has very limited movement in one arm, this is a man that made great personal sacrifices in the name of honour and patriotism, Obama has spent his life behind a desk and writing books and fancy speeches, who is the bigger patriot ?

 

McCain is a man of honour who has undergone great sacrifice personally for his nation and his men, Obama while a great orator is nothing more than the black Blair, all spin, soundbites, celebrity lifestyle and self publicity

 

McCain for President

 

If Americans vote for McCain on that basis then we are all screwed as their really is no logic to that statement in the political arena.

 

For crying out loud using that logic then back in the early 1960s had he stood Republican supporter John Wayne would have been a far better candidate for President than John F Kennedy.

 

 

So I suppose if Andy McNabb (Bravo Two Zero author who served 18 years in British military, SAS etc) stood against David Cameron you would support Andy McNabb.

 

That really is the warped thinking of the Thatcher "The greatest Brit to ever walk the earth" worshipping Jim Davidson. :rolleyes:

 

 

McCain is a great patriot

 

He was offered early release as a POW in Vietnam but turned it down as he could not dessert his fellow men who were under his command who were captured too so spent 5 years extra as a POW being tortured, beaten, starved etc etc his arms were broken so badly by his captors that he has very limited movement in one arm, this is a man that made great personal sacrifices in the name of honour and patriotism, Obama has spent his life behind a desk and writing books and fancy speeches, who is the bigger patriot ?

 

McCain is a man of honour who has undergone great sacrifice personally for his nation and his men, Obama while a great orator is nothing more than the black Blair, all spin, soundbites, celebrity lifestyle and self publicity

 

McCain for President

 

it makes him the OLDER candidate... you cant compare as obama wasnt old enough to go to war.

 

 

McCain is a great patriot

 

He was offered early release as a POW in Vietnam but turned it down as he could not dessert his fellow men who were under his command who were captured too so spent 5 years extra as a POW being tortured, beaten, starved etc etc his arms were broken so badly by his captors that he has very limited movement in one arm, this is a man that made great personal sacrifices in the name of honour and patriotism, Obama has spent his life behind a desk and writing books and fancy speeches, who is the bigger patriot ?

 

McCain is a man of honour who has undergone great sacrifice personally for his nation and his men, Obama while a great orator is nothing more than the black Blair, all spin, soundbites, celebrity lifestyle and self publicity

 

McCain for President

 

Just because a human being shows bravery and courage does not mean he is fit to lead one of the world's most powerful countries. Especially when he is going by the same exact formula that has failed the US two terms in a row.

 

And Palin has no right to blast someone for being unfit to lead...she seems like a bitter middle-aged woman who wants to help continue to control our country and assist in barring the public from social freedoms, all while going through menopause. There's one difference between Obama and McCain, one party admits we have done something wrong and is willing to retrace the steps to pinpoint the problem and fix it...and another thinks all is fine because we are following what we need to do according to their Christian faith.

 

The sad thing that makes me ashamed to say I live in the US, is that people won't even scratch the surface to see what each candidate really stands for. They just assume, and assuming is for stubborn 4 year old children that haven't experienced anything in life to know differently.

Mc Cain said in his speech yesterday he would use diplomacy, sanctions and negotiation before he considered any military alternatives, he is not some crackpot who will go steaming in there with another pointless war be it against Iran or North Korea or any other terrorist regime

 

McCain is the right man for 2 reasons

 

1) GOP believe strongly in tax cuts, Democrats for all of Obama's soundbites will need a program of tax rises to fund all of this so called "change", GOP have traditionally been tax cutters

 

2) Experience - The world is going through a recession, credit crunch, turbulent times in terms of terrorism and security, McCain has massive political experience some 20 years as a senior senator, he is respected by both sides of the house, he has the experience to cut deals and to steady the ship, Obama has 3 years political experience and is not even a senior senator, it would be a f*** up off the scale if a rookie with no experience was put in charge of the most important country in the world during a recession/credit crunch/dangerous period for the world

 

To quote Joe Biden before Obama made him VP "the presidency does not come with on the job training"

 

Obama with his lack of experience would need it

"the presidency does not come with on the job training"

 

Well how do you account for Dubya then? He had no experience apart from what he'd been taught by 'daddy'.

 

Norma

 

Well how do you account for Dubya then? He had no experience apart from what he'd been taught by 'daddy'.

 

Norma

 

Bush was a 2 term governer of Texas one of the largest states in America so he had a lot of experience, the rankings are

 

Governer

Senator

Junior Senator

 

Until Iraq Bush was a very good President, Iraq is a total and utter f*** up that has screwed America but in his first term Bush was a good president

Bush was a 2 term governer of Texas one of the largest states in America so he had a lot of experience, the rankings are

 

Governer

Senator

Junior Senator

 

Until Iraq Bush was a very good President, Iraq is a total and utter f*** up that has screwed America but in his first term Bush was a good president

Before Iraq Bush was still a dreadful president. He was already well on the way to saddling his successor with record levels of government debt, betaing the previous record set by his father.