Right Wing Nation

I didn’t play secretary this time, so for a run-down, check out Fausta (where’s Hugh’s summary?) And not to echo Beth, but I’d like to address the idiot on the telephone.

First, since the speech was the topic of the call, and the idiot’s question, the whole thing is here, if you haven’t read it, or didn’t see it this morning. And before I address the idiot, let me address the speech.

The topic at first seems odd for a campaign speech. McCain’s speech was about what it would be like after four years of his presidency, not a standard topic for a campaign speech. I watched it, and you could tell that it threw people at the beginning, although that changed. I wondered myself.

But I listened. And I went from thinking it odd to finding it brilliant. In this speech, McCain played off Obama’s nebulous hope and change rhetoric, and grounded it in the concrete. Much of his speech was unrealistic (then, I’m a cynical old coot), but it was specific. There were no empty buzz phrases or rhetoric, just a list of accomplishments. It drew a start contrast between his administration and Obama’s (the Mad Irishman has laid it out here).

But on to the idiot, who referred to this part:

By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom. The Iraq War has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension. Violence still occurs, but it is spasmodic and much reduced. Civil war has been prevented; militias disbanded; the Iraqi Security Force is professional and competent; al Qaeda in Iraq has been defeated; and the Government of Iraq is capable of imposing its authority in every province of Iraq and defending the integrity of its borders. The United States maintains a military presence there, but a much smaller one, and it does not play a direct combat role.

She wanted to know why McCain had changed his mind and “set a timetable” for withdrawal. Seriously. I’m not making that up. Ask Beth.

McCain said she obviously had not heard or understood his speech (that was a lot nicer than I would have been), so he explained it to her quite clearly. When he was done, she asked, as if she hadn’t heard a word he had said, “But why 2013?”

And he explained that 2013 would be the year after four years of a McCain presidency, again, much nicer than I would have been.

When the message went out with the number and passcode, it stated that the topic of the call would be the speech. Did she not read it? She certainly hadn’t read or heard it, and she was incapable of understanding it when it was explained to her. Beth thinks she’s from the DNC. I think she’s just an idiot.

And Kate Shepard talks way too fast. Slow down. I didn’t understand a word she said except for the last four or five.

On the last call, I was dealing with a barfing dog the whole time. I had a question this time, but didn’t get it in soon enough. I emailed it. When I get an answer, I’ll post.