John McCain’s speech tonight, acknowledging that he had won enough delegates to clinch the GOP nomination, convinced me that I made the right choice last month when I voted for him in the California primary. Impressed as I was with the speech I have been trying to find a transcript of his speech on-line and have not as yet found it.
For now, I’ll say I was delighted that he led off on the war on terror, contrasting his commitment to defeating the Islamofascists who threaten our freedom and our civilization with the ambiguous language of either of the two Democrats who could emerge as his rival in the fall campaign. When he mentioned Iraq, he said that we can’t refight the battles of the pass and pointed out that he had been pushing to changed “failed tactics,” noting that he had tried to change those tactics which had been “delayed for too long.”
I wish I had not been folding my laundry when the Senator started speaking. Otherwise, I would have transcribed (to the best of my ability) some parts of his speech.
By leading off with his commitment to fighting Islamofascism and reminding us of the stakes in Iraq, John McCain reassures that on the most important issue of the day, he recognizes its significance, is ready to lead and defend our great nation.
I hope to get a copy of the speech so I can quote it at liberty — and more accurately. That said, it was a great speech and a reminder that John McCain will be a strong nominee, standing for victory against those who would murder civilians and seek to destroy our civilization.
UPDATE: Just found a portion of the speech on the Corner.
Some excerpts:
On not wanting to re-fight arguments of the past
Our campaign must be, and will be more than another tired debate of false promises, empty sound-bites, or useless arguments from the past that address not a single American’s concerns for their family’s security. . . . But we are also expected to concentrate our efforts on the challenges that will confront America on our watch and explain how we intend to address them. . . . It is of little use to Americans for their candidates to avoid the many complex challenges of these struggles by re-litigating decisions of the past.
He pointed out that we’re at war in two nations. Here’s the link which so moved me when I watched in live on FoxNews:
I will defend the decision to destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime as I criticized the failed tactics that were employed for too long to establish the conditions that will allow us to leave that country with our country’s interests secure and our honor intact. But Americans know that the next President doesn’t get to re-make that decision. We are in Iraq and our most vital security interests are clearly involved there.
Emphasis added. Just read the whole thing, you’ll see that John McCain understands the stakes of our involvement in Iraq.
UP-UPDATE: Here’s more of McCain’s speech on National Review’s Campaign Spot. I trust you’ll agree with me, it was a good speech.
I have one question: is John McCain going to have to pick someone older and with more experience to add gravitis to his ticket? If so, didn’t Stromm Thurman pass away?
Did you catch Bret Stephens’ An Inordinate Fear of Terrorism? today in the WSJ?
So very true!
Meanwhile Obama is going on and on and on……. At least he has been giving Kudos to how wonderful the US of A really is. It sounds like the winners speech, even though Hilary’s numbers keep climbing in Texas. Ahh the joys of watching this political season!!!
Meanwhile, thousands of illegals are crossing our borders. What does he propose to do about that besides letting them stay here?
Dan — I respectfully disagree.  I painfully watched McCain’s speech entirely. Someone please tell me how a State Of The Union-esque laundry list of issue briefs will inspire Americans to support him?
I was bored to tears.
As for PatriotMom’s comment above…. OUCH!  Good one!!
Please pile the hate on McCain. Keep it coming through November. We won’t even need to run negative ads. We can just play back all the conservatives trashing him.
and we’re going to have even more fun playing back all the attacks that the lose of the Democratic contest plays against the winner. And their bile has only just begun.
Bruce, looks like this is another time where we disagree. I don’t think this was a "State-of-the-Union" type laundry list, but a presenation of broad themes which offered a clear indication of what he intends to do once elected.
Glenn Reynolds is with me on this one, calling it a "good" speech. He links Jim Mainz on the Corner who found the speech "excellent." Read that latter piece for excellent commentary on the speech. To me, it gives an indication of how he intends to go over the Democrats on Iraq, not by asking "‘What would you have done in 2002?’, but . . . instead ‘What should we do in 2009?’"
Perhaps, also he mentioned that he had pressed for a change of tactics in Iraq to distinguish himself from the incumbent.
I can not say that I was inspired by Sen. "F— You" McCain’s speech, but he is right on target about fighting against the Islamofacsists. And, that is why I will vote for him in the end. It is not just a fear of a President Clinton, part deux, or worse a President Obama, but the fact that Sen. "F— You" McCain may turn out to be a different president than he has been a senator. After all, being in charge is quite different than trying to cut deals as a senator. That is my hope.
Perhaps, in the course of this campaign, McCain will finally learn that the MSM and Democrats aren’t his friends. And perhaps that lesson will improve him a little, if and when he takes office.
ILC, let’s hope he learns it sooner rather than later. Â And he not learn it as did his colleague from Illinois.Â