I watched this one alone, and with no alcohol... so that could be why I didn't make it through the whole thing.  Impression number one... yawn.  Granted, nobody thought that McCain was near the speaker that Obama is... but still... especially after Palin's speech last night (and the reaction by supporters and detractors alike afterwards), I'm going to start referring to the Republican ticket as the Palin/McCain ticket.  What follows are my random observations about the parts of the speech I watched, followed by the rest which I read this morning.

On being grateful to the President:  Does anyone else find it strange that not only did he not refer to Bush by name (simply as "The President") but he didn't even refer to his father by name... instead referring to him as "The 41st President"?  Everyone else who he specifically thanked, he thanked by name.  It seemed disrespectful.

On praising Obama:  A follow up to the video last week?  Obama thanked McCain and praised him for his service to the country, though Obama's praise seemed less genuine since he immediately followed it up with attacks.  McCain at least added some material in between before going after him.

"And after we've won, we're going to reach out our hand to any willing patriot, make this government start working for you again, and get this country back on the road to prosperity and peace.":  You mean we're not currently prosperous?  Is this a gaffe?  Are you saying that Bush has lead us into a weak economy?

"I'm very proud to have introduced our next Vice President to the country.  But I can't wait until I introduce her to Washington.":  Maybe it's just me, but did McCain look and sound really creepy when he said that?  Sort of like that old janitor who would smile strangely and say hello to the girls in the hall in high school?

On fighting... everything:  Good motif I think, and yet very unconservative.  Fighting tobacco and drug companies?  Foreign oil dependence (again)?  So government is going to take stricter control of these things in your administration?  What happened to free markets?  I also can't stand this tired old idea of mentioning random "small town" folks and their problems.  It always seems so fake... like McCain said to his campaign... go find me some sad folks to mention in my speech so I can seem more humble.  This is the sort of thing you hear in a Democratic speech.

"We believe everyone has something to contribute and deserves the opportunity to reach their God-given potential from the boy whose descendents arrived on the Mayflower to the Latina daughter of migrant workers"  Would that be a legal or illegal "migrant worker"?  Just curious.  The "build the wall higher with machine guns" folks must have loved that line.

"Reducing government spending and getting rid of failed programs will let you keep more of your own money to save, spend and invest as you see fit.":  Nobody likes pork.  I hate it.  But I also hate that our politicians concentrate on this like getting rid of it will solve all our woes.  It's just the tip of the iceberg.  Obama did this... and so did Sensenbrenner for that matter.  The vast majority of our spending is wrapped up in entitlements.  What are you going to do about that?  Bueller?

On Education:  Yeah school choice!  Bad that the Federal government is going to force it on us!  Remember when the Republican Party used to have a plank that actually said they wanted to get rid of the Dept. of Education?  I do (barely).

"My fellow Americans, when I'm President, we're going to embark on the most ambitious national project in decades.":  Wait.  Didn't you just mention a few minutes ago how you wanted to lower government spending and believed in free markets?  Let me scroll up.  "We believe in low taxes; spending discipline, and open markets. [...] We believe in a government that unleashes the creativity and initiative of Americans. Government that doesn't make your choices for you, but works to make sure you have more choices to make for yourself."  Then why are you telling us that the government is going to determine how we're going to solve energy problems?  Do you know what happened the last time we launched the most ambitious national project in decades to solve our foreign oil dependence?  Synfuel.  You won't do any better John.

Al Qaeda... Russia... Georgia... standard stuff.  Dangerous world out there... and I'll protect you.  Got it.

"...the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children. All these functions of government..."  These are all functions of government?  Funny... I buy my gas from a privately owned gas station.  Educate our children?  I thought that was ultimately the responsibility of parents (and I thought Republicans liked it that way).  Train our workers?  Our workers?!  That sounds way too socialist to me.  We educate ourselves as adults in order to live our lives in the way we choose.  You don't train me!  I educate myself!

On his time as a POW.  Not much to say here.  It's a powerful story... no doubt.  It doesn't make a campaign.

"If you're disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them."  I thought Republicans believed in small government and that the best way to solve government is to have less people in its ranks... not more?  My mistake.  I apologize.  More government... check.  Because I know he's got a bug up his but for a National Service campaign like Obama does... I can't help but be bothered by the whole sentiment.  Probably just my general libertarian nature.

More fighting.  Now instead of being that creepy janitor, he seems like a football coach right before the team runs out on the field.  Great ending.  Too bad the rest wasn't as good as the end.

I also noticed a lot of things which were absent.  Barely any mention of campaign finance reform (McCain - Feingold Incumbent Protection Act).  Barely any mention of climate control (and none of the failed McCain - Lieberman Stewardship Act... you know... the bill he introduced with his friend which would have created a cap and trade system).  Yeah... there's a legislative accomplishment I want in the White House.  Ironically enough, during the Sensenbrenner - Burkee debate, Sensenbrenner hit hard on the Leiberman - Warner Climate Security Act which seems to simply be a new iteration of the earlier Lieberman - McCain bill.