I’m sure Sarah Palin somewhere has a list of points she is determined to make in every speech she gives.  This list of talking points was derived from a transcript printed in the Chicago Sun Times of a stump speech that Palin gave this past Monday in Clearwater Florida.

1. In politics there are some candidates who use change to just promote their careers. And then there are those leaders, like John McCain, who use their career to promote change.
2. John McCain is his own man. He doesn’t run with the Washington herd. And he and I don’t just talk about change, we’re the only candidates in this race with a track record of actually making change happen.
3. The people, our families, our businesses they know best so let them keep more of what they earn and produce and not have this government take trying to quote, “solve” all the problems for our families and our businesses.
4. And we’re also going to bring tax relief to every American and cut taxes for businesses so you business owners you can hire more people. That’s how jobs are created.
5. The phoniest claim in a campaign that’s been full of them, is that Barack Obama is going to cut your taxes.  He’s built his whole career on doling out tax money, first as a Chicago politician, and then raising taxes as a senator. He’s voted 94 times to raise taxes.
6. Even on middle class every day working Americans making $42,000 a year, he voted to raise those taxes. And he tried to waste a million dollars a day just on his requested earmarks. And now, he’s committed to almost a trillion dollars in new government spending. And yet, he never bothers to explain where all that’s going to come from to pay for all of that. And dog gone it, no one seems to be asking him how is he going to pay for the huge government growth that he wants. No one is asking him. So you all, just do the math. Either do the math or just go with your gut. In either way, you’re going to come up with the same conclusion, Barack Obama is going to raise your taxes.
7. So, there’s a pattern here of a left-wing agenda that is packaged and prettied up to look like mainstream policies. And everybody knows that this country has got to be put back on the right track. But the problem with our opponent’s agenda is that higher taxes and bigger government and activist courts and retreat in war, that’s not the right track for our country. That’s another dead end.
8. One of his earliest supporters is a man named Bill Ayers. And according to the New York Times he was a domestic terrorist and part of a group that quote, “launched a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and our U.S. Capitol.”
9. And then there’s even more to the story. Barack Obama says that Ayers was just someone in the neighborhood, but that’s less than truthful. His own top adviser said that they were quote, “certainly friendly.” In fact, Obama held one of his first meetings of his political career in Bill Ayers living room. And they worked together on various projects in Chicago. And, you know, these are the same guys who think that patriotism is paying higher taxes.
10. I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way that you and I see America, as the greatest source for good in this world.  I’m afraid this is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to work with a former domestic terrorist who had targeted his own country.
11. There is only one man in this campaign who has ever really fought for you. … He has the courage to go on fighting for you. That man is John McCain so God bless you for supporting John McCain.

Went to the big Barack Obama rally today at the Dragons Baseball Field.  Beautiful day.  I took my antiquated digital camera and took a few shots of Obama and of local Democrats who were sitting close to me.  I was surprised that at a political rally, that there would be an invocation, but there was — a very thoughtful prayer led by a Marianist nun who works at the University of Dayton.  I didn’t catch her name, but I was very impressed by her prayer and would like to find a copy of her prayer to post here at DaytonOS.

I'm guessing that about 6000 were in attendance. Obama's podium was located about at the pitchers mound.

I was kicking myself for not bringing a note pad to catch some direct quotes, both from the Marianist nun and from Obama.  I thought Obama was slow in getting started, rehashing recent news about the bail out, but not really adding anything of much interest.  But he eventually picked up steam and frequently had the audience on its feet (those not already standing) in strong applause.

My pictures of Obama speaking were so mediocre, I tried some Photoshop techniques.

Leadership is an art that includes bringing people to a place of shared vision.  Obama has a vision of America that is inspiring and sees America united toward seeking and realizing a common good, of creating a solid future for all Americans, of making America a leader for good among nations.  Effective leadership requires a level of confidence and trust that is now missing in much of our public life.  Trust in government and leadership is now at an all time low.  Obama has a promising demeanor, a promising outlook.  I am hopeful to believe that Obama has the capacity, the moral authority, needed to gain the confidence, not just of partisan Democrats, but Americans in general.  Great leaders have the gift to inspire, the gift to uplift.  I saw some of that quality in this rally today. I am hopeful to believe that Obama can inspire the leadership and provide the leadership we so badly need.

On the way out, I greeted Mayor McClin and congratulated her on the fine speech she made prior to Obama's.

State Representative, Clayton Luckie (39th Ohio House District)

On the way into the rally I greeted, Common Pleas Court Judge, Mary Wiseman. Mary spoke at our South of Dayton Democrat Club just last night.