McCain discussed in more detail the events leading up to his capture in North Vietnam than I’ve heard previously on the campaign trail. Perhaps Mark Salter has been saving that up for a while. Also, lots of stuff came straight out of the stump speech — for example, education is the civil-rights issue of the 21st century and stop sending money overseas to countries that don’t like us much.

The speech focused on getting the Republican Party back to basics: the party of Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln.

Not much in the way of attacks on Obama, except the standard, “he’s gonna raise taxes.” The Obama camp immediately sent out a fact-check email taking issue with this. McCain warned Obama would close markets, create a government-run health-care system. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) was the attack dog tonight.

While the crowd was definitely enthusiastic, it seemed relatively subdued, at least compared to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s red meat-athon last night.

McCain spoke about his energy plan. Whatever happened to “The Lexington Project?” Or was it “The Project Lexington?” Whatever. He hasn’t referred to that in many weeks. It was a gimmick anyway that kind of lost its punch when “Drill Here, Drill Now” more or less took over.

Big call to arms finish draws lots of cheers. From the prepared remarks:

Fight with me. Fight with me.
Fight for what’s right for our country.
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children’s future.
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.
Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

As balloons and confetti fall, McCain was joined onstage Gov. Sarah Palin and their respective families, as what will likely become her theme song played: Heart’s “Barracuda.”

Now, we can finally stop writing “presumed” or “presumptive” or “likely” before the word nominee. Cheers to that.

Sen. Barack Obama needs young voters to keep turning out at unusually high rates in order to win in November. While his campaign adeptly mobilized them in the primaries, and continues to empower young operatives in senior positions, the Democratic National Convention disappointed some youth advocates by under-using young people on stage, as I described in a TWI post this week.

That post, as it happens, disappointed other Democratic operatives and many readers.

According to a Democratic staffer who worked on the convention in Denver, young Democrats were indeed spotlighted. From an email to TWI:

On Monday, Amanda Kubik, a 26-year-old young delegate and Obama volunteer from North Dakota, spoke to the full convention hall from the podium with [seven] young delegates around her… Also, in cable primetime, we had a speech by Katherine Marcano, a 23-year-old supporter of Barack Obama from Iowa. …

This information drew a correction from Mike Connery, a youth advocate who criticized the convention, for he maintains that young Democrats should have received a more “high-profile speaking slot.” (As I wrote, the best slot for youth went to a campaign state director, who gave two addresses about text messages at Invesco Field on Thursday.)

Also, in a seperate essay, Connery responded to my point that Obama deserves credit for going beyond symbolism to empower young voters within his campaign management. Connery stressed that the problem lies more with a sclerotic DNC:

Ari is right that my critique is somewhat parochial when viewed in the context of how Obama is changing this dynamic. It is more important that young people are put in positions of power within campaigns and the party structure without the need to section them off in a “youth silo.” And I hold out hope that Obama, riding a wave of youth support, and a staff that does in fact have many young people in key positions, will make that a reality throughout all levels of the party.

But it’s important to note that Obama is the exception, not the rule. My purpose was to point to the tension that still exists within the party when it comes to giving young people a seat at the table. The convention speaking schedule was a visible symbol of that shortage of access young people still have within the party despite all of Obama’s changes.

Finally, several young commenters weighed in with a collective shrug:

I am 26 and I think O did great at the convention. I thought the whole convention pretty much rocked it. …I have several friends who are voting for O, and none of them were upset bc there was no youth speaker at the convention. That wasnt what is was about… for the first time in our lives we feel like we are apart of something great. That Obama actually took the time to listen, he didnt write us off like most politicians….

Wow… talk about ‘reaching’ for a problem. I know not one young voter who is not ‘fired up’ about supporting and volunteering for Senator Obama!

I understand this blogger’s point, and I myself also would have very much liked to have seen and heard some younger faces and voices on the actual convention stage, but nothing speaks louder for the younger generation, GenX and Millenials, than the nomination of Obama. Obama’s nomination is our voice and, whether appreciated or not, our announcement that we are here to participate in and drive the Democratic Party going forward.

On this one, the commenters have the last word.

(Photo Credit: Isaac Viel; Child at Obama rally.)

Former McCain strategist Mike Murphy called his old boss “cynical” for tapping Palin, and Peggy Noonan, a widely read columnist and former aide to President Reagan, said McCain’s “political bullshit” made the race basically “over.”

The off-message clip immediately began burning up YouTube on Wednesday night, and within hours, the liberal group MoveOn.org swung into action, tapping its email list and social network to get the clip a wider airing. MoveOn’s Director of Strategic Campaigns, Adam Green, started a Facebook group to push the video beyond political junkies — with the alluring title “Caught on tape: Watch this amazing video and pass it on!” A MoveOn email also urged activists to spread the word:

If we act fast, we can give it more momentum and help it get more attention. Can you forward this video to your friends today?

This kind of media activism — agenda-driven digging — not only pushes politically damaging stories, it also presses the traditional media to discuss gaffes, including their own, that might not otherwise garner much coverage.

Driving around this city today, I decided it looks more or less like a string of strip malls, 45 minutes northeast of Anchorage. I couldn’t help but think that being mayor of a place like this would be something akin to running a large neighborhood watch.

The main highway that runs through town is lined with new big-box stores, including a Target and a Wal-Mart. A handful of fast-food chains as well as some local restaurants also sprinkle the main drag. Breathtaking mountains, the peaks still lightly dusted with snow, create a striking backdrop. Despite the chain stores, this small city feels distant from the rest of the world. I’d have guessed Palin would have run the city with a “we’re in this together” theme.

It turns out she had a somewhat different approach. If a small-town mayor ever ruled with an iron fist — it was Palin. Eleven days after taking office in 1996, she mailed letters to each of the city’s top managers requesting that they resign as a test of loyalty.

The Anchorage Daily News at the time reported the strange events: (via Nexis)

Mayor Sarah Palin sent the resignation requests Thursday to Police Chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton, finance director Duane Dvorak and Mary Ellen Emmons, the head of libraries. A fifth director — John Cooper, who oversaw the city museum — resigned earlier this month after Palin eliminated his position.

Cooper initially resisted resigning, but to no avail. Palin also later fired the police chief, saying she knew in her “heart” that he did not support her. She left the head of libraries a letter saying she was out — though Palin later decided to spare the librarian after being convinced that she would tow the line.

The whole saga is unusual — considering Palin prides herself on being independent and seems to enjoy butting heads with her own party. But, this sounds like she requires fierce loyalty of those who work for her.

I’m still reporting on Palin’s time as mayor. More to come soon.

If Hillary Clinton’s speech was meant as a great unifying force for a fractured party, her husband’s follow-up was weighed down by everything he had done and said during that brutal primary season. Thus, while one heard Bill Clinton say, “Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world,” his words fell with a tremendous thud, lacking the conviction of his wife’s the previous night. His were words delivered to an audience that was no longer his, to a party who now belongs to a new young leader, a new hope.

7:32: He’s here to restore the country’s future, rise to our best ideals, “and elect Barack Obama president of the United States.” Strengthened by family and friendship. He’s never given up! “I promise you I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate” for President Obama. WOW.

7:34: “This is the cause of my life: New hope.” He’s practically yelling for health care. People should be crying for this.

7:35: Barack Obama: a commander in chief who “understands that young Americans in uniform must never be committed to a mistake.” A JFK reference: “This is what we do” as Americans. “We reach the moon!”

7:36: The torch is passed. “Our country will be committed to this cause! The work begins anew!” And — yes — finally the line: “The dream lives on!”

Music sounds vaguely Lord of the Ringsish. Ohhhhh and here he goes! Crisp blue suit, powder-blue shirt, blue tie, blue America. Wow. This place is going nuts.