GOP Convention — the most watched EVER
September 5th, 2008 at 08:40pm Kevin Patrick
What enthusiasm gap?
The GOP presidential candidate attracted roughly the same number of viewers to his convention acceptance speech Thursday as Obama did before the Democrats last week, according to Nielsen Media Research.It marked the end of an astonishing run where more than 40 million people watched political speeches on three nights by Obama, McCain and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The Republican convention was the most-watched convention on television ever (emphasis added), beating a standard set by the Democrats a week earlier.
…
This week’s ratings, with an average of 34.5 million viewers watching the GOP convention over three days, proved people are becoming more interested in what the Republicans have to say. The Democrats had an average audience of 30.2 million over four days, Nielsen said.
Call it Palin Power!
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, RNC08
52 Comments
1. BunchOSheep | September 5th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
In 2000, Sarah Palin, as mayor of the Alaskan town of Wasilla, hired a Washington lobbyist to secure federal earmarks for her community.
This is not totally atypical in her state. Alaska’s government receives more money per capita in federal earmark money than any other state, despite being the only state in the union with no income tax and no sales tax. They fund their government primarily with petroleum money, and recently distributed oil profits to its citizens in the form of rebate checks.
But even in her heavily earmarked state, Sarah Palin was the earmark queen.
From 2000 to 2003, she secured over $27 million in earmarks, averaging $6.7 million in federal money every year for her town of about 6,700 people. …
As mayor, Sarah Palin managed to secure a thousand dollars a year per person in her city in earmarks, yet…
When Palin left office in 2002, Wasilla had “racked up nearly $20 million in long-term debt,” or roughly $3,000 of debt per resident.
Asked in 1996, her first year in office, about her ability to “effectively run” the city, Palin claimed:
“It’s not rocket science,” Palin said, “It’s $6 million and 53 employees.”
Only “$6 million and 53 employees” and yet she managed to bury it $20 mil. in the red in just two-terms. How very Bush-like. And she wants us to trust her to be a heartbeat away from the national budget?
2. neocon | September 5th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Yet she was elected Governor of Alaska, enjoys an 80% approval rating, and will be your next VP.
Sorry
3. Kahn | September 5th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Hi Bunch. We we post a copyrighted article here, we usually post the source and maybe even a link.
Since this is your first post here. I’ll just assume you’re an Obama campaign worker going down the list of blogs to spread your crap. Oh well.
You people never should have gone after Palin’s kids. But you did.
And that is why you will lose. You exposed your vile nasty hearts.
4. WhatChange | September 5th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
40,000,000! Wow! Did I mention that Biden received 1% of the Iowa Dem vote, 3% of the Delaware vote, his home state, and totaled out for the 58 states at 4,500 votes. Wow!
Natveiled
5. Kahn | September 5th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
“When we post.” sloppy of me.
The Obama campaign made a few major mistakes this week. 1. They were not ready for Palin. With no reasoned arguments available, they went after her kids. and 2. They did this during Gustav when the campaign was at a lull. So rather than being a distraction - it was the main political story. Then 3. The Obama press all came at her using identical language belying their obvious biases and coordination.
In short, Palin threw them for a loop and they stumbled in their response.
The problem for the “liberals” is that the attacks were so vile and so heavy handed that they could not be mistaken for anything else.
It broke the spell. Now, a majority of the people in the country say the press is biased and trying to get Obama elected. So the largest crowd ever tuned in to see Palin in effect say “up yours” to you liberals. And they saw John McCain - a guy who can’t lift his arms past his shoulders from war wounds come across with more passion then Obama has in two years of campaigning.
You vile attacks on Palin’s kids was the straw that broke the camels back. I’d thank you, but I think you should rot in hell instead.
6. luvstotango | September 5th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
What’s that I’m hearing?
….sounds like chickens clucking.
7. Retired Spook | September 5th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
and totaled out for the 58 states at 4,500 votes. Wow!
And that’s not even counting Alaska and Hawaii.
8. Retired Spook | September 5th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
Well, there appears to be a new version of the video in my previous comment.
ROTFL!!! If that doesn’t put the whole Obama candidacy in perspective, I don’t know what does.
9. Kahn | September 5th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
He does not say there are 57 states.
He says he’s been in 57 states, and he has one more to go.
Let me check the math with Jethro………. OK, he’s done cipherin’ now - That ads up to 58.
10. Retired Spook | September 5th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
He says he’s been in 57 states, and he has one more to go.
But he also adds that his staff wouldn’t let him go to Alaska and Hawaii, so it’s really 60. I’d love to see how the stars are arranged on his lapel pin.
Ya know, this blog is starting to be fun again — kinda like it was during the ‘04 election, back when most of our Lib trolls were still in short pants. This Palin selection has gotten them so disjointed, they don’t know whether to sh*t or go blind.
11. Macker | September 5th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
The answer is: YES.
12. New Conservative | September 5th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Come grade McCain’s Speech and vote on who gave the best speech of the convention.
http://thenewconservatives.blogspot.com/
13. kimberly4victory | September 5th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
LOL, RS and Kahn!!!
BTW, Kahn. Blind is not a new poster. It’s Obama08 in sheep’s clothing. He’s such a doofus!
14. kimberly4victory | September 5th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Oops. Bunch not blind. LOL. Where’s my glasses?
15. Retired Spook | September 5th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Macker, you were one of the original regulars here back in 2003/04 weren’t you? I was trying to think of who all was here back then. Scaramonga, of course, jo, Michael-in-Michigan, Keefer, OhioOrin, Megapotamus, MNLiberterian. Seems to me there were also a few that went by initials like DL, DM, and there was the guy who owned the bar — can’t remember his name. Fun times.
16. kimberly4victory | September 5th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Ahem … RS …. :-)
17. kimberly4victory | September 5th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Almiranta, Third Eye Blind (remember all the nicknames Almiranta had for him .. LOL!) …
18. Retired Spook | September 5th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Kim, isn’t that new 57 state video remix hilarious? I about fell off my chair laughing. The Donks are beginning to remind me of this guy.
19. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I loved it!!! And, I love Monty Python! They do remind me of the black knight. LOL! I also remember the guy who owned the bar, but his name totally escapes me. :-(
Did you see the interview with Greta and the Maj General of Alaska NG tonight?
20. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Third Eye Blind — LOL! Yeah, Kim, I remember him. Almiranta was unmerciful with him. What was his actual screen name?
BTW, I don’t think Almiranta arrived on the scene until around 2005, but I could be wrong. There was another gal who went by 3 initials starting with D, I think, who was a friend of Scaramonga’s — kinda reminded me of Almiranta.
You’ve been here for at least a couple years, haven’t you? I remember when you first arrived, I thought to myself, “what a breath of fresh air”, kinda the same reaction I have to Sarah Palin. You’re not related, are you?
21. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:07 am
I also remember the guy who owned the bar, but his name totally escapes me.
I just remembered — it was CJ.
22. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:09 am
OMG … my daughter has her friend over spending the night and she said, Palin is a racist. I said, what? She said, yeah, that’s what my social studies teacher told me.
I am going to the school on Monday and raise hell.
23. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:11 am
That’s right. CJ! No, Almiranta was here before the 2004 elections and so was I. Remember, oompa loompa Kerry? Ha Ha Ha!
24. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Turd Eye Blind? LOL. I thought his screen name was Third Eye Blind …
25. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Yeah, I saw Greta’s interview tonight. The General thinks pretty highly of Governor Palin, and he put her responsibilities in a whole new light. Her successor as Mayor had some nice things to say also, as did her press secretary. With an approval rating in the 80’s, even the few negative things the Lefties have dug up on her are gonna have very short legs.
26. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Come to think of it, I believe it was Third Eye Open, but Almiranta came up with about 3 or 4 variations. I hope she gets whatever she’s doing finished and makes it back here before the election.
27. Kahn | September 6th, 2008 at 12:18 am
RS, I originally found MattMargolis.com when I did a search on the phrase “John Kerry is an asshole.”
Almiranta still post sometimes. A lot less since her husband passed away.
28. Kahn | September 6th, 2008 at 12:19 am
By the way, my two Eagles both just put that Obama video on their myspace pages.
29. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Dang, RS … you’ve got an excellent memory. Must be the wine.
That interview was so good. I loved it when the General said Palin made sure she took care of the National Guard when it was budget time, and she surprised her guard in Kuwait. She’s so awesome!
30. WhatChange | September 6th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Does one spell potato or potatoe?
That’s all you got?
31. Kahn | September 6th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I also think that Obama08 is a committee - no ONE person be such a jerk.
32. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I do hope Almiranta comes back … her posts were so enjoyable. I do hope she’s doing okay. Kahn, LOL … you’ve been here a long time too!!
Hope Mark/Matt don’t mind us reminiscing …
33. Kahn | September 6th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I thought it potada. Or is it potater. As in “they call me tater salad.”
34. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:25 am
What are you guys talking about?
35. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I often wonder why the lefties continually change their names. Their posts are nearly identical … ugh, which reminds me of another poster … mutant teenage liberal. Wonder if he’s grown up and become a Republican yet?
36. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:28 am
Kahn, I think a number of our trolls are either committees or they’re Obama or DNC junior staffers who are tasked with pasting Donk talking points at as many Conservative blogs as will allow them. If MS squawks about Palin being impeached one more time, I’m going to reach through my monitor and grab him by his scrawny little throat.
WhatChange, if the Lefties think Palin is another Dan Quayle, they are even dumber than I thought.
This is the first time I’ve been part of an honest-to-God thread hijacking since the old days at Polipundit.
37. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:32 am
I often wonder why the lefties continually change their names.
I wonder if we could get Matt or Mark to publish a list of all the trolls and the different names each has used. You’re right, the do all sound the same.
38. WhatChange | September 6th, 2008 at 12:36 am
Here’s some useful info for the trolls, not to suggest that they ever read or understand useful info.
http://explorations.chasrmartin.com/2008/09/05/palin-rumors/
39. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Maybe they could email the list to us so we could go “AHA! You are not ____ but _____!” LOL.
Hey, was it teenage mutant liberal or was that one of Almiranta’s nickname for him?
(might be a double-post, server acting weird)
40. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:38 am
BTW, Kahn, Almiranta hasn’t posted since the end of March or early April. She and AAR and I had an off-blog email discussion group going for the better part of a year, and she abruptly quit around April 8th. She was trying to sell her horse ranch west of Denver and move the entire operation up west of Laramie, WY where she owned a huge chunk of land. If the sale finally materialized, she’s got her hands full for a while. Neat lady.
41. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Where has AAR been?
42. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:46 am
It was just teenage liberal. Another fruitcake was GT Graduate, who I always suspected was an Iranian foreign exchange student.
WhatChange, AAR emailed me the photo of Palin in the bikini holding the BB gun. I kinda figured it had to be photo-shopped. I’ll tell you, considering the Left got totally blind-sided on this Palin pick, you’ve got to hand it to them — they’ve got a helluva ground game. Too bad they’re on the dark side of the force.
43. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Kim, AAR and I still correspond a couple time a week. He got involved in a major house remodeling project this summer that ended up being way more than he anticipated, plus he just got burned out by the trolls here. He’ll be back. I’ve taken several sabbaticals myself over the years. Once in a while you just need to let the troll dung air out of the keyboard. But once a political junkie, always a political junkie.
44. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:52 am
I think you were spot on about GT.
And, Darth was intelligent.
45. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Well, it’s nearly 1AM in Indiana and past my bedtime, even for a Friday night.
Keep the faith.
46. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 12:56 am
So true and I’ve done the same thing too. I have a feeling I won’t be taking a break until after the 1st week in November.
You know, it would be fun if everyone could meet somewhere … after we win the election.
47. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 1:07 am
It would be fun. I have a standing invitation from Almiranta to go trout fishing with her in Wyoming. You’re in Arizona, right? I’m in Indiana. I think Kahn is in Virginia and AAR is in Pennsylvania, Bane, Navydad and Ricorun are all in California. The price of gas is gonna have to come down a little or else we’re gonna have to move closer together. Actually, if my brother-in-law ever sells his house and chiropractic practice in Fort Wayne, he and his wife have a place in Sun City, AZ, where they plan to retire, and we’ll be visiting them. Where in Arizona do you live, Kim?
My wife and I did met Scaramonga and his wife at the Cracker Barrel in Columbia, MO, about a year before he died. We were on our way to visit our daughter in Kansas. He’s the only blogger I’ve ever met in person. He was a one-of-a-kind, and I learned a lot from him.
So much for making it to bed.
48. Retired Spook | September 6th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I think neocon lives in Arizona, Kim. Have you ever met him?
49. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 1:13 am
I’m in Mesa. After we start drilling for oil and natural gas, prices will come down. :-) I’ve never been to Wyoming … we’ll just all crash at Almiranta’s pad. LOL.
Scaramonga was one of a kind. Heaven is a better place with him in it.
Cya tomorrow!
50. kimberly4victory | September 6th, 2008 at 1:14 am
Really? I’ll have to ask him tomorrow. I’ve mentioned I live in AZ several times and he’s never said anything.
51. Stephen Kruiser | September 6th, 2008 at 1:42 am
I think Dan Quayle’s name was mentioned more this week by Dems than Republicans ever did while he was in office. Kinda fetish-y.
To the diploid in the first comment: the “earmarks” were spent on dastardly things like sewer repairs, a youth center and a transportation hub.
First time here. Nice, psychotic little vibe.
52. McCain, Palin Beat Obama/&hellip | September 6th, 2008 at 9:27 am
[...] Patrick at Blogs for Victory notes “The Republican convention was the most-watched convention on television ever (emphasis [...]