Senator John McCain took the stage and gave a rousing speech discussing the threat we now face. McCain puts much of what is thought and believed by all Americans into perspective and strives to pull us all back together in our eternal struggle against terrorists.

Comparing Bush to FDR, McCain argues that both presidents came into office not with one agenda and was forced to change agendas. This in case has the been the juxtaposition within the Bush Administration. Bush came in to office and pledged a more isolationist policy but was thrust into war by 9/11. Too many people forget that.

In a slight jab to the Clinton Administration, McCain states that we have to realize we are in war and not sit back and hope things will be ok. McCain does not mention Clinton, however in context it is assumed this was an attack on the Clinton years.

McCain is a much better speaker than I thought he was and it was ever so apparent when he described how a strong president should act while confronting terrorism. McCain spoke about just a few of the successes Bush has accomplished in his administration after 9/11 through Afghanistan, Intelligence reform and the War on Iraq. He challenges the “status quo” mentallity shared by both France and a few Democrats (of course the Democrats during the election year for political gain at least).

“It was between war and a greater threat. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Not our political opponents, and certainly not, certainly not, a disingenuous film maker who would have us believe that Saddam’s Iraq was an oasis of peace when in fact it was a place of indescribable cruelty, mass graves and prisons that contained unbelievable torture and policies that destroyed the lives of children.”

During this statement, the camera pans to Michael Moore who is sitting in the press booth clapping and laughing while several booos are heard followed by long pause for chants of “four more years.”

McCain’s tribute to our soldiers seemed to bring tears to his eyes. He praised those living and those no longer with us and gave them due credit for protecting our freedoms. McCain credits everything this country now is to our soldiers who fight for our right to exist.

Any questions that have been raised about McCain supporting Bush have now been erased. Any one that suggests otherwise did not see or hear the speech given by McCain. McCain gave a strong endorsement of President Bush, causing the many in attendance to make him pause for applause.

Steven Taylor of PoliBlog notes that the middle of McCain’s speech was better than the rest, which I tend to agree with. He also notes that the clip of his slam on Moore will get the most press.

Complete ITB convention coverage available here.

Say Anything has posted pictures of Michael Moore’s reaction to McCain’s comment about disingenuous film makers.”

Other Coverage:
Outside the Beltway
PoliBlog

Diggers Realm linked with Giuliani Speech Was Incredible