St. Paul Notes (III)

A cameraman is buttonholing delegates, asking them a stock set of questions written by his producer. What will happen if John McCain's elected president? "He will continue to keep us safe." And if Barack Obama is elected? "Our taxes will go up, and we'll have a lot more serious problems than taxes—these terrorists hate us, they can't be talked to, and they only thing they understand is our military force. You won't be able to sleep at night and feel safe."

She broaches the subject of his "radical friends," like Bill Ayers: "These just seem to be the kind of people he chums with."

He asks for more specifics: how will America change after Barack Obama's inauguration? "I'm going to find out that I'm rich," she says, explaining that she and her husband live on social security and his GM pension. "Because Barack Obama's plan will tax people like us."

He asks about Hurricane Katrina; she says, "the governor and the mayor dropped the ball." And Bush? "No one knew it would be that catastrophic." (She refers to the storm, not the Chief Executive.)

(Turn around: bowties! bowties! bowties!)

He asks whether he'd describe John McCain as Superman, Santa Claus, or Mother Theresa? Superman, of course, she answers without hesitation. "He certainly isn't Santa Claus"—because, of course, he's not going to give away free goodies like the Democrats." "Mother Theresa? No. I don't think he considers himself a saint."

He asks what she thinks about Hillary Clinton, and wouldn't it be fascinating to hear her answer a year ago, because tonight she says enthusiastically, "She did shatter that glass ceiling! And Palin's going to do a great job." The interviewer asks if she was originally a Hillary supporter, and of course—she's a Republican delegate—the anwer is no. "But I do admire her strength. I don't think she got a fair deal."

The interviewer thanks her. Here's the punchline. She responds: "I wish I had some talking points."

Next up. Delegate from Texas. He apologize for being so tall, presuming the camera can't hold him all in the frame, I suppose. If Obama is elected president? "Taxes are definitely go up. You'll see a real lack of support for our troops..."