An interesting and very revealing exchange, on the subject of VP candidate Sarah Palin, occurred Tuesday night on the floor of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul Minnesota.

Referring to Sarah Palin, MSNBC’s Ron Allen said to former Speaker Newt Gingrich: “But to be fair, her resume is not something we’re familiar seeing with presidential candidates.”

Gingrich’s response was immediate and very assertive:

“It’s stronger than Barack Obama’s. I don’t know why you guys walk around saying this baloney. She has a stronger resume than Obama. She’s been a real mayor, he hasn’t. She has been a real governor, he hasn’t. She’s been in charge of the Alaskan National Guard, he hasn’t. She was a whistleblower who defeated an incumbent mayor. He has never once shown that kind of courage. She’s a whistleblower who turned in the chairman of her own party and got him fined $12,000. I’ve never seen Obama do one thing like that. She took on the incumbent governor of her own party and beat him, and then she beat a former Democratic governor in the general election. I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write.”

“I’d like you to tell me one thing Sen. Obama’s done.”

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In a bold move, John McCain has apparently selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential Running-Mate.

From her web site, she is:

1. Pro Family
2. Pro Traditional Marriage
3. Pro Life
4. Pro Gun Rights
5. An advocate of increased drilling for oil and natural gas
6. Believes that Global Warming is a large issue, but is skeptical that it is caused by humans.

She is young and relatively inexperienced – but still has more executive experience than Barack Obama.

This is a very interesting choice, and a fresh face.

Here is a related article on Fox News: Alaska Gov. Palin to be Named as McCain Running Mate

Here is the unedited text of Barack Obama’s acceptance speech, given at the DNC on August 28, 2008. I will hold my comments for a future entry.

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To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin; and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation; with profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States.

Let me express my thanks to the historic slate of candidates who accompanied me on this journey, and especially the one who traveled the farthest — a champion for working Americans and an inspiration to my daughters and to yours — Hillary Rodham Clinton. To President Clinton, who last night made the case for change as only he can make it; to Ted Kennedy, who embodies the spirit of service; and to the next vice president of the United States, Joe Biden, I thank you. I am grateful to finish this journey with one of the finest statesmen of our time, a man at ease with everyone from world leaders to the conductors on the Amtrak train he still takes home every night.

To the love of my life, our next first lady, Michelle Obama, and to Sasha and Malia — I love you so much, and I’m so proud of all of you.

Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story — of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren’t well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.
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This is reported to be the transcript of the closing prayer from the Democratic National Convention on Monday, August 25th.

(Delivered by Donald Miller at the DNC on August 25th, 2008)

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Father God,

This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.

We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.

We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.

Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.

Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.

Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.

Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.

Help us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.

Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.

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The latest news headlines…

1. Continuing fears about Iran developing an atomic bomb.
2. More threats against Israel by Iran’s Ahmadinejad
3. Israel threatening to bomb Iran to inhibit progress of Iran developing nuclear weapons.
4. Russia attacking the country of Georgia.
5. Ukraine banishing Russian fleets from returning to leased bases on the Black Sea because of their attacks on Georgia.
6. President Bush sending US aircraft and Naval forces on humanitarian aid to Georgia.
7. A massive armada of US, UK, and French naval forces bound for the Persian gulf – possibly to support a blockade against Iran.

So much military power concentrated in such a troubled area of the world is a recipe for chaos.
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Man-made global warming: Is it the largest threat to our future? Very possibly! But NOT for the reasons that you may have been told.

There is ample evidence for global warming, but doom-Sayers are telling us that greenhouse gases, produced by the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities, are the cause - which they claim is threatening to destroy planet Earth. Is humanity the cause? The evidence challenges this assertion, but our attempts to fix the issue - by attacking the wrong problems, are indeed a very large threat!

The idea of man-made global warming will certainly allow select people to gain a power over our lives. And attempts to mitigate an improperly diagnosed cause will prevent us from effectively addressing real threats – such as those caused by scarce energy supplies and terrorism.

Now we clearly have an unhealthy reliance on Arab oil, which generates the primary funding for global terrorism. But if we fight the wrong battles, then we bankrupt ourselves and limit our options for creating energy independence. We have made the idea of man-made global warming an extreme threat; thereby translating an artificial threat into a real one that could destroy us!

But are humans causing global warming?

Did you know that evidence points to global warming on Mars also?
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Being a lifelong fan of University of Memphis basketball, I was curious when I saw the large tattoo on the right arm of star player Chris Douglas-Roberts (who goes by the nickname “CDR”). CDR seems to always touch this tattoo while dribbling the basketball at the free-throw line.

What’s with the tattoo? What does it say?

Interestingly, its from the 37th Psalm, verses 1-6. The NIV version says:

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1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

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I don’t know CDR, but these are great and encouraging words for anyone to live by.

Considering the messed-up world that we’re in, I find such words coming from a young role-model like CDR to be quite refreshing.

Go get’em Tiger!