Blog Buzz: McCain's Speech Reviews, Sarah Palin Ducks the Media, Community Organizers Aren't Happy With the GOP

Our daily look at stories and topics that are lighting up the Internets:

McCain Misses the Mark

Bloggers at both ends of the political spectrum at least agree that John McCain's address last night at the Republican National Convention wasn't a home run, and it was a far cry from the rousing speech that Sarah Palin gave. Liberal bloggers, however, have some harsher criticisms, saying it lacked a clear theme and a specific policy agenda. They say the policy positions McCain did talk about were solidly Bushian, particularly for someone who calls himself a "maverick." All in all, liberals say "underwhelming" and "thumbs down." Conservative bloggers acknowledge that McCain is no great orator but still say the speech was "presidential" and think that he connected with the audience on an emotional level better than Barack Obama. Though liberals say the speech lacked substance, conservatives think it was full of "meat." The worst part may have been the presentation, particularly the weird Walter Reed background photo goof.

Palin to Media: No Questions, Please

Newsweek's Howard Fineman has reported that after a brief run on the campaign trail, Palin will go back to Alaska and stay away from the national media. That report, combined with comments from McCain adviser Nicole Wallace about Palin's failure to take questions from the press, has liberal bloggers questioning Palin's VP readiness and urging traditional media to "get thee to Alaska!" Conservative bloggers say the reports are false and only illustrate the media's "animus towards Palin and John McCain."

Palin, Guiliani Feel the Wrath of Community Organizers

Rudy Guiliani's and Palin's sarcastic jabs at Obama's experience as a community organizer during their speeches at the Republican National Convention have outraged other community organizers. Marc Ambinder writes about whether the term has racial connotations. Other bloggers are talking about the community organizers who are insulted by the mocking comments and who feel that Palin has "just spit in their faces." Conservative bloggers say that the jabs are directed only at the "supremely mock-able" Obama and think that his work in low-income Chicago neighborhoods was far from honorable.

—Gretchen Hannes