GOP In Minnesota: Praise and Protests

The Republican National Convention, delayed for a day because nobody wanted to be seen partying like it was 1984 while there was a hurricane going on, finally went on in earnest at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center.

Tonight's program was devoted to speakers saying nice things about John McCain, the apparent GOP presidential nominee. Former candidate Fred Thompson and Senator Joe Lieberman (officially an independent from Connecticut, but really one of McCain's best pals) stood in front of a distractingly blue video screen, telling the delegates and the prime time network audience why they thought McCain is a better choice for the country than the Democrats' Barack Obama.

President Bush also spoke in support of McCain, but he did so a time zone away at the White House, just before the networks went on the air. Seems the President has become an embarrassment to the Republicans, so they treat him like the weird old uncle nobody listens to any more, who only surfaces for special occasions. Such as Halloween.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will accept the vice-presidential nomination Wednesday. Her 17-year old daughter will also be there. She's five months pregnant, and plans to marry the father. Conservatives (and Obama, too) believe the privacy of the Palins should be respected in this matter. That train left the station the moment Governor Palin accepted McCain's offer to be his running mate. It also means that Palin's "family values" stand is taking a hit.

For those of you who have been watching the convention coverage on network and cable, we have a news flash: All is not sweetness and light on the streets of St. Paul. Police have made hundreds of arrests of those who were protesting (among other things) the American military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. Intersections were blocked, property was damaged, and people were hit with tear gas. But none of this got anywhere near the convention hall. The protests got extensive coverage on the local network affiliates, but not a peep on CNN or Fox News.

To be fair, there have been peaceful protests around town, using police-approved routes. Compared to what else is going on, that's like coloring within the lines. It also gets you fifteen seconds of airtime on the local news, which is about the same as coverage of the 5K Fun Run to Defeat Athlete's Feet.

Two more days of this infomercial to go, and the people affected by Hurricane Gustaf can soon go home to areas that won't have power for several days. They're the fortunate ones, because they can't watch another disaster unfolding on the north end of the Mississippi.