| Another week, another political | | | | vice-presidential nominee 8 years ago. |
| convention. This week kicks off the | | | | Lieberman went between praising McCain, defending |
| Republican National Convention that will see the | | | | Palin, and hitting out at Barack Obama. The |
| nomination of John McCain for President and Sarah | | | | keynote speech to be given by Rudy Guiliani was |
| Palin for Vice-President, though the schedule is in flux | | | | moved to Wednesday. |
| with Hurricane Gustav that has landed in Louisiana. | | | | Wednesday the theme is Prosperity. Palin |
| McCain named Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, as his | | | | gave her acceptance speech tonight and America got |
| running mate on August 29th. She was more | | | | their first real chance to know her. Palin filled |
| or less a surprise pick. She is not well known | | | | the vice-presidential role of attack dog. And |
| on the national scene, at least from a media | | | | she did a good job of attacking Barack Obama and |
| perspective. | | | | Joe Biden. McCain is going to have a tough |
| The first day of the convention was greatly | | | | time topping her speech. Also speaking were |
| abbreviated. The only real speakers were | | | | Mitt Romney, Meg Whitman, Mike Huckabee, |
| Laura Bush and Cindy McCain putting out a call for | | | | and Kay Bailey Hutchinson.  The |
| help for the areas affected by Gustav. They | | | | speeches once again seem to focus on John McCain, |
| also made announcements of some projects that the | | | | but not on any policy stances for the |
| Republicans will be undertaking to help victims of | | | | candidates. |
| Gustav. This fit with the theme for the | | | | Thursday will be John McCain's day. The |
| day:Â Service. | | | | theme for the final day of the convention is |
| The theme for Tuesday was Reform. The | | | | Peace.  The day is supposed to |
| main speakers of the evening were Laura Bush, | | | | showcase McCain's idea of American goodwill and our |
| George Bush, Fred Thompson, and Joe | | | | pursuit of peace in the world. McCain tops |
| Lieberman.  President Bush gave a | | | | off the evening with his acceptance speech. |
| very short speech about McCain and didn't really say | | | | Then the campaign can begin with 60 days until |
| too much. Fred Thompson followed and | | | | Election Day. |
| defended the choice of Sarah Palin for vice-president | | | | The convention schedule will be very flexible and |
| and helped define McCain a bit more. He was | | | | may change on any day in response to the events |
| followed by Joe Lieberman, who was the Democratic | | | | of Gustav. |