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• Top Three Spontaneous Chants Of The Week

  "ZERO! ZERO! ZERO!" The audience exploded with zeros and fist pumps whenever a speaker referenced Obama's lack of experience in an executive office—actually, pretty much every time someone referenced Obama.
  
  "DRILL BABY, DRILL! DRILL BABY, DRILL!" Michael Steele coined this gem during his "are y'all ready to party?" speech. The audience loved it and clung to it like they cling to their things they cling to.
  
  "USA! USA! USA!" This old standby could be heard at least once during every prime-time speech, most notably in what seemed like an attempt to prevent McCain from making the slightest concession that some people are going through tough economic times. Earlier in that speech, it successfully (and by design) drowned out the shouts of a protester who'd made his way into the nosebleed seats with a giant sign reading: MCCAIN VOTES AGAINST VETS. The sign was destroyed by a nearby patriot.
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  • Date: Sep 05 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Action, Reaction

  Tonight, the crowd went mad for John McCain—but that was a given after the past three days of clap-happy shouting. There's already plenty of praise and criticism being bandied about the media landscape. But what do you think: Did the man win your heart with his humble, patriotic confidence? Did he inspire you with hope that he can change Washington (change being his new campaign, apparently)? Or did it all fall on deaf ears?
  
  In case you missed the speech, you can watch it here, or you can read this transcript if that's what suits your fancy.
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  • Date: Sep 05 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Meanwhile, In Minneapolis

  Tonight, most of the country will be hanging on John McCain's every word. However, some excess of 2,000 people will take their seats in Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall where Cindy Sheehan, Nellie McKay, Jesse Ventura, David Rovics, Ike Reilly, and Tom Neilson will make a vociferous case to open the presidential debates to Ralph Nader. With the Nader/Gonzalez ticket at about 6 percent in a recent CNN poll, and with an expectation of appearing on the ballot in some 45 states, they certainly have grounds on which to mount an argument. And, just to be clear, let's remember that third party candidates don't ruin elections; they simply enliven the national conversation by removing the either/or-blinders from the eyes public.
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  • Date: Sep 04 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• La-a-ast Ni-ight, She Said

  With the audience enraptured by her alternately earnest, sarcastic, and fiery tones, Sarah Palin delivered a potent speech about reform, executive experience, and motherhood. At one point joking that the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull was lipstick, Palin used the stage as an opportunity to bark at the "liberal media," the "Washington elite," and the Obama campaign:
  
  "And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on [mayoral] experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities."
  
  You had to admire the gumption, sense of humor, and graceful ease with which she addressed the nation—unless, you're a community organizer, most of whom are probably furious right now, wondering why a campaign whose slogan is "Country First" would sic their pit bull on people who dedicate themselves to serving communities when government fails them.
  
  
  
  Photo: all eyes, lenses focus on Palin.
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  • Date: Sep 04 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Spotted In Minneapolis...

  Phew, we were worried they wouldn't make it. Then again, how would we know?
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  • Date: Sep 03 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Overheard Over Drinks, Out Of Context...

  "I don't think there is an actual Southern accent. It's just that affected Yankee hearing that confuses things."
  
  "We don't care too much about Canada back home. I guess we should?"
  
  "Nixon told us the press was the enemy, and we remember!"
  
  Photo: red, white, and beer.
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  • Date: Sep 03 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Keywords, Highnotes, Lownotes

  Last night, service (and saying "America is the greatest nation in the world") was the name of the game. Notice the many delegates waving service signs—they were doing so during the final crescendo of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing," one of the cheers-and-applause-laden spectacle's more comically awesome moments. Speechwise, Fred Thompson violently ripped Barack "history-makingly inexperienced" Obama a new one (which, like it or not, was by far the best-delivered speech of the night), and Ol' Joe Lieberman closed the night by crossing party lines (again) to endorse John "his own man" McCain, but neither speech felt as smooth as the elevator-ride seductions of Al Williams's jazz invocation.
  
  Other musical moments included "Johnny B. Goode" (sure, we're on that page) and country singer Aaron Tippin's "I Got It Honest" (nailed it?), as well as a live performance by Rachael Lampa, which gave us an opportunity to step outside and catch up on our voice mail. Also, for the second time since the convention's commencement, Sarah Palin fell victim to a Freudian slip, when Jo Ann Davidson introduced her as Sarah Pawlenty, which must have left Tim imagining what could have been.
  
  
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  • Date: Sep 03 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Nemagon, Not Forgotten

  This morning, Wikipedia truly failed us. A friend just returned from Nicaragua, and told us about Nemagon, the carcinogenic pesticide used by multinational fruit corporations throughout Latin America, west Africa and the Philippines, starting in the late 60s. (Yet another way the banana industry has brought about abuse, torture and death.) Today, a community of about 1000 people are living in tents and lean-tos across from the government offices in Managua, Nicaragua, asking for support from President Ortega's administration after many (ahem) fruitless years of legal battle for recognition and reparations against banana corporations like Del Monte and Dole. These companies have already paid various settlements (ranging between several million and $100, depending on the plaintiffs' lawyers) to Nemagon victims, but it hasn't been nearly enough; nearly 70% of Nicaraguan bananeros suffer serious health problems linked to the chemical, and 1/3 of women who worked on plantations are afflicted by breast or uterine cancer. Many, including those in the Managua settlement, have yet to be acknowledged, much less compensated. For a chemical that's been the cornerstone of many a multi-million dollar lawsuit in the past three decades, has killed several thousand people and affected the health of tens of thousands more, and has been covered by major international media sources, the fact that it doesn't at least have a Wikipedia entry is, well, bananas. We guess that's evidence of a marked Lack Of Awareness. If you feel a wave of guilt after your next banana smoothie, try reading more on Nemagon. And sharing what you learn. Photo: A woman mourns the death of her husband in Managua, who died of liver cancer caused by exposure to Nemagon; via Getty Thanks Madeline!
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  • Date: Sep 02 2008
  • Posted by alexandra_m

• A Face Outside The Crowd

  President Bush addresses the convention via satellite as journalists stare into laptops. If you'd like to see more out-of-focus photography, just remember this: we're here all week.
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  • Date: Sep 03 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Ron Paul...Who?

  Our hotel is currently and almost entirely populated by republican delegates from North Carolina and New Mexico. The other night, while sipping whiskey and making friends, we asked one delegate from North Carolina for his opinion of Ron Paul.
  
  "Who?" he replied with a sneer and a wink.
  
  That curt reaction speaks volumes about Paul's relationship with his party. Nevertheless, the man is here today to host his "Rally for the Republic," which takes place in the Twin City that didn't land the convention proper: Minneapolis. Speakers include Tucker Carlson, Jesse Ventura, Barry Goldwater, Jr., and Paul himself. It's broadcasting live here. Take a look, if you're interested in seeing what's happening on the other side of town—or finally getting an idea of just who Ron Paul is.
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  • Date: Sep 02 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James