There was a lot of talk tonight from many other important or up-and-coming personalities. The major theme was "Peace" and most of the early evening speakers were focused on John McCain's experience and proven sound judgment on military and defense matters. They made a compelling case. It was a case most were quite familiar with. I had been able to work in a side trip to the Walker Museum of Art earlier in the day, and recalling the resistance I have continually noted to the basic fact that McCain has been proven correct time and again on defense issues, I couldn't help but remember a quote from one of the artworks that I had seen this morning. It read, "It takes a while before you can step over inert bodies and go ahead with what you were trying to do." I wish I had made a note of the name of the artist. His insight was profound.

Several of the sub-themes from earlier evenings carried through to today as well, particularly the notion that John McCain is the candidate more thoroughly associated with true political reform whose real achievements are legendary. Many of the speakers pointed out clearly and emphatically the tremendous political price John McCain has paid over the years for being a "maverick" who fought to change things in Washington and to bring reform to government.

In addition, this evening each of us received a copy of a book about a half-inch thick outlining in detail John McCain's policy proposals for nearly every problem and issue facing America today. It is literally his blueprint for America, and will be one of the guiding documents of his Administration after the election. I wondered, of course, if Mr. Obama also distributed such a detailed plan for the future to his supporters, and if so, why we have not heard of it.

The highlight of the evening of course was Senator McCain's acceptance speech. It was one of the best that I have heard him deliver. I needn't describe it, because either you heard it yourself or you will see it in re-runs on TV or read of it in detail in the newspaper. Suffice it to say that in it John McCain clearly made the case for his election to the Presidency. One of the most important aspects of it for me was his humility, and his openness and receptivity to good or better ideas from anyone willing to bring them forward in the best interests of the nation, including Mr. Obama and the Democrats. That's what a real President does!

Neal Andrews

Last night was all about Governor Palin. She certainly won the enthusiastic support of the delegates, as I'm sure was evident from the television coverage. Her speech touched the issues important to almost every family in America, and her practical, unpretentious, down-to-earth style talks eye to eye to middle America. Judging from the reports I have seen, the efforts of her critics to belittle her experience, some even going so far as to describe her as a redneck bumpkin, have just infuriated women across America who see it for what it is, a barely disguised sexist attack on women's equality. The fact is she has substantial executive management skills, and, as a very successful and popular Governor of Alaska, she has amply demonstrated how to use them. It's a shame that some among the opposition have stooped to such attacks.

I won't recap the Romney or Giuliani speeches. I'm sure they also were well covered by the media. All I can say is that if anyone thinks that this campaign will soft-pedal the differences in policy and philosophy between Senator McCain and the Republican Party and Senator Obama and the Democrats, they weren't listening. John McCain has insisted throughout the campaign heretofore that we conduct the campaign with dignity and respect for our opposition, but that has never meant that we would not or should not draw clear and dramatic distinctions between our views and theirs, our values and theirs, and our goals and theirs.

I've received several notes criticizing us (and me personally) for making those distinctions so boldly and dramatically. Folks have said that we imply that their values or their beliefs are not valid or are inferior. Well, duh! That is the very essence of political discourse. This is in fact a competition between ideas and values, and we would hardly be true to ourselves if we didn't genuinely feel that our views are superior and should be the basis for the policies of our government. This election like few before it will indeed give the nation a clear picture of two different political philosophies and two distinct sets of values, and because of that I believe it will be one of the most dramatic of our times.

I would be remiss if I did not point out that much of the early part of the day yesterday was spent on the theme of "Prosperity", with many speakers drawing a very clear picture of the economic policies and programs that underlie John McCain's candidacy. Now, we all are acutely familiar with his own self-deprecating description of himself as not being strong on economics, but anybody who heard the details of his proposals yesterday (or who bothered to read them on the web) couldn't doubt the subtlety and sophistication of his understanding of economic fundamentals. His energy policies call for a multi-level program simultaneously pressing forward with the development of alternative energy sources and improving access to and prudent use of existing resources. His job development strategies and his proposals to make America more competitive in global markets are concrete and realistic. His approach to taxation and fiscal responsibility are sound and absolutely necessary to assure the restoration of prosperity to the nation. Those were the focal points of our discussion before the prime time coverage yesterday, and for many of us, they were as important and exciting in their implications for the country as anything that happened during the prime time television coverage.

Tonight is the big night, when John McCain accepts the nomination for President! We're all looking forward to it eagerly.

Neal Andrews

Wednesday was a great day at the Republican National Convention. It was also the day that Governor Sarah Palin introduced herself and her family to the American people. She did this with great strength and grace. The delegates and guests in the Excel Center were completely overwhelmed by an amazing speech, delivered by an equally amazing mom, wife and governor. Governor Palin showed herself to be a hard working woman, balancing her life between family and profession, like so many women in American do every day.

It's now the wee hours, and the first real political speeches of the Republican National Convention are over. (I have already received two e-mails and a telephone call to let me know that my homely face appeared briefly on TV tonight. I guess that's about 4 seconds of my lifetime 15 minutes worth of fame, according to the Andy Warhol dictum.) I'm beat, and I'd ordinarily just go to bed because we have a California Delegation caucus in the morning, but, alas, I promised I would write stuff about this experience for the blogosphere.

The truth is this evening was inspiring. It started with a nice welcome from the Mayor of St. Paul. We learned from him that the City of St. Paul had originally been named "Pig's Eye" (as "in a ..."). Fortunately for it, after a Catholic priest built a little chapel dedicated to St. Paul, today a magnificent cathedral, the local populace elected to change the city's name. In any case, the essence of the Mayor's message, once we got past the name issues, lay in how the principles of conservative government, low taxes, reliance on natural economic forces and the free market, individual initiative, personal accountability, and fiscal integrity had built the thriving metropolis the city has become today.

The Mayor's remarks were followed by a series of truly uplifting accounts of remarkable people making wonderful contributions to their community or their fellow man - each an example of the theme John McCain had chosen as the hallmark of this evening - service above self. Perhaps the most moving was the tribute to Navy Seal Michael Monsoor, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously, for having sacrificed his life to save his fellow soldiers in Iraq by throwing his body on an enemy grenade. Each story reinforced the message of the McCain campaign that we as a nation need to rise above individual self-centered concerns, special interest, and partisan politics to serve the common good. Each account told us how one person had done it. Each helped us see that each of us can do it.

The evening was capped by two really great speeches by former Senator Fred Thompson and Senator Joe Lieberman. Thompson recounted the story of John McCain's experience in Viet Nam, not as a story of heroism so much as a testament to character and integrity. If any of you have ever read John McCain's story in his own words, you will know that he himself never characterizes his acts and his experiences as heroic. He describes them matter-of-factly as his duty. What Thompson made so clear is that it is that simple reliability, that commitment to a sense of duty to a larger common good and a greater principle, that is among the greatest reasons why John McCain should be our next President.

Senator Lieberman clearly pointed to the history of John McCain's actions in government as a Congressman and Senator as the strongest evidence of that very real commitment to the national interest above the pressures of political expediency. He talked of examples where John McCain time and again did what he believed was right, not what his Party asked, not what was easiest, not what was politically good for his own future. He walked the walk, and he didn't just talk the talk. He reminded me why I am so proud to be and to have been for many years a John McCain supporter.

Neal Andrews

I think I may finally be catching Convention fever.

This is the third day in St. Paul for many of us at the Republican National Convention, but it comes the closest to being the first "normal" day. I arrived on Saturday fairly late after a very long day on airplanes to find that Convention Registration had already closed, and, if I rushed, I could just make the last shuttle bus to a "welcoming reception" for delegates. I got there just in time to have a bit of dessert, the meal having been concluded, but it was a welcome treat after an arduous day of travel.

On the second day here, while following the news of Gustav with concern and enjoying the process of getting to know other delegates and discuss all the issues our campaign would have to deal with as we go forward, some of us took the time to enjoy a side excursion to visit a delightful mobile rail museum of sixteen beautifully maintained old Union Pacific rail cars that had been used in the days of whistlestop campaigning by Presidential candidates. The train had just arrived from Denver and the Democratic convention. In the evening there was a "Delegate Party" at the Minneapolis Convention Center where delegates could get into the spirit of the campaign by viewing the "Civic Fest" displays organized by the Republican National Committee for citizens of the area. This exposition includes displays of artifacts and memorabilia reflecting our national political heritage including a Presidential limousine, a replica of the Oval Office, and many other items. Nothing new for one who has visited the Reagan Library in Simi Valley many times, but a delight for many convention delegates from other parts of the nation and for people who live in the Minneapolis area.

Plans for the first actual business day of the convention changed radically as a result of hurricane Gustav. That's certainly old news. The convention activities yesterday were reduced to simply performing the business functions absolutely essential to permit going forward legally with the election process. No big speeches. Afterward delegates were requested to participate in one way or another to provide assistance for hurricane victims on the Gulf coast. The major evening event was converted from a political celebration to a fundraiser for hurricane relief. Most delegates were supportive of the decision by the McCain campaign to change the focus of activities from one with a political focus to one of humanitarian concern and were happy to participate in the relief efforts.

Now that the worst of the hurricane seems over and there appears to be less damage and destruction than had been feared, and certainly less loss of life or trauma than Katrina, it seems the convention will return to a more traditional format. This morning there was a brunch where we heard the first more or less "political" commentary. This evening we will go back to the Xcel Energy Center to participate in the second day of formal convention activity and hear many speakers from former Senator Fred Thompson to Senator Joe Lieberman, among others.

It's beginning to feel like a political convention after all.