If Republicans could give staffers time off to stage protests in Florida during the 2000 recount then I'm sure they'll manage to drum up a crowd for the convention.

...Fred Thompson and his spoken word rendition of "The Passion of McChrist"! Barnburner!!!

This convention is really uncomfortable. I don't think even the Republicans are having a good time. There is no love lost between a lot of these people. They all have their talking points, but I don't think they're selling it beyond the faithful.

I have no doubt that they'll all go to the polls and vote Republican in November, but I'm getting the sense that the independents won't be going with them. I'm not clear on how independents will vote, but right now I wouldn't bet the farm that it will be with the GOP.

I'm also getting a sense that white men are feeling shafted by McCain going hard Christian right and picking this inexperienced woman as a running mate.

Anybody else? Am I crazy?

But the Republicans seem to love Sarah, no matter what, unconditional love. Go figure.

This is the bass-ackward storty of the election cycle!

It is impossible to believe the "Democrats are divided" story that has been repeated over and over and over all year long, after seeing the Democratic convention last week.

But, why has *no* *one* been talking about the deeply divided GOP? Why has McCain's lack-luster support not a bigger story? (I recently rad a Newsweek article about The South: the reporter stated ,that while many people are "nervous" about Obama, there isn't a single McCain lawn sign or bumper sticker to be seen, evven in the heart of Dixie).

Why isn't the epic struggle between the Christian Right and the secular conservatives for control of the GOP not "the" story this summer?

Salon? Maybe you could cover this angle for a while???

I'm totally in agreement with your post.

And I don't even eat hotdogs, but getting free ones to get into this convention to try to fill the hall...no thanks.

Meanwhile, Lieberman...don't call yourself a Democrat anymore.

They will have a capacity crowd tomorrow night for Palin's speech. After all, it will be the public "crowning with hot coals" of her poor daughter and her young man. Even if they have to bus them in - they'll get a crowd.

I did watch some of the convention tonight although I have to admit I went to some recorded shows of South Park during Bush and Thompson - I just didn't have the stomach. Caught the entry of Ma and Pa Bush (did anyone else think of Bab's comments on those lucky folks fleeing Katrina that made it to Houston?) and some of Lie-berman's speech. He sure didn't get much of a reception. It all just seemed kind of lack-luster to me. However, I have no doubt that Palin will bring down the house tomorrow. I'll have to start smoking early to sit through that.

Here in Fayetteville NC I live in a nice subdivision and the Obama signs are at least 3-1 Obama to McCain. This is even a military town and most of the people in my subdivsion are active or retired. It is no sign of votes but it is a sign on enthusiasm.

I must say that tonight the convention was boring. On MSNBC they had people yawning during speeches. During Thompson's speech I wanted to yell at the TV "Yes we know he was a POW".

Maybe it was the threat from the PUMA's or the possibility of a Clinton flipping off the DNC convention but even the talking heads seemed bored tonight. But I must say the Pat Buchanan Palin fan club is funny tonight.

For about ten minutes during Thompson's speech and later, five during Lieberman's. (Al Gore what were you THINKING when you tapped the guy 8 years ago????? I put up with him for the sake of having you, but he was no help to you. With someone else, you MIGHT have won that election. Hopefully, if Palin is forced out and Lieberman is chosen, he'll have a similar drag-ass effect on McCain.)

Some of the Democratic speeches were bland, I'll grant you. But Fred Thompson is a sleeping pill in a suit. Hello, Mr. Monotone. When the cameras panned around the hall, I didn't see so many empty seats (maybe they were aiming the camera carefully AWAY from those areas) but I sure saw a lot of glum, bored people. As for Lieberman, he spoke with the passion of a dead monkey. The only real applause line I heard eithe of them get was Lieberman's line about McCain's respect abroad was not based on speeches given to America's critics.

Hello, we have CRITICS abroad because we F***ed UP! Incredibly! After the last eight years, it's a bleedin' miracle the Europeans will still talk to us!

I couldn't watch any of it before staring to shout at the TV, so I watched a far more entertaining DVD, instead.

I TOTALLY agree about the division of the parties. It MUST be the fault of the Liberal Media giving The One a pass for everything while sticking it to McCain.

More seriously, Yes, absolutely, the disaffection a lot of Republicans feel toward their candidate this year should have had more coverage. And should get more from now on. The Republicans aren't happy as McCain's too conservative for some and not conservative enough for the rest. But he's their bastard so they'll hold their noses and cheer for him.

Democrats have just got to win, this year. The other prospect is too awful.

If they decide to reprise the role of Two Face in the next Batman movie, I nominate Joe Lieberman to play him. He can use tonight's speech as his audition.

..for people to go see this shit.

Even MSNBC mentioned how white the crowd was. I thought it was a little bit older too.

Is there a way to verify that the crowd was mostly white and old? Get on it Salon.