Party Time!

Well, folks, the RNC put the party back in the Grand Old Party last night as the convention returned to business as usual. After a day that was dampened by speculation as to what Hurricane Gustav would do in the Gulf Coast, conventioneers were excited to hit Tuesday's convention events in full force.

I got to walk down on the convention floor last night, and as I made my way over to the North Carolina delegation (just ten rows from the front of the stage) the excitement was in the air. Women wore their traditional- funky hat- convention garb and men wore jackets filled with buttons that both supported their party and bashed their opponents. The delegation from Texas dressed alike: their delegation (obviously the largest at the convention) could be seen from anywhere in the upper levels.

Of course, the speakers helped, too. Last night Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson got the crowd on their feet with a speech that fed the delegates all the red meat it cared to digest- and most found it pretty tasty. And, as if Sen. Thompson's great performance was not enough (he seems to perform better when he's not running for president), Senator Joe Lieberman's direct appeal to Democrats even had the hall clapping for Bill Clinton!

The line up of speakers tonight promises to be even better. Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee take the stage in addition to Mayor Rudy Guliani. Of course, the moment that all of America is waiting for will come when Alaska Governor Sarah Palin addresses the audience. The speech will be a hit with the crowd: she seems to be attracting more applause whenever she's mentioned than John McCain is.