Quick Observations from First Hour of GOP Conventions

- Robert Duvall, who did the voiceover of the initial video, is the kind of man and kind of actor who gives Republicans a good name. A modern Spencer Tracy, that man.

- I think Bill Bennett is stretching when he thinks there might be a "Western ticket" focus. Living in the West, I can tell you that there isn't too much of a Western mentality anymore (regrettably so). A lot of people out here don't think in that way. Washington state and Colorado Springs are worlds apart. In fact, it almost seems like an East Coast trope to categorize the West in such a way.

- Bill O'Reilly asked Karl Rove what a "doofus" was. I was astounded. I had no idea that someone could have no idea what "doofus" meant. Is that just a southern/Texan thing? Really, if it is, I'll be amazed.

- The lady with the hat festooned in "I Support Unwed Mothers" buttons-- Ma'am, you scare me.

- Sen. Norm Coleman from Minnesota has one of the oddest accents in America. I would have guessed New England, but it seems that he's from Brooklyn. Wow. The thing just sounds like a mixed hodge-podge of sterotypical Northerner patoises.

- Howie Wolfson, who was on O'Reilly, had a good point. He said that the intensity surrounding Sarah Palin comes from a surprised MSM. They were expecting, and probably prematurely preparing for, a Romney or Pawlenty. It's clear that they've been caught off guard, and are now desperately scrambling for data. It seems that they have no discrimination when it comes to analysis or data mining.

- It's a smart move, what the GOP is doing at their convention. Tonight they've scheduled Liebermann to talk. They've also shown pictures of Rev. King and JFK. The 'national unity' idea will sell.

I might talk about this more later, but my last point has a bleed over effect. Amongst evangelicals, there has been a growing feeling of irritation with the Republican party. There are quite a few evangelicals who are uncomfortable with a direct tie between GOP and their houses of worship. So McCain, the un-Republican, combined with Gov. Palin, the pin-up of the parishes, might be enough to unexpectedly retain the evangelical vote.

More later...