Could the timing of Gustav be any worse? President Bush is speaking Monday night at the Republican convention. According to the storm trackers, the tropical storm/hurricane is expected to hit the vicinity of New Orleans at 8 p.m. Monday night, also known as the start of prime time. See the 5-day forecast map here. Remarkable [...]

Posting for Amy Sullivan Those of you watching from home have probably recognized this by now, but that set isn’t a Greek temple. With the windows lit up like that now that it’s dark, that’s the West Wing you’re looking at.

Posting for Amy Sullivan We’re entering the details section of Obama’s speech–and it’s a long one. Note that he introduced this with, “Let me spell out EXACTLY what that change would mean if I am President.” What he really wanted to say: “Okay, haters. You want substance? Get ready.”

My friend Lizzie O’Leary, a reporter from Bloomberg, emails this Echo of Sorkin from the Obama speech: A line you will hear from Barack Obama tonight: “It’s not because John McCain doesn’t care. It’s because John McCain doesn’t get it.” Now this line from the American President, a movie by the greatest dramatist of presidential [...]

The average folks part of the program was just terrific. Line of the night: A laid-off factory worker from Marion, Ind named Barney Smith: “We need a government that puts Barney Smith ahead of Smith Barney!” Great stuff, even if only a handful of TV viewers–PBS, CSpan sorts–actually saw it.

Posting for Amy Sullivan We’re back at the regular people portion of the evening (after a couple of bizarre Harry Reid shout-outs from Joe Biden). The first speaker was a Teamsters member from Michigan. I’m still looking up the numbers to confirm this, but I’m pretty sure that makes more average voters speakers from Michigan [...]

Posting for Amy Sullivan Fireworks?

What they are going to do instead of a balloon drop. This place doesn’t have a roof.

Posting for Amy Sullivan Tough speech by Gore, with just a few “I told you so’s” at the beginning. And the Obama campaign has to be happy about that passage comparing Lincoln’s wisdom and relative lack of experience with Obama’s. You have to wonder how hard it is for Gore to make that argument, having [...]