“Yes, it was exciting for us political types to play Al Roker and figure out the potential impact of Gustav on the campaign. Yes, riffing on the limits of abstinence-only sex education was diverting. And, Lord knows, it was eye-opening to watch Republican delegates applaud as Joe Lieberman excoriated Republican corruption and corporate cheats while praising Bill Clinton. Those weren’t balloons descending from the Xcel Center’s roof; those were pigs flying. But it may be worth remembering that the most important business of this convention will come Thursday night, when John McCain delivers his acceptance speech. It’s the one time when voters, 20 million or 30 million or 40 million of them, will listen to a potential president — one of two — make an extended case for his election, interrupted only by the rapturous cheers of his supporters.” (09/03/08)