I can’t honestly Convention-blog in a serious way, because unlike Andrew I haven’t paid much attention so far. Truth be told, I haven’t watched any of it today. Not Boycotting, just doing other stuff.

But I did catch Giuliani (not McCain) last night. I agree with Andrew (!): he was excellent. Very persuasive. (Roo-DEE! Roo-DEE!! NOWAIT! My God, what am I saying? :) Yes, leave it to a savvy Nyew Yawk City Italo-Am Republican Pol. If Irish Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to Hell in such a way that he’ll enjoy the Trip, Rudy’s Italian charm may consist in the ability to bash John Kerry’s alleged Flip-flopperies in such a way that the little interrogatory shoulders-shrug-with-palms-upturned-&-smiley-face humanizes the Attack Dog assignment. VERY well done.

Giuliani, an effective, extremely controversial and divisive Mayor of NYC, was Reborn politically — and, I think, personally — on 09/11/2001. Transformed Utterly. (Apologies to Yeats. :) Ever since, he takes that and Runs with it. Who could blame him? Not me. He’s entitled.

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Like father, like son: I like the Roll Calls. :)

Now let me jusht shay thish about that (apologies to JFK I :) — This is a Highly Irregular Procedure. (Apologies to the Wizard of Oz. :)

I gather that the Republicans, always conservatively respectful of Precedent, Custom & Tradition, adopted a convention rule yesterday morning, presumably by unanimous vote of about 37 seriously hung-over Delegates :), authorizing the Chair (Dennis Hastert of Illinois), at his doubtless-legendary Discretion, to conduct a Rolling Roll Call Vote over the course of 3 separate convention days. / Which Dennis the H. (not to be confused with that sellout Traitor to the Progressive cause, Dennis the K. of Ohio :) immediately, albeit Discreetly, decided to do, Surprise Surprise.

Accordingly, on Monday Bush and Cheney were placed into nomination; and the roll was called from Alabama through Louisiana — to resume today, and Wednesday.

Interestingly, the states voting yesterday (see, I watched this, though I didn’t watch McCain’s speech — I always focus on the important stuff :) voted for Bush. Nobody mentioned Cheney, though he had been Placed in Nomination for VP. / I watched the Secretary commencing the roll-call & I don’t think she ever stated what Office(s?) it was for. / One presumes, from the voting, that it is for the nomination for President — and thus, that they will Do Cheney by Acclamation, separately, later. / If not, maybe Brendan’s Tick-Tock Veep Clock IS still running. :)

Favorite Monday Votes (close paraphrases, from memory):

Connecticut - state GOP Chm. Herb Shepherdson - ‘Madame Chairman, many of you know Connecticut as the Nutmeg State. To us, we are the Next Battleground State! We are seven points down and we are coming up!’ (He then, after a nice mention of Gov. Jodi Rell — none of her predecessor of course — and of the twin-championship Huskies, cast all the votes for Bush. :)

Delaware - ‘Mme. Secretary, on behalf of the Delaware Fighting Blue Hens, Delaware votes for George W. Bush!’

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Oh yeah: I also watched, on C-SPAN 2, some Conventions Past film. Favorite (you’ll never guess :) - 1964, Republican, Cow Palace, San Francisco. :) Yes, these 40 years have come & gone but still my memory of it is validated as accurate. Old Barry was Just Awful. :) Of course he was Doomed anyway; but I bet that speech, all by itself, is what knocked him down below 40%.