Mark Bieganski: September 2008 Archives

ST. PAUL -- With just one day left on the block for the Republican National Convention, all eyes are focused on vice presidential nominee-in-waiting Sarah Palin's big speech tonight.

Inside the convention hall last night, Republican pols couldn't sing enough praises about McCain's pick. Pundits, meanwhile, challenge whether McCain's vetting process was thorough enough.

Palin, who was thrusted into the national media spotlight last week when picked by McCain as his running mate, is surrounded by two controversies that won't die down -- her pregnant and unwed 17-year-old daughter and allegations she was involved in a firing scandal in Alaska.

Whatever the case, Palin's place on the ticket has energized a somewhat lackluster and uneventful convention here in St. Paul. Visit back tonight as we live blog Palin's speech inside the Xcel Center.

CNN reporting that a massive group of protesters outside the Xcel Center at the Republican National Convention caused law enforcement to use gas of some sort -- not necessarily tear gas -- to subdue the crowd.

This is the second day of the Republican National Convention that force has had to be used against protesters, a stark comparison to what we saw in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, where excessive force didn't seem to be an issue.

Sun-Times colleague Kevin Allen's sports approach to Levi Johnson, the father of Bristol Palin's child.

The schedule for the Republican National Convention features, well, nothing for the next three days. Let's hope it's a technical error and the site hasn't been updated. Events were supposed to be back on schedule today ...

Sun-Times political reporter Abdon M. Pallasch on day one of the GOP convention.

Storefronts and street corners are lacking the political flare we saw in Denver, but we did come across this store front touting anti-Barack Obama posters ...

Blame it on the fact that Monday was a holiday, or that attendees of the GOP convention are spread out over two cities (St. Paul and Minneapolis) -- but parts of downtown Minneapolis were practically empty Monday ... a far different cry from the streets of Denver just a week ago.

A look inside the Xcel Center, where the Republican National Convention is being held. Today Republicans held an abbreviated session, lasting only several hours and focused on raising money to help victims of Hurrican Gustav rather than discuss the political nature of the convention.

Former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee appears at a youth luncheon Monday at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Minneapolis -- Ryan Kennedy doesn't fit the norm of someone you'd picture walking around a political convention.

He's not a political insider like many here. He's never ran for public office. Some might even call him a political amateur.

But it's Kennedy's vote -- and that of his friends -- that both Barack Obama and John McCain are targeting hard to get: the youth vote.

Mike Huckabee made a surprise appearance Monday at a Republican youth vote luncheon at the Hard Rock Cafe -- introduced by daughter Sarah Huckabee who was scheduled to speak.

On McCain and Sarah Palin:
Sarah Palin got more votes in her election as mayor than Joe Biden did in his run for the presidency. Sarah Palin has more actual experience in making decisions in two years as a governor then Joe Biden as Senator.

John McCain is a remarkable human being and someone you should feel proud to support. I'm excited about Sarah Palin, I know the other party has nominated a woman, but we're going to be the party to elect one.

Huckabee said the current and future elections will have a significant impact among young voters, drawing increased interest today from the youth vote.

Delegates from Illinois kicked off their morning breakfast sessions today in Minneapolis -- the opening day of the Republican Convention.

If there's one thing apparent on how this year's presidential election is being covered, it's that traditional journalists aren't the only ones with a say anymore.

Bruce DuMont -- political talk radio host of "Beyond the Beltway" and founder of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago -- is one pundit who says the availabilty of news via the Internet has democratized the way these conventions and elections are covered.

Judy Baar Topinka -- the former GOP candidate for governor -- wasn't shy at all in mocking Dems last week for the hugfest at the Democratic National Convention. See video:

She doesn't consider herself Republican or Democrat -- though she will vote for Barack Obama in the upcoming presidential election. Malia Burkhart -- along with dozens of activists -- paraded their message of change and love throughout the Minneapolis streets at the Republican National Convention.

Minneapolis -- Call them Democrats. Call them Republican. Call them liberitarians. In one of the first of many anti-government movements held here this week, marchers paraded down Nicolette Mall on Sunday singing their causes and kicking off a week of subdued convention festivities.