[cross-posted on TedPibil.com]

The mainstream media would tell you that John McCain’s life story has been read far too many times and that the American people are more concerned with the economy than with McCain’s biography.

But let’s focus on why this biography is important.

A man’s choices reflect his principles.

The most defining choice in John McCain’s life came the day he refused to be freed from that torture cell in Hanoi until every one of his men was set free as well.  He knew what that decision meant…more torture…a good possibility of death.

But he chose it nonetheless: he chose to stay for the duration and do his job, whatever the outcome was for him personally.

And as a result of that choice he was beaten and humiliated…and is still being beaten and humiliated today by the very America he served in Vietnam.

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[cross-posted on TedPibil.com]

Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin wowed the crowd and proved her mettle last night, ridiculing the complaint of the Obama campaign that she is just a “small town mayor.”

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities.

And this was just the beginning.

Thumbing her nose at the media and Washington elite alike, this hockey-mom-turned-government-reformer delivered blasts at the entrenched bureaucracy of each with shots like this one, aimed squarely at the mainstream media

But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion - I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people.

Ouch.

On Obama:

Government is too big … he wants to grow it.  Congress spends too much … he promises more. Taxes are too high … he wants to raise them. His tax increases are the fine print in his economic plan, and let me be specific.

The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes… raise payroll taxes… raise investment income taxes… raise the death tax… raise business taxes… and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars.

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What a nightmare for Democrats, but it’s their own fault. They ruthlessly attacked, but she responded by becoming a star.

Nielsen reports that 37.2 million people watched Governor Palin’s speech. That was just under Obama’s speech despite being on four fewer networks.

(h/t to Eric Pfeiffer)

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Entertainment (Music): Al Williams
• Entertainment (Monologue): James McEachin
• Call to Order, Introduction of Colors: Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan
• Presentation of Colors: Fort Snelling Joint Services Color Guards
• Pledge of Allegiance: Olympians Ryan Berube, Mitch Gaylord, Brittany Hayes, Barbra Higgins, Larsen Jensen, Elle Logan, Marcus McElhenney and John Naber
• Singing of the National Anthem: Trace Adkins
• Invocation: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

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Our reach has crossed the pond! BBC is featuring our video of the delegate reactions to Gov. Palin’s speech.

I just uploaded some pictures from Day #2 & 3 to Flickr.

The podium is being changed for tonight’s speech by John McCain. It is being extended toward the center of the X (Excel) by about thirty feet. The Ohio delegation is getting moved a little bit to the each side of the podium.

Should be a crazy night with lots of confetti and balloons!

Roll Call: Everett Alvarez, Honorary Chairman, casts Maryland’s delegate votes for John McCain:

Below are some reactions of Gov Palin’s speech by members of our delegation:

Here is a video of the actual speech: