Blogging the GOP Convention, 2008

Day 1!

A few observations from day one of the Republican convention, and my issues with Sarah Palin, enumerated.

1) GOP women vs. Democrat women: skirt suits and high heels vs. pantsuits and sensible heels. Big hair and heavy makeup vs. edgy haircuts and lip gloss. Cloying perfume vs. patchouli.

2) Orrin Hatch had an entourage and people flocking to him like he was Elvis.

3) Sport coats, everywhere, mostly navy blue.

4) More African-Americans than I expected.

5) Gil is a frickin’ rock star on Radio Row.

6) TONS of National Guard, Sheriffs, cops, and K-9 units.

7) TV stations think they’re better than us.

8) John McCain was held captive with some outstanding men, 3 of whom I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday. Thank you, Dave Wheat, Larry Friese, and Rod Knutson.

9) Republicans can be very very nice people.

10) Not a lot of tattoos running around.

We’ve got a full day of convention today, so perhaps I’ll be more insightful tomorrow.

Let’s get one thing straight about Sarah Palin’s anti-abortion stance. The way it is being leveraged is insulting to Democrats and to women. This may come as a shock, but Democrats don’t get pregnant just so they can get abortions. We don’t like it. No one does. Democrats don’t abort babies with Down’s Syndrome any more than Republicans do. We also manage to make birth control a priority, so as to prevent unplanned pregnancy and avoid abortion all together. If Sarah Palin gave a flying crap about her daughter’s future, she would have had a birth control conversation with Bristol. Instead she is happy that her daughter is permanently compromising the life she could have had in favor of raising a child. As someone who has observed a great number of teenage pregnancies in her hometown, I feel safe telling you that Bristol’s dreams and ambitions are now in a state of suspended animation, never to be fulfilled the way they should be. And she is shackled to her boyfriend of one year, whether they end up being truly compatible or not. It’s sad and unfair, that Bristol wasn’t prepared for sex properly and that her “family values” have led her to this place. Excellent parenting, right?

Originally written 9.08