The Republican Party has concluded its convention in New York City.
BBC News Online's Kevin Anderson delivers a personal view of events in his weblog.
3 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 0114 (0514 GMT)
George Bush started out slow tonight, laying out a vision for a second term that seemed long on detail and short on inspiration.
The crowd seemed to yawn about talk of rural health care centres, community college funding and the creation of opportunity zones.
They loved the talk of tax cuts and went wild when President Bush talked about protecting the rights of the unborn and the institution of marriage from "activist judges" - good red meat issues for social conservatives.
'Not Bush's best' said one of the Republican bloggers of his speech
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He gathered momentum as he went along, especially when talking expansively about freedom and liberty.
I remember George Bush's acceptance speech four years ago and thinking that Al Gore had an uphill battle ahead of him.
The rhetoric was soaring and the atmosphere in the hall was electric.
George Bush does well with political set pieces.
No, he's not the best extemporaneous speaker and can get testy when pressed, but he definitely can deliver the goods with a well written speech.
He doesn't have the best sense of timing.
Four years ago, the speech felt like the 1812 Overture with the cannons in the middle. There was this big explosive moment only to be followed by a lengthy subdued coda.
The speech tonight felt like the Return of the King movie. It had too many false endings.
And it didn't help his rhythm that protestors disrupted the speech.
If you noticed on the televised coverage some oddly timed chants of "Four More Years" and USA, that wasn't the audience being clueless.
They were trying to drown out anti-Bush protestors. One was pulled away just 10 metres from me.
So much for Fortress Madison Square Garden!
As for what the Republican bloggers thought, RedState.org said, "Not Bush's best. Not too far off."
"I thought it was weak at the start. A little stumble-prone. Too much laundry-listing," he added.
Kevin Aylward over at Wizbang caught up with Peter Jennings and George Stephanopoulos of US network ABC.
"You know I was just saying to George, it was an hour speech and the last six were six paragraphs great," Mr Jennings said.
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2 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 2113 (0113 GMT)
Hours before President Bush was to speak at the Republican convention and accept his party's presidential nomination, Democrats and the John Kerry campaign were launching pre-emptive political strikes.
And just as the Republican Party had a rapid response team in Boston during the Democrat's convention, the Dems were ready here in New York City.
Rapid political response techniques were pioneered by crack Democratic political operative James "The Ragin' Cajun" Carville in Bill Clinton's "War Room" in 1992.
The techniques have only been honed in the last decade.
David Chai: A political commando operating deep behind enemy lines
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The Republicans said that John Kerry underwent an "extreme makeover" during the Democratic convention.
And here in New York, Democrats have called the Republican convention "a masquerade ball".
"This week what we have seen is a blatant attempt to do anything but talk about the Bush-Cheney record or talk about their plan because they don't have a plan," said David Chai, part of the rapid response team.
How rapid is their response?
Democrats quickly noted that Republican delegates were wearing band-aids with purple hearts.
It was a dig at John Kerry, who received three purple hearts for wounds he received in Vietnam.
Critics say that he received some of the medals for nothing more than superficial wound that could be treated with a band-aid sticking plaster.
Mr Chai quickly found out where the band-aids were being handed out, and within minutes, he grabbed New York Democratic Charles Rangel and arranged an impromptu press conference - a gaggle as they are called in US politics - to counter the attack.
But the attacks have taken their toll, and John Kerry has slipped in the polls.
Coming out the convention, Mr Chai said that the Democrats will be asking voters, "Are you really better off than you were four years ago?"
To which the Democrats at least respond: "Mission not accomplished."
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2 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 2004 (0004 GMT)
File this one in "stereotypes people have about their political opponents" category.
On the Wednesday evening of the convention, a colleague overheard one Republican delegate say to another after the benedictory prayer for the evening, "I bet the Democrats didn't pray at their convention."
Democrat being some code word for godless heathen.
My colleague interjected saying that he was in Boston, and yes, indeed the Democrats did pray at their convention.
The delegate quickly said, "Yes, but to which god?"
2 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 1844 (2344 GMT)
Capitalise on partisan anger for fun and profit!
Yes, both parties are trying to that anger to motivate their armies of activists into propelling their candidate to the presidency.
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A selection of badges spotted at the convention
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But apart from political gain, there is always a fast buck to be made.
The convention has its own official merchandise, which is sold throughout Madison Square Garden.
"Viva Bush" buttons and bumper stickers are popular, playing on the fact that George Bush speaks Spanish.
But more importantly, both Republicans and Democrats know that their future lies in attracting Latino voters.
The unofficial merchandise is a little more edgy. I saw a man walking down 6th Avenue with an FCUKerry shirt on, definitely a red-state fashion statement.
And someone, somewhere is making a killing selling flip-flops. These are cheap plastic sandals beach- and urban hipster-wear.
Republicans have embraced them as a symbol of what they see as John Kerry's inability to make a decision.
At one table selling buttons including "I only sleep with Republicans", there was large cartoon poster of John Kerry, flanked by flip-flops with a warning of sudden changes in direction.
It's always best to attack your political opponents with a smile and a good belly laugh, even though it always seems better when it comes at your opponents' expense instead of your own.
Just re-reading my last entry. Thoreau and civil disobedience! That's what you get before I've had my second cup of coffee after staying up dancing with the New York Young Republicans!
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2 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 1500 (1900 GMT)
It has been a couple of days since I commented on your comments, but it's good to come up for air from the conventions and cast a look around.
To cover the protests or not to cover the protests? Not my question, but one that seems to be popping up in the comments below.
I agree with Patrick from Ohio that everyone has a right to free speech. I'm a big fan of the US Constitution's Bill of Rights.
The First Amendment to the Constitution, "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press," is printed on the neck strap that holds my press credentials
Enjoy the right to free speech but can protesters go too far?
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I mentioned the protesters who were able to breach security for a couple of reasons.
One is that despite extremely tight security, protesters were able to get into Madison Square Garden and, in one case, get within 10 feet (a couple of metres) of Vice President Cheney.
Fortunately, the young man only wanted to shout some anti-war slogans at Mr Cheney, but it's disquieting from a security standpoint.
Secondly, it's great to spark a debate about civil disobedience.
These folks feel so strongly that they are willing to break the law for a chance to get their voice heard. Does that impress or appal you?
Certainly, if protesters assault someone, I don't know too many people who would defend that.
I wish there were more debates between delegates and protestors like the one I wrote about in Columbus Park.
But civil disobedience has a long and proud tradition in the United States from Henry David Thoreau to Martin Luther King Junior.
As Thoreau wrote: "Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavour to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?"
And I know people on both the right and the left in the US who have used his words to justify acts of civil disobedience.
And Charles from Nashville might be right. The protests might backfire. Some here agree with you.
I was sitting in Bryant Park on Wednesday enjoying the free wireless internet connection there for work when I overheard four New Yorkers talking about the protests over lunch.
"FoxNews will put them on and say, 'Look at these crazy Kerry supporters.'" one said.
I guess we'll see on 2 November.
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2 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 0154 (0554 GMT)
Bloggers were the big deal up in Boston with the Democrats playing up the fact that they opened up the convention to these cyber diarists.
And bloggers are here in New York too - just not the same ones. The Republicans invited 15 bloggers from right-leaning, red-state blogs.
But that's 15 bloggers compared to 15,000 traditional journos.
Although the Republicans invited only half the number of bloggers that the Dems did, the bloggers here in New York say they feel the love from the party.
They say they have better access than the bloggers in Boston, and they have "Betsy", a party liaison who is keeping them busy with A-list interviewees.
The bloggers' reaction to the convention broadly thus far has been: Loved Arnie. Didn't love the Twins. Dick Cheney is god, and honorary Republican Zell Miller (he is or was a Democrat) did a brilliant job of rubbishing his party and John
Kerry.
David Adesnik at OxBlog wrote, "There is only one word to describe Dick Cheney's performance tonight: presidential."
At Wizbang, Kevin Aylward wrote, "The general opinion on blogger row is the Cheney really delivered the goods this evening."
From tonight's line-up, a contributor at RedState.org wrote: "Would you like the Spicy, Hot, or Atomic Zell Miller?"
"In his trademarked firebrand fashion, Zell delivered many a kick to John Kerry's head. He tore off Kerry's own arms and then proceeded to beat him with them," they added.
Not everyone was wowed by Zell. Over at OxBlog, David wrote, "Senator Miller is pathetic and dishonest."
He said that Mr Miller's lines that John Kerry would let France and the United Nations "decide when America needs defending" may have gotten the most applause from the Republican crowd, but they were simply lies.
Other highlights from the convention: Wizbang has a Republican Babe of the Day. Kind of like Page 3 girl's in power pants suits, as incongruent as that might seem.
And my personal favourite blog entry is OxBlog's praise for the new G5 iMac. OK, OK, I'll get back to work.
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1 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 2325 (0325 GMT)
Social conservatives are the poster children for the Republican Party for many outside of the United States.
Social conservatives are religious, oppose abortion and gay marriage, believe that the United States Constitution is based on Judeo-Christian principles and want the government to reflect, if not enforce, their values.
But there is a tension within the party between social conservatives and libertarians.
Social conservatives don't mind a little government intervention if it prevents gays from marrying.
Libertarian conservatives want less government and more freedom. Government is the problem, and that's why it's best to keep government small.
During the Republican Convention, it was the libertarians of the American Conservative Union that gathered in law offices in New York to debate the Patriot Act, a law passed to combat terrorism in the wake of the 11 September attacks.
The ACU often works with the Americans Civil Liberties Union, which is often associated with liberal America, in what the ACU's Ian Walker calls the strange bedfellows coalition.
Former Congressman Bob Barr led the attack against the Patriot Act, which he voted for, a vote he now says he regrets.
"Not just since 9/11, but particularly since 9/11, our civil liberties are being greatly diminished," he said.
"It is not necessary to reduce the civil liberties of Americans, to undermine the Bill of Rights ... in order to fight terrorist acts," he said.
The government no longer needs probable cause to gather evidence against citizens, he said.
Fellow panel member and arch-conservative Grover Norquist - in an odd echo of liberal firebrand Michael Moore - accused the US Senate of not reading the Patriot Act and not knowing what they were voting for.
He called on Congress to set time limits on key provisions of the Patriot Act so that they could come up for review.
The problem is that even libertarians will cede that one defensible function of government is to "provide for the common defence", as the preamble to the US Constitution says.
And former US Treasury counsel David Aufhauser said that 11 September "changed the DNA of war."
War is no longer about protecting "strategic targets that we can bunker and put steel around, but about soft targets," he said.
And government needed new tools to combat terrorism, and he defended provisions of the act that allowed the government to monitor and cut off financing for terrorist groups.
This is the tension. The debate has been raging for the last three years over where the balance between civil liberties and security is best struck.
During the question and answer period, the debate was humanised.
Ahmed Kabani, a Florida delegate at the Republican convention, his voice cracking with emotion told the audience of Muslim-American families too scared to leave their homes and targeted by law enforcement.
He said, "The last three years have been hell for Muslim-Americans."
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1 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 1215 (1615 GMT)
I missed most of the Bush twins' speech at the convention because I was making my way back from listening to Arh-nuld in the hall to the basement bomb shelter (no joke) that is the media workspace.
So I will not pass judgement on their performance, but I can't say they went down to rave reviews.
The smiles of Barbara and Jenna Bush did not win over the critics
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Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz, who skewers both Republicans and Democrats alike when they make performance faux pas, asked: "What the hell were they thinking?"
He thought that the person who signed off on the speech should probably get the sack.
"Sex jokes about former first lady Barbara Bush?" he asked, saying that other journalists around him were cringing.
Paul Brownfield of the Los Angeles Times said that the daughters "carry themselves with an implied raunch".
And his review just went downhill from there. "The Bush daughters... introduced a new strategy in the war on terrorism: giggling," he said.
"The strategy Tuesday, apparently, was to have sisters Jenna and Barbara humanise and soften the grim-faced politburo image that dogs the Bush-Cheney campaign," he added.
Even the Republican-friendly New York Post said: "JEN & BARB: MORE GAFFES THAN LAUGHS".
All of this criticism will probably not endear the media to Republicans. They already view us with great suspicion.
When I introduced myself to a California delegate this morning and told him I was with the BBC, he asked, "Do you have any other redeeming qualities?"
1 SEPTEMBER :: NEW YORK CITY 0006 (0406 GMT)
Protesters have continued to breach the tight security of Madison Square Garden to voice their opposition to the war in Iraq.
A university student got within 10 feet (3m) of Vice President Dick Cheney, shouting anti-war statements before he was arrested on Monday.
The student staged an elaborate ruse, passing himself off as a Republican supporter and going through training to serve as a convention volunteer.
On Tuesday night, a Latino man made it to the floor of the convention with a sign showing a picture of his son wearing a military uniform. The sign said: "Bush lied. He died."
"When the war began, our boys believed the president when he said the country was in danger because Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was involved in September 11," said Fernando Suarez del Solar.
His son Jesus went to Iraq on 5 February 2003. When he arrived in Iraq, he said something was wrong, that the orders didn't make sense and that he wanted to come home as soon as possible.
His son died on 27 March 2003 during the first push into Iraq.
"The government lied to me about what happened to my son," he said.
The government told him his son was shot in the head when he actually died from the blast of a US cluster bomb, he added.
Through friends, he was able to get a media pass to get into the convention.
A police officer approached him and asked for his credentials. When she saw his credentials, she let him continue.
Mr Suarez del Solar said he was simply exercising his constitutional rights. "I paid with my son's life for the right to speak out," he said.
31 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 2040 (0040 GMT)
Day two of the Republican Convention was supposed to be a day of civil disobedience by protestors angered by Bush administration policies.
Protesters gathered outside the New York Hilton to heckle delegates. They wore pig noses, saying they worked for "Hallibacon".
![A protester, Martin, holds a sign calling on RNC [Republican National Committee] stop exploiting 9/11](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40022000/jpg/_40022288_rncexploit300.jpg)
Some people are angry the convention is in New York
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It was a dig against Halliburton, which was sponsoring some of the state delegations' breakfast meetings. The protesters said the company had profited from the war in Iraq.
As the convention began for the evening, thousands of protesters gathered at Herald Square, just blocks from the site of the Republican Convention at Madison Square Garden.
Martin, "a native New Yorker, raised in Brooklyn," held a sign calling on "RNC [Republican National Committee] stop exploiting 9/11."
"I feel outraged that the Republicans are holding their convention here," he said.
"The Republicans are here to use the deaths of 3,000 people at the World Trade Center for a permanent war, a war of terror."
Some protesters held up signs condemning not only President Bush but also John Kerry for the war in Iraq.
But Martin plans to vote for John Kerry, even though he sees him as the lesser of two evils.
"We just have to have [Bush] out of office as soon as possible," he said.
Protests are popping up all over tonight. I'm sitting in Bryant Park right now listening to the police helicopters overhead, and local radio reports say protesters are trying to block the streets.
31 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 2020 (0020 GMT)
It was not the John McCain I remember from the 2000 elections here at the Republican National Convention.
One of my favourite political memories is when the Senator McCain's "Straight Talk Express" - the name he gave his bus - rolled into a small town in New Hampshire for a town hall meeting in January 2000.
The meetings are an intimate political tradition in New England where voters get to ask candidates unscripted questions.
A man stood up in the crowd and asked him to clarify his position on the legalisation of marijuana.
"OK, I'll give you my opinion. I'm against it, but good luck with your crop," he said as the crowd roared with laughter. He fed off the crowd like a rock star.
But he lost out in 2000 after a bitter primary battle with George W Bush.
There wasn't any of the political maverick's energy last night as he threw his support behind his party's nominee.
For much of the speech, he seemed so quiet. He was hiding the fire that I've seen in him before.
Some say he is trying to make peace with the Republican Party establishment ahead of another run for the presidency in 2008.
But he still has that straight-talking sparkle. He brought the house down when he told the crowd that toppling Saddam Hussein was the right decision and then followed it with a dig against director Michael Moore.
"Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Not our political opponents. And certainly - and certainly not a disingenuous filmmaker who would have us believe that Saddam's Iraq was an oasis of peace," he said, having to pause as the crowd hooted and booed.
Mr Moore was up in the press box, covering the convention as a columnist for newspaper USA Today.
More than a few Republicans did a double-take when they saw the portly polemicist in the hall and told the filmmaker to take a hike, or something less polite.
As far as the dig from Senator McCain, Michael Moore wasn't too fussed, saying the film had made $120m and the attention might just push the box office take to $150m.
31 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 1525 (1925 GMT)
It's Tuesday and the Republican state delegations are fanning across New York City for a massive display of compassionate conservatism.
Rosemary Oliver backed Tuesday's theme of compassionate conservatism
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The Missouri and Colorado delegations came to Columbus Park in Chinatown to tidy it up a bit. Rake some leaves, pick up rubbish and mourn the odd dead rat.
For Rosemary Oliver of St Louis, Missouri, volunteering is nothing new. She volunteers as a tutor for inner city children, and she does work in prisons.
She thought the clean-up was a bold political statement. "I think our president cares a lot about compassion, and loving another one is the only answer to violence between countries."
But then serendipity took over.
No-one told the Republicans that a group was gathering at the park to protest against Bush administration immigration policies, and the protesters hadn't checked the Republican convention day planner.
And oh well, democracy happens.
It's a frequent chant at protests. "This is what democracy looks like."
And this certainly, whether anyone planned it had all the hallmarks of democracy. Freedom of assembly. Freedom of expression. America's Founding Fathers would be proud.
John Winston, a Republican delegate from St Louis, found himself in a discussion with protesters Susan McGregor from New York City and Stephen Williams from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
It wasn't always easy going, and common ground seemed thin at first.
"No two people will agree on everything," Mr Winston gamely said.
To which Stephen responded, "I don't think we agree on anything."
Mr Winston tried to connect with the young protesters by recalling the wild days of his youth. "I was the nuttiest son of a bitch," he said.
Democracy broke out with a debate in the park
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"So you think we're nutty?" Susan asked.
Oops. And Mr Winston backtracked, admitting that he was a little rusty in speaking to young people.
After weathering this rough spot, the debate moved in a more substantive direction, and Susan began talking about the flaws with electronic voting machines.
She was concerned that they could be manipulated to fix the election.
After much debate, Mr Winston gave Susan his contacts and told her to write to him with her concerns, and he promised to speak to his local election officials and congressman.
Divided America had come together in Columbus Park.
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30 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 2330 (0330 GMT)
I was dipping into your comments about the convention, and K Ham's of Washington DC caught my eye.
He wrote: "I wonder how many of these 'MTV Generation' protesters have an informed opinion on the policies they're protesting against. Moreover I wonder how many of these protesters actually plan to vote."
Marchers: Do they understand the power of the vote?
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Now, I would call myself a connoisseur of protests. I missed the Battle in Seattle, but I've been to most major and quite a few minor protests in the US since then.
I remember the protests four years ago at both the Republican and Democratic conventions following the demonstrations in Seattle.
Many of the anti-globalisation protesters in the US exist outside of the political system here. They have no candidate, no party that supports their issues on the national level.
Yes, the Green Party has been successful in some local elections, but they have yet to make a major breakthrough on the national scene, Ralph Nader's unsuccessful runs notwithstanding.
And I've often come away from many of these protests with the feeling that for many of the demonstrators, their involvement in the political system began and ended on the streets.
This protest on Sunday in New York was something wholly different.
I saw quite a few protesters wearing t-shirts with a simple, but powerful message: November 2 - the date of this year's election.
One protester was even carrying a voting booth with him in the march. No mean feat in the wilting heat of Sunday.
And as I scroll down to other comments, another catches my eye.
Ron of Memphis wrote: "All the power that the organisers believe they have does not come close to the power of the vote."
Oddly, this was one of the first protests that I've been to where I felt that the marchers did understand the power of the vote.
I think many of them do understand that this began on the streets of New York but it will end at the ballot box in November.
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30 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 2150 (0150 GMT)
Thirty years ago, he fought a bitter political battle for control of the College Republicans, and today in New York, the young conservatives that followed in his footsteps hung on his every word.
As he walked into swanky bar Windfall bar and grill in midtown Manhattan, the College Republicans began to chant: "We love Rove! We love Rove!"
Karl Rove: Sometimes known as 'Bush's Brain'
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Karl Rove is legendary in College Republican circles for the 1973 election for chairman that was so hotly contested that the group had to call on Republican National Committee chair George HW Bush to settle the matter. Mr Bush concluded that Mr Rove had won fairly.
Who or what are College Republicans?
The ones I met are interested in personal freedom, individual responsibility, low taxes, less government and the right to life, meaning they are against abortion.
And today, these College Republicans wanted to pick "Bush's Brain", a man seen as one of the most brilliant and powerful political strategists ever in US politics.
A College Republican from California asked Mr Rove if he thought the state was in play. It usually is a reliably Democratic state.
But Mr Rove said: "It depends on how hard you work and how hard your governor [Arnold Schwarzenegger] works."
But when a young Republican from Massachusetts asked if the Bush campaign would be putting resources into that state, the home state of John Kerry, Mr Rove said: "We'll be waving to you as we fly over."
And before he left the College Republicans he threw the young crowd some red meat to motivate them to get serious about the work of campaigning this autumn.
"Wealth is too important to be left to limousine liberals," he said to wild applause.
And he recounted his return with President Bush to Washington after the attacks of 11 September 2001.
As the presidential helicopter topped a hill and the still burning Pentagon came into view, President Bush said: "Take a look at the face of war in the 21st Century."
And Mr Rove said President Bush understands "there is only one way to win the war on terrorism, and that is to chase the enemy to the ends of the earth and utterly destroy them".
The College Republicans roared with rock star applause.
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30 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 1214 (1614 GMT)
Did I take a wrong turn trying to get to the New York Hilton and accidentally end up in Baghdad? That's Dan Senor, senior adviser for the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Oh, that's right, power has been transferred in Iraq and the CPA is no more.
From Iraq to the Hilton: Dan Senor said Bush was key to Western values
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In his new role, Mr Senor was making the rounds to the state Republican delegations, rallying the troops, defending the war in Iraq and the war on terror and making the case for grand transformation in the Middle East.
"The stakes in this election cannot be higher," Mr Senor told the crowd.
"What 9/11 taught us is that when we see a threat to America, we can't have cold feet. We must take on that threat head on," he said.
He told the crowd about the brutality of Saddam Hussein, to underscore the importance of the war in Iraq.
He told of the brother of a woman on Iraq's governing council who had been burned with acid by the authorities for making jokes about Saddam.
Another woman's brother was shot for speaking out against the government, and the family was not able to collect the body until they paid for the bullet that killed him.
"I did not meet a single Iraqi whose family was not touched by the brutality of Saddam Hussein," he said.
He said that brutality was what the US is up against not only in Iraq but throughout the whole of the Middle East.
"That region is dominated by rogue regimes that harbour terrorists and develop the capabilities for weapons of mass destruction and are sworn enemies of the US," he said.
He said the US is consolidating its victories in Iraq and Afghanistan to bring democracy and reform to the Middle East.
This will mean that citizens in the Arab world will no longer channel their anger at the repression of their own governments against the US but will be able to change their governments at the ballot box, he said.
"It is fundamentally important that we re-elect this president, not only for America but for the sake of Western civilisation," Mr Senor said.
The Pennsylvania delegation gave him a standing ovation.
30 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 0129 (0529 GMT)
It is oft quoted that Democrats outnumber Republicans in New York City 5-to-1, and all you have to do is walk around town to get a sense that the Big Apple is not George Bush country.
Full house: Cheney, Blair and Bush
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In the West Village, anti-Bush signs are everywhere from home-made posters on doors and in windows to posh boutiques selling anti-Wubya art.
A sign on one door on a sleepy side-street in the West Village said, "The last time we listened to a talking Bush, we spent 40 years wandering in the desert."
Heading up to midtown later on Saturday night, a man was handing out "Regime Change Playing Cards" at a club.
It's a satire of the deck of Iraq's most wanted that the US military used to train soldiers to recognise former regime members.
In the US military's deck, Saddam Hussein was the ace of spades, but in this deck, it's Vice President Dick Cheney.
And in Iraq, Qusay Hussein was the ace of clubs, but in this deck, it's Bush political advisor Karl Rove.
Oh, and the designers of the deck think the US isn't the only country that could benefit from a little regime change. The queen of spades? UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
30 AUGUST :: NEW YORK CITY 0017 (0417 GMT)
Let the Republican Party convention begin, well at least the party part of the convention. The week of parties began with a high-gloss welcome celebration for the media at the Time Warner Centre.
But free drinks and food could not keep us journos from grousing about the soirée. First off, the party was in a shopping mall, which struck many as slightly odd.
The New York welcome has been friendly
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One of my colleagues said: "It was weird. I saw (CNN's) Wolf Blitzer standing outside of Benetton."
And unlike in Boston and the Democratic Convention, where we got bags full of free goodies, this time we got coupon books for shops at the mall.
Only problem was that many of them expired the night of the party.
For me, the odd thing was the servers wearing signs with famous New York City sayings.
Most of them were positive and cheery like "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere" from the signature Frank Sinatra song, New York, New York.
But is the phrase "You talking to me" from the movie Taxi Driver that welcoming?
The Internet Movie Database sums up the movie this way. "A mentally unstable Vietnam war veteran works as a night time taxi driver in a city whose perceived decadence and sleaze feeds his urge to violently lash out."
Fortunately, the woman wearing it was serving up delicious tarts.
Don't worry New York. We feel welcome.
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Send us your comments in response to Kevin's weblog using the form below.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
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The weakest political convention that I have ever watched
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The Republican convention this year has got to be the weakest political convention that I have ever watched. None of the speeches were of any substance, including the speech by President Bush which was not inspiring at all. Republicans seem to have little concern about the lives lost in war, the budget deficit, the unemployment problem, the sagging economy, high gas prices, etc... They seem to want nothing to do with the important issues facing our country that are intellectually challenging. What a wake up call it must be for many Americans like myself to see what the Republicans have to offer.
Tetsuyo, Los Angeles
The RNC convention has been awesome. I also watched the DNC convention which unimpressed me. Kerry does not speak to me, I just don't believe him. How can anyone? And how is it intelligent to vote at all when your motto is "Anyone but Bush"?
EM, Olympic Peninsula, USA
I have been a long time Republican voter dating back to Reagan. However, I have never been more concerned for the Republican Party than I am now. It's quite clear to me that we the American people have been lied to by the Bush administration. Bush has exploited 911, given big money contracts out to his friends, involved government more in our private lives and the attacks on our Veterans is inexcusable. I am not a fan of Mr Kerry nor do I believe in many of his policies and it pains me to vote for a Democrat for the first time in my life, but I would never forgive myself if I voted for Bush again.
Seth, Orlando, USA
For those of you that think that the Republican Party is NOT the party of the minorities think again. I came to this country with very little and I am now a wealthy Hispanic (Puerto Rico) living in the US. I am sick and tired of politicians like Kerry who distort reality, and makes disrespectful/ insulting comments towards the President. Bush is a real gentleman. He answers questions in a direct manner, without adding a lot of mumble jumble like Kerry, and he does what he says he is going to do.
Richard Dib, Chicago, IL, USA
Great weblog... One of the terrible things with this year's conventions is how totally scripted they are. No floor fights over platform issues and of course since Iowa now chooses the candidates, there are no decisive votes on the floor. All in all the conventions have been terrible television. The Republican one is a real sleeper. I turned the set off when the twins were on. I can only stand so much and they were... too much. I am sorry you had to be asked if you had any other redeeming features beyond the BBC affiliation. There once was a time in this country where differing opinions were respected. I am afraid those days are long gone.
Terry Day, San Francisco, California, USA
All this badmouthing from the Swifties and that Band-Aid stunt just lost you a Republican vote. For anyone really paying attention this is just too dirty. I have a brother who has been permanently disabled due to the Vietnam War and during an election the Republicans use this as a political opportunity to go after other vets. This is just plain stinks. And don't tell me we have a liberal media otherwise Bush's numbers would be really low. It's the internet that's has turned me onto the truth.
Frances Raino, Floral Park, NY
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What happened to equality and freedom of speech?
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The Democrats are, as usual, the ones who are not playing fair. Their convention went on without interference from Republicans. However, they do not give the same respect for other people's opinions or conventions. These protesters have descended upon NYC, harassing convention goers, blocking traffic, and being a general nuisance. They do not want any focus on the Republicans or their opinions. What happened to equality and freedom of speech?
Ashley, McLean, VA, USA
Can someone please explain to me what "the Bush twins" have to do with national (and international) politics?
Richie, Thame, UK
My friend was in a solemn march from Ground Zero to Madison Square Garden. Even though they were abiding every law, and on the sidewalk, the police cordoned off the entire block, and arrested all of the group, about 200 in all. They confiscated all the protestors' cameras, which would have proven they were not on the street "obstructing justice." The police were also filming and taking pictures of the protestors. My father's friends were in the same exact situation - the Solidarity strikes in Poland in the 80's. The similarities are becoming terrifyingly common.
Mike, St. Paul, MN, USA
Is Kevin for real? I am assuming you are a liberal. What you don't get is that everyone has a right to freedom of speech, including the GOP. The Democrats had their convention, now it is the GOP's turn. To break laws and to scream so that others may not be heard is not democratic, it is more like fascism when people try to stifle debate.
Patrick, OH, USA
I think the efforts of the protesters will backfire. When Americans see an optimistic and diverse party representing economic strength, military resolve, and personal sacrifice and contrast it with the noisy parade of Woodstock-types with hateful hearts and empty minds, I think far more will identify with the mainstream values of the Republicans than with the sad extremism of these leftist protesters.
Charles, Nashville, TN, USA
The speeches at the RNC are refreshing to say the least! Talks of unifying the country is what is needed in these troubled times, not more polarisation. I am a registered Democrat who has voted and will vote for Bush in the fall because he has proven time and time again that he is a leader with the courage of his convictions. His decisions have not always been popular and if they were they would have pandered to the polls. A leader makes tough choices when the going gets tough. A politician makes popular choices. Kerry has been and continues to be only a politician.
Penny, USA
It was interesting to hear Arnie talk. I was not impressed in the least. First of all he makes it look like all the immigrants have had it nice and cosy, and that they have all been successful. He has made it to the upper class, by way of money and marriage. But 99.9 percent of immigrants are not that lucky and they are not in the upper class. Republicans are not interested in the common US citizen or immigrant.
Kiti, UK
Kevin: It's interesting but not surprising that what you're seeing isn't making it into the American press (eg. the protesters on the Convention floor, and the Bush twins' performance being poorly received). Thank goodness for the BBC, otherwise we Americans would be depending on our media for objective reporting.
Jim T, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
It is a total disgrace that the Republicans are still using 9/11 to attract voters, as if it was copyrighted only by the Republican Party when the truth is that Americans from all ideologies and people from many other countries suffered. Bush and Cheney lied about WMD in Iraq and started a war that should have never happened. If we want the USA and the world to be a better and fairer place to live, please do not vote for Bush.
Steve Kowalski, Tampa, Florida, USA
How can you stomach spending day after day listening to that drivel? We all deal with it here by simply changing the channel, but you see it in person! Congratulations for having the patience of many men!
Mike Fancie, Toronto, Canada
I am an American and I am disgusted by this attitude of "god bless America and no one else" that permeates the Republican convention. Can they say nothing positive about themselves without resorting to bashing Kerry and France?
Baz, London, UK
Arnold Schwarzenegger in his speech spoke of his memories as a little boy of seeing Nazi soldiers in his homeland of Austria. However, Schwarzenegger was born in 1947, two years after the Nazis hold on power ended. So, either Ah-nold has been lying about his age all this time, or he is a revisionist of sorts. I'm inclined to think it's the latter. Granted, he's not the kind of revisionist we are used to hearing from, but his revisionist way of thinking certainly fits well with the Republican party of the 21st Century, the party of big business, big money, and big lies. Abraham Lincoln must be turning in his grave seeing what has happened to his party. I have voted Republican on occasion in the past, but I won't be doing so this election. There is simply too much at stake.
Walt Huntsman, Boise, ID, USA
I watched most of the speeches at the RNC. They said mostly nothing about where the US is going to be in four years. Why? Because probably even they don't know. I was wondering what would they have talked about had 9-11 never happened. Everybody was chanting "four more years". Were they really serious? Did they really want four more years of sluggish recovery, huge budget deficits, sky-rocketing oil prices, increasing poverty? Four more years of war, erosion of America's stature, and the tarnishing of America's image?
John Montana, Montreal, Canada
I've been a strong supporter of the Bush administration even throughout the war in Iraq. However following recent developments in the run up to the elections I am plainly disgusted with the playground politics and infantile tactics that have become trademark of the Republican campaign. It's hard enough to pass off mispronounced words and folksy terminology as simply a sign of a man close to the people. But calling names is just about as low as a head of state can sink. I hope Kerry won't sink to that level!
Alex Holland, Leeds, England
At last, a convention that appeals to the majority of the American people. The speeches so far have been far more memorable, on target, and truthful than in the entire DNC that bored us all last month. It is testament to this country that the protestors are allowed to have their say throughout the NYC, whereas in Boston the "Democratic" party limited them to a fenced in postage stamp of ground outside the Fleet Center - so who is stifling free speech?
Graeme Smith, Boston, MA, USA
For Graeme in Boston, it might surprise you to know that despite the 'postage stamp' size of the area for DNC protestors, they were at least allowed the opportunity to demonstrate in front of the convention centre. That is not true of demonstrators at the RNC; they aren't allowed anywhere near Madison Square Garden, nor were they allowed to gather in Central Park over the weekend, because of the potential "damage to the grass"! It would be idyllic if the Republican Party could actually examine its own practices before chastising the Democrats about "fair play".
JR, USA
I turned 18 just in time for the upcoming election. There is a lot of pressure for people my age to vote, presumably for Kerry, but it is not a simple decision. The protesters confuse me more than anything, they talk about voting for "the lesser of two evils". I don't think that either candidate is evil. Too many people on the left seem to think we should be ashamed of what we did after 9/11, which really troubles me. I'm not sure what candidate I'm going to vote for, but I know I'm not ashamed of my country.
David Bittle, Denver, USA
I was thoroughly disappointed with Giuliani's speech. He and several other Republican speakers at this convention have spoken of a Republican Triumph over communism. In the early 1950s the Republican Party used McCarthyism as a way to gain political favour by appearing to be more anti-communist than Truman - as soon as they won the presidential election of 1952, McCarthy was discredited and cast aside. The Republicans didn't have too much to do with the fall of the Iron Curtain, yet they assert that they caused the demise of the Soviet Union and that with their experience they will do the same to terrorism. I fear that some of the most powerful Republicans - especially the current administration - whether aware of it or not, are using the public's fear of terrorism in the same way they exploited the public's fear of communism 50 years ago.
Brittany Shannahan, Oxford, MD, USA
This is my first week of college in Manhattan, and I am surrounded by the convention. I am fairly liberal. However, I am unable to get caught up in the fervour of this election. The tension between both sides of the political divide can be absolutely palpable at times. To temper their seething anger, people need to realise that whether democrat or republican, the politician is always a rich man telling the masses about "our" future, "our" prosperity" and "our" country. In order to temper my own partisanship I remind myself that George Washington, our beloved first president, was also the wealthiest man in America at the time. Some things never change.
Mark Jones, New York, USA
The GOP convention is providing some well-earned relief from the liberal media that has long ago selected (not elected) Kerry as their man. The protestors? The more they make utter fools of themselves, the better for the Republican Party and for George W Bush. Looks like the Democrats have their work cut out to beat "W" in November.
Tom Smicklas, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Just one question to all the anti-war protestors: Who did you run to when the attacks on 9/11 where taking place? The same people you are stabbing in the back. And don't worry - it is the same over here!
Mark Stanley, Aylesbury, England
The Republican National Convention is the Party of the United States of America. Not the protesters. The GOP is the party of the people. Stand behind the USA, stand behind Iraq and the people of the world. Stand up for your faith! Pro-life and President Bush!
Henry Fuss, Brookfield, CT, USA
As an open minded person, I have tried to watch and listen to the speakers at the GOP Convention. I have tried to listen to every word that was spoken by these educated intelligent people. I have tried to see the world the way they see it. I have even said to myself "America is great with Bush in power". Yet however hard I pick my brain or hit my head against the wall to try to agree, I just don't get it. How can they support a man who is responsible for so many innocent Iraqi and American lives, for the pursuit of capitalist gains? As hard as I try to understand them I just don't.
Alexander Stancioff, NY, USA
Alexander. It's good to be open minded, but if you don't start from the right point no amount of logic will result in understanding. You start from the point that GOP action is driven by greed. I start from the point that GOP action is driven by freedom.
Quentin, Fredericksburg, Texas
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