Closing out the Republican Convention

Now that the last streamers and balloons have fallen from the Xcel Center—and I think I'm still trying to get the confetti out of my hair—I want to reflect a little bit on what I experienced.

This was my first convention, so I really can't compare it to other conventions, but my bottom-line reaction to the convention is that it was a lot of fun. It was similar to attending the Super Bowl three days in a row, but better than that because your favorite team wins every night and everybody else is cheering for the same team as you.

Most of my California friends support Obama, so it is also encouraging to be around so many McCain supporters. I also met several other McCain supporters living in the Bay Area. Yes, there are Republicans in California's Bay Area. The convention has really infused me with even more excitement for a McCain administration, and I'm looking forward to getting back to California and working hard over the next 60 days to get him and Sarah Palin elected.

McCain's speech was, in a word, presidential. He did not give a rah-rah speech like Palin did the previous night, but he looked to inspire Americans and quietly but forcefully explain why he should be president and what he will do when elected.

At first McCain was speaking in front of an image of grass on a big screen, but on TV it came off as McCain speaking in front of a green background. I could not believe the convention organizers made such a stupid mistake because it just reminded people of McCain's previous speech in front of the green background (which looked like a green screen).