Bush to Speak by Satellite at RNC Tonight

Assuming Palin's shadow doesn't obscure everything, that is

(NEWSER) - With the Republicans set to turn on all the lights at their convention tonight, Martin Kady II of Politico runs down five things to watch for:

• Palin’s shadow: “The theme of tonight’s convention is ‘service,’” Kady notes, “and the trick for the GOP is to focus voters’ attention on the question ‘Who is John McCain?’ when everyone is still asking, ‘Who is Sarah Palin?’”

Establishment party adopts anti-establishment stance

(NEWSER) - The Republican National Convention was so full of calls for change and vows to clean up Washington that it was almost easy to forget that the GOP has been in power for the last 8 years, writes Peter Baker in the New York Times. John McCain is seeking to distance himself from his party's recent record, and trying to seize the "change" mantra for himself. More»

Pundits disagree on how former McCain rival performed

(NEWSER) - Pundits from across the political spectrum were moved by Fred Thompson’s tribute to John McCain’s heroic military service. They differ, though, on how well Thompson sold McCain as the next president:

• Thompson couldn’t have done better, Peter Wehner at the National Review writes: “Fred Thompson did his close friend and former colleague proud. He made the case for John McCain as well as it can be made.”

(NEWSER) - Sen. Joe Lieberman turned tail on his former party tonight and said John McCain is clearly the "best choice" for president, NBC reports. "Country matters more than party," he told the Republican National Convention, urging Democrats to cross party lines. Lieberman said Barack Obama might one day be ready to lead the nation, but for now, "eloquence is no substitute for a record." By contrast, he said, McCain is a proven man of principle. More»

(AP) - Sen. Fred Thompson took aim at Barack Obama's experience tonight in a sharp attack during the Republican convention. "The Democrats present a history-making nominee for president," Thompson said. "History-making in that he is the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president." He also denounced Obama for declining during a recent interview to say when human life begins. More»