(We sent our contributor, Dave Anderson, inside the convention hall last night to report on Sarah Palin's Americana slide show. This is his record.)

On the lower right of the screen is a group of DC policy wonks who walked toward the camera during the entire shot. I presume they are exercising on their lunch break.

Beautiful.

I love geysers, and they're such a great symbol for abstinence only education.

Why the RNC put the People's Republic of Santa Monica in their convention is beyond me. Oddly enough, this image came up during Palin's rally for small town America .

Ronald Reagan's #5, I hope they carve him before I die.

(Indecision 2008's Dave Anderson stumbles around the Xcel Energy Center and finds old cronies, safe sex and high fashion).

On my way to the convention Tuesday night, I passed the Trojan Condom bus just four blocks from the Xcel Center. I kid you not. I asked if they thought it was ironic that they were pushing a form of birth control considering the circumstances with Governor Palin… "No comment," the woman said. Then they began packing up their bananas.

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(Indecision 2008's Dave Anderson profiles life on the ground in fenced-off, police-barricaded St. Paul)

St. Paul has been transformed into a police state of troubling proportions. As someone raised in the Twin Cities, it's greatly disturbing to see a place I hold so dear so under siege by law enforcement. Of course, whether or not it's warranted is not for me to decide.

Here's what I experienced:

On the way to visit the Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty (a.k.a. the future VP candidate once Palin wakes up and steps down) at the "Whistle-Stop Welcome Reception" at the Union Depot, I first witnessed these protestors strolling the streets.

Then I noticed the welcoming committee. Gulp.

Hey, boys!

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How can you have a Republican National Convention without Anderson Cooper? It’s just plain un-American.

But folks, that’s the deal today as the delegates descended upon Minneapolis and St. Paul and Cooper left town, heading to the Gulf to fill sandbags. It’s got this convention off on the wrong foot, and the Republicans know it.

The word at the party was that on Monday, CNN planned to cover 90% Gustav and 10% RNC. Ouch!

In addition to the media, the Repubs will probably also argue this week that Gustav took their celebs away too. But, I’m doubtful they ever had any to begin with.

I asked a Cosmo Girl reporter (because she was the cutest looking reporter in the room) if she had spotted any celebs other than Lee Greenwood at the Red Carpet Extravaganza and she shook her head.

But, she did give me this flyer, which was distributed to the delegates during the evening: a Dress-Up Little Liberal doll.

But before I headed home to play with my doll, I really let my hair down.

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