It will be a huge win for Republicans if there is a day-to-day drip of reports on racially outrageous events from the convention. Here's how it works: Person A says obviously racially biased thing about Candidate O, but does not use the word "nigger". Supporters of Candidate O cry "racism!" at supporters of Candidate M. Supporters of Candidate M accuse Candidate O of "playing the race card." Poor and working-class whites are reminded of Candidate O's race and see Candidate M as fighting off "political correctness" and "affirmative action" and standing up for whites against blacks. Candidate M wins.

Unless it comes from the podium during prime time, any reports about racial crap at the GOP convention will help the McCain ticket in the national popular vote.

Is it me or is this shaping up to be a redux of the 1992 election all over again?  Where is Ross Perot when we need him??

There is absolutely no point in supposing St. Paul will get ugly.  After all he's been dead over 2000 years and has long since turned to dust.

Oh I see - you mean the city hosting the Republican Convention next week.  Seriously there's little reason for Republicans to fear any fallout from politically incorrect gaffes next week.  If anything an occasional sexist, racist, anti-immigrant, or homophobic jibe could only serve to energize McCain's lackluster support from the far right, while losing him little with any other likely component of his constituency.

If the eye offends thee, upload it to YouTube.

This is my first year involved in political coverage of a presidential race, so I can't properly