"Won't you be my number two?" -- Joe Jackson

CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. -- The ads on the cable TV news channels here get downright geriatric: Joe Thesiman talks about his balky prostate while another spot promotes self-lubricating catheters. The unrelenting message that you're getting old and something very bad will soon happen to your plumbing is tethered to the non-stop coverage of the Republican convention here. But those ad-makers certainly know their audience: the elderly vote is a hot commodity in the Sunshine State with the GOP now doing a fancy two-step, saying that they'll do a better job at preserving Medicare for its current recipients than the Democrats. Paul Ryan was doing that dance while delivering his acceptance speech Wednesday night.

Ryan's speech was similar to keynoter Chris Christie's in that they both followed this basic outline:

A) Who am I?
B) Why Obama is really bad
C) I really like Mitt Romney

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was the strong speech given by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. She made an almost academic presentation seem fascinating, detailing her vision for America while also warning about enemies overseas. Unfortunately for the Republicans, Rice's vision while she was secretary of state also included an invasion of Iraq. And we all know how well that went.

I'm going to have to leave my many observations for the final ItCH of the week tomorrow. It's not a good sign when you're falling asleep at the keyboard and seeing strange shapes instead of letters.

Selah,

Bob Hardt