Watching Tuesday night's festivities in St. Paul, I couldn't help but feel that the enthusiasm and energy wasn't as high as that of the Democratic convention. Now, maybe it's just that I, personally, am not as enthused given my political allegiances. But, then again, those empty seats I saw weren't due to my imagination playing tricks on me.

The president of the United States appeared to the convention on a giant video screen via satellite. He was like a man in exile - a deposed leader. The president talked about abortion, and how John McCain will stand up to "the angry left" just like he stood up to the Viet Cong. It was a red meat speech*, but the disembodiment of the president from the convention crowd made the whole enterprise strange and distant. The conventioneers seemed to know precisely when to applaud and when not to applaud. The raucous reception for Bill Clinton last week stood in stark contrast.

Palin will take the stage tomorrow night. More abortion, more railing against an "angry left." More culture war. This convention and this vice presidential nominee is about rallying the social conservative base. Unfortunately for the GOP, this is the last unfiltered presentation of the party and its standard-bearers to every interested voter. The danger is that undecideds tuning in to the speeches will then be turned-off by the red meat.

Again, maybe I'm biased.

* Well, a red meat speech from like 20 years ago.