Politique: Snappy dressers, snappy comments, stingy tippers
Power suits couldn't hold a candle to the best-dressed man at the RNC, actor Giancarlo Esposito. In town with the Creative Coalition, a nonpartisan group of Hollywood talent who volunteer in support of issues including the First Amendment and arts education, Esposito was dapper in a slate-blue linen jacket and dashing hat at a Cafe Lurcat award reception. He said he'd been loving his morning runs along the river in the Mill District. "This city is such a great blend of old and new," he said. Fellow Coalition attendee Charlene Tilton, best known for her role on the '80s soap "Dallas," is a first-year member. Tilton, wearing a shimmering fitted jacket with hair clip to match, has a new project: playing Tammy Faye Bakker in a film she will also produce, having bought the rights from Bakker just before she died.
Puttin' the hammer down in Maple Grove
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay took the slow road to the convention from his home in Sugar Land, Texas -- in his RV with his wife, Christine, and two Bichon frisés, Taylor and Bailey, because "my wife won't leave her dogs." They're parked in Maple Grove, with a car for tooling around town. DeLay said he's developed a fondness for the Twin Cities despite its inscrutable freeway system and his misgivings about this being "not exactly a pro-Republican state." The man known as The Hammer for his bareknuckled politics loved the pan-fried walleye at the St. Paul Grill, and got rhapsodic about D'Amico Cucina in Minneapolis: "I couldn't pronounce what I had, but it was goo-ood." A week of Midwestern hospitality hasn't tamed the Hammer's tongue. "I support Palin more than McCain," he said, adding that McCain had to bring the Alaska governor aboard or risk losing the party's conservative base.
A softer hammer?
Her husband's campaign chairwoman called Cindy McCain "a velvet hammer" at a 1,500-guest love fest Thursday at the Hilton. Guests stood so often to clap that the ballroom looked like a church at High Mass. After introductions by "The View's" Elisabeth Hasselbeck and fellow GOP spouse Todd Palin, McCain -- in a characteristically bright tangerine dress -- said she's inspired by her husband: "Every time I look at him onstage, and I see people with tears in their eyes and hope in their hearts, I can't tell you what that does for me."
Read more...
GOP youth worked party angles
Are you down with the GOP? For young Republicans, it took more than that to get into private RNC parties.
Party crasher
The rockingest show in town?
After Daughtry and Rage, the scene inside Xcel Energy Center felt all too familiar.
New VP candidate upstages old jokes
Quips about Alaska, John McCain's age and Lindsay Lohan(!) paled next to Sarah Palin's one-liner.
Concert review
Rage goes off like a bomb at Target Center
MUSIC REVIEW Politics played a role, but Wednesday's nearly sold-out Rage Against the Machine concert was still unquestionably powerful.
More RNC Convention coverage
- New VP candidate upstages old jokes
- High on Styx (and butter sticks)
- A gay young time in the clubs
- Delegates squeak by kids in civics quiz
- He wasn't rude, just Rudy
- The buck stopped there
- Hot GOP products get votes of approval
- Fox's Wallace counters stereotype of station's work
- Fake news lives up to its name
- No pregnant pauses
- Daddy Yankee sings for McCain
- Politique: High on life, politics and Palin
- Having a blast living in the past
- From Aqua to Ripple Effect, it got wild
- Meghan McCain pitches book about her famous father
- See 39 more stories
Events and party coverage, traffic and parking advice, plus maps of the Twin Cities' best restaurants, attractions and entertainment
More coverage
- POLITICALLY CONNECTED
Live coverage from the Xcel Center in stories, blogs, photographs and video - VITA.MN: ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE
Top restaurants, attractions and RNC-related events
MN delegation reacts
Minnesotans protest war at the White House
Sarah Palin at MOA
Who's got your vote?
Health care rally in Washington, D.C.
I Voted. Gimme!
Pawlenty fundraiser in Washington
Franken and Klobuchar rally for health care
Rep. Collin Peterson cuts a rug in D.C.
Star Tribune reporter Kevin Diaz on 'Almanac'
Al Franken victory rally
It's over: Franken wins
Coleman concedes
Analysis of Franken's win over Coleman
Reporter's notebook: Al Franken's win
MN Supreme Court rules for Al Franken
Pawlenty lists budget cuts
Coleman vs. Franken: What are your thoughts?
Q&A with Gov. Tim Pawlenty
Pawlenty announces he will not seek third term
Republicans react to Pawlenty's announcement
Reporter's Notebook: A day at the recount races
Coleman speaks
Franken attorney speaks
Budget woes
Al Franken in Limbo
Norm Coleman visits Star Tribune
Reporter's Notebook: Franken winner; Coleman to appeal
Frankly not over
Al Franken reacts
... And still counting
Dec. 10: The recount drama continues
Missing ballots: A reporter's notebook
Pawlenty talks about deficit
Recount almost over?
In, out...The recount goes on
Minneapolis elections chief Cindy Reichert
The recount begins
Let the recount begin
Mark Ritchie talks about recount
Seems like a dream
Coleman believes he won
GOP heartbreak
A celebration in the streets
Obama: History maker
Obama celebration in St. Paul
Michele Bachmann wins
Can they speak here?
Giuliani stumps for Coleman
Sen. Coleman's home vandalized
Sen. Clinton supports Franken
Bachmann speaks out
Michelle Obama visits Macalester College
McCain at Lakeville South High School
McCain and Palin in Blaine
It's a wrap on the RNC
Lileks: DNC convention diary, part 1
Franken files for U.S. Senate
Coleman accepts party endorsement
McCain excerpts
McCain & Me
Last night of RNC protests
Pawlenty addresses RNC on closing night
Code Pink protester removed from McCain speech
Will Palin's speech sway on-the-fence voters?
Daily Question: McCain as presidential nominee
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman on the protests
RNC Welcoming Committee speaks out
Rep. John Kline briefing
Meet a Minnesota delegate: Jennifer Wilson
Meet a Minnesota delegate: Kris Broberg
Midday wrap-up: Thursday 
Busy feet at the RNC
Wednesday RNC recap
Excerpts from Sarah Palin's speech
Convention Diary, Ep. 3
'Kids Stump the Delegates' at MOA
Speaking to the Fences
Republicans show a sense of humor
Norm Coleman takes the stage at the RNC
MN House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher on Palin
Rep. Bachmann on Palin
Daily Questions: Women in politics
Tuesday RNC recap
Abe Lincoln at the RNC
Marching for poverty
Police, protesters clash near Mears Park
Party chair Carey optimistic about Bush's leadership
Ramstad says McCain has to bring party together
Analysis: Gov. Palin as Sen. McCain's running mate
Pawlenty's future
Daily question: What's the role of protest?
Convention Diary, Ep. 2
RNC Monday recap
Delegates urged to donate to relief efforts
Monday: 10,000 march, 284 arrested
Daily Question: On being a Republican
RNC officially underway
RNC about to open
Police confront protesters
Liberty Parade: Art is the messenger
RNC Convention Diary - Episode 1
400 Veterans For Peace march on the RNC
Gustav has Louisiana delegation watching
Delegates react to a shortened convention
Activists question police raids
CodePink prepares for the RNC
Behind the RNC
The RNC transformation
Pawlenty reacts to Palin pick
