Republican Convention: political philosophy and pungent protesters

We're having lunch now with Dick Armey (pictured on right), who's speaking to us about civil liberties. He's contrasting the purpose of government as framed in our Constitution and as viewed in Europe. Here, it is to protect the individual rather than advancing the interests of the collective as perceived by a ruling class. We'll leave here and put on today's uniform (a blue jacket and ties) and take a picture at 4 p.m. before heading over to the Xcel center. I don't know if I mentioned it earlier, but I saw several people arrested on Monday. The protesters have largely left me and the rest of the delegation alone. Some of them seem quite honorable and sincere. Others don't seem even to know what they're protesting and have less than a passing familiarity with soap and water. 
-- David J. Schenck