ELECTION 2004

Convention coverage • First lady, Calif. gov home in on leadership • Portman takes advantage of convention speech • Dem Zell Miller enrages his party • Notes from New York • Convention blog watch • Convention photo gallery More election news • Election special section

Our survey of Republican National Convention "blogs," online journals by individuals on their impressions and experiences in New York, brings us to a local: Patti Niehoff, wife of H.C. "Buck" Niehoff, former Hamilton County Republican chairman and an alternate for the Ohio delegation.

www.white-pebble.net is witty, literate and rather free-spirited. Niehoff describes the scene in the hall, noting, for example, that al-Jazeera's press box is located right between Bloomberg News Service and New York's Fox 5. "Conservatives of all stripes, I guess." When her husband says the morning session will be all about rules and procedures, she asks, "Would I have as much fun staying here at the hotel, getting a hammer from Housekeeping, and breaking one of my toes?"

About the actual nomination process, she explains that while the voting began Monday, enough states passed when their turns came to hold off the final count until tonight, for drama's sake. There's another reason: "Otherwise, it's too difficult for 50 states' (plus territories') delegates to look meaningful for the whole week."

When she sees a billboard advertising that Converse will "sponsor" a Times Square peace rally, she skewers the athletic-shoe firm's bid to build brand recognition: "Free Speech©. Brought to you today by Converse®. ('Because you can't have free speech without corporate backing.'{trade})."

Niehoff recalls that the last time she was in Madison Square Garden was in 1969 for a Rolling Stones concert. Back then, she writes, "I sat way more to the left." Didn't we all ...

• Can I have your monograph, please?: Blogger and mystery novelist Roger L. Simon (rogerlsimon.com) says the convention is OK for a "conventional" convention, but he gripes that the Republicans' "celebrity quotient" is much lower than the Democrats': "What passes for a celeb around here is (Fox News talk show host) Sean Hannity, who would have trouble getting a table in a restaurant back in L.A. ... Anyway, I'm off to the National Review party where (economist) Milton Friedman would probably be the equivalent of Jack Nicholson."

• Blogging head: Few would describe GOP Chairman Ed Gillespie as "animated." But he is this week - literally. On the party's Web site (www.gop.com), Gillespie is posting an "audio blog" with the entries delivered by an animated Gillespie talking head. In one message he asked delegates to "ignore any name-calling" by protesters in New York this week. But here's what the site doesn't tell you: If you move your mouse around the screen after the cartoon Ed has finished talking, his head and eyes follow the mouse pointer. Is he always so obliging?

If you spot any convention-related blogs we should check out, particularly by bloggers with ties to Greater Cincinnati, let us know. Send your suggestions to Ray Cooklis at rcooklis@enquirer.com.