RNC picks-n-pans (updated, now with cease-and-desist!)

For those who missed it, I’ve decided to highlight some of the more noteworthy moments of last evening’s Republican National Convention final night for you. Aren’t you lucky?

First up: The Welcoming Committee?
This is a tad disturbing. As is this video report of protesters being snatched off the streets outside the RNC.

Here’s a McCain-Palin fan — apparently, a McCain-Palin fan who finished school (?) before the “No Child Left Behind” program. Wait, on second thought, he could have been one of the program’s graduates!

Here’s a shot of ‘Momma Mac’ in the crowd as she listens to Cindy McCain’s rousing speech.

Let’s hope Sen. John McCain’s poor mom recovered quickly.

The song of the night was Heart’s “Barracuda,” although no word on whether the McCain camp got permission to use it from the Wilson sisters, who are big Dems, by the way.

[UPDATE: OOPS! They didn't ask!! Cease-and-desist letter filed by the Wilsons!!]

Tom Ridge, the former Homeland Security chief and governor of Pennsylvania, chatted with Tom Brokaw a bit, but I’m guessing that the McCain camp is wishing he would have stayed home. From the exchange:

TOM BROKAW: But the fact is, governor, that you have had eight years of a Bush administration and a lot of Republicans in Congress for the last eight years, so why wouldn’t the American people say, look they had their shot, we’re going to change?

TOM RIDGE: Because John Bush — because John McCain is very much his own man. Because John McCain brings a different style, an approach toward Republican leadership. Because John McCain has made promises that I think Americans can feel comfortable about he will keep. [emphasis mine]

You can view the video clip online here.

The McCain-Palin camp did some housecleaning for the RNC, and they started with Bristol Palin’s boyfriend, Levi, as you can see by comparing this “before” shot…

with this “after” shot.

See? Amazing what they can do these days with millions of bucks!

Worth noting for future reference:
All those great balloons really hide the empty rows in the auditorium. Smart move by the McCain camp.

Possibly the most outrageous moment of the last night of the convention was the 9/11 commemorative video played before McCain’s acceptance speech. Bad move, McCain camp. “Countdown’s” Keith Olbermann apologized to the viewing audience for the campaign’s shameful display.

To view what the RNC labeled a “Tribute to the victims of 9/11″ and Olbermann’s reaction, click here. And now, let’s just hope the whole nightmare is over.