Like a moose to cabbage... Gay Republicans... Hello? Hello?

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Snapshots from the Republican National Convention:

The Republicans went to great lengths to make sure everyone noticed that the podium from which John McCain accepted the party's presidential nomination Thursday was far simpler and more humble than the Parthenon-meets-the-White-House-columns in front of which Barack Obama appeared for his speech.

A GOP press release called the podium "a reflection of the town-hall style that has been a hallmark of McCain's campaign," noting that the candidate will speak from a lectern positioned in the middle of the Xcel Energy Center floor, "surrounded by the delegates that nominated him the night before."

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Best quotes about Sarah Palin:

"What you're seeing in Sarah Palin is, essentially, Ronald Reagan in heels." -- Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith.

"As I have found out about Governor Palin ... I'm beginning to feel really inadequate as a human being." -- Tennessee GOP Sen. Bob Corker.

"Like a moose going after a cabbage." -- Lu Sackett, a bar patron in Wasilla, Alaska, quoted by the London Times newspaper, describing how the vice-presidential pick attacked her speech.

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Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. came to Palin's rescue from those who pan her lack of foreign policy experience.

Noting that Alaska shares geographic proximity with two foreign countries -- more than any other state -- Huntsman noted, "The state borders Russia and Canada, for heaven's sake."

-- Las Vegas Sun.

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A gay Republican might be an oxymoron to some. Don't tell that to Steve Majors, 28, a California delegate from Los Angeles. Majors and his friends -- all gay and some delegates -- hit the town each night after the convention.

So, who parties harder, gay Democrats or gay Republicans? "Oh, we party way harder," Majors said.

At the Gay 90s, Jeff Guillory, a member of the gay Log Cabin Republicans, took offense when a drag queen at the Gay 90s bar in downtown Minneapolis comedically ripped John McCain on stage.

"If the tables were turned and she was talking about Obama, people would be protesting," Guillory said. Peeved, he put on his RNC credentials. "Let's see if anyone will say anything to me." Later he reported, "The bartender was rude to me."

-- Tom Horgen, Minneapolis Star Tribune

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The streets around the Xcel Center regularly were filled with protesters of one ilk or another. But there was one area that failed to attract the crowds intended.

The city of St. Paul designated a "free-speech" stage outside the convention and held a lottery for citizens to reserve a time to speak on whatever subject they chose. While many speakers showed up, the biggest audience over the four days amounted to about 25. Sometimes, reporters outnumbered those who came to listen.

-- Pam Louwagie, Star Tribune

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)