After some official delegate business, the GOP welcomed First Lady Laura Bush to the stage, who introduced a series of video greetings from four governors kept at home by Hurricane Gustav. Mrs. Bush was then met by Cindy McCain, who took the stage to resounding applause. The two urged that everyone at the convention "take off their Republican hats and start wearing their American hats." Here's a link to the aid networks suggested by the governors of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

We also learned that Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.

Palin and her husband issued a statement saying they were "proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents." Notice the use of the word "decision," which most people will agree is synonymous with the word choice. We're just saying.

Barack Obama responded to the news by saying that Palin's family was "off limits," and that it had nothing to do with her ability to lead the country.

Photo: our view of things from the back corner of the Xcel Energy Center.