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With a rowdy fist-pump, blunt and brash New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lit a fire Tuesday night under the Republican National Convention, labeling Democratic President Barack Obama part of the complacent status quo.
“It’s been easy for our leaders to say not us, and not now, in taking on the tough issues. And we’ve stood silently by and let them get away with it” – the first-term Republican governor said with a rock star’s rasp during the keynote address. “But tonight, I say enough.”
His mission was to make the case against Obama and fire up a convention delayed in its start by a tropical storm.
Like a coach before a football game, Christie implored the thousands inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum to rally behind GOP nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan.
“Everybody stand up. There’s no time left to waste” – the outspoken former prosecutor shouted.
Judging by the thundering cheers inside the arena, Christie hit his mark. That outspoken style made him a Republican Party star and helped earn him the plum, prime-time speaking gig.

Republican National Convention.

Mitt Romney officially gained a historic presidential nomination Tuesday night as Republicans tried to steer national attention toward their storm-shortened convention and a tight fall race against President Obama.
The former Massachusetts governor became the first Mormon to be nominated for president by either major party, a distinction that eluded his father, George Romney, an unsuccessful Republican candidate in the 1960′s. The milestone, ensured months ago by Romney’s primary-season victories, ended a nomination journey of more than five years that included his defeat in the 2008 contest.
Romney’s wife (Ann) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie were the prime-time attractions on a hastily reprogrammed opening night. Their appearances were designed to advance the convention’s dual purpose: to give voters a more intimate glimpse of the GOP nominee and to amplify Romney’s critique of Obama.
It was the candidate’s wife who stole the evening. Her deeply personal remarks, woven around the story of their life and family, was also a paean to women — a voter group that has been largely resistant to her husband — as the pivotal force in everyday life.
“I love you women! And I hear your voices” – she said during 21-minute speech punctuated with nervous laughs. “You are the best of America.”

They had their 30 seconds of fame on television screens across America.
Ron Paul’s Minnesota delegates cast 33 votes for the libertarian Texas congressman at the Republican National Convention here Tuesday evening, August 28. The delegation’s other members gave GOP nominee Mitt Romney six votes and one to former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
With their vote, Paul’s self-described “liberty Republicans” made a point that they are a band to be reckoned with, at least in Minnesota.
But now that they have sent that brief message at Romney’s convention, key questions arise:
What have Paul’s supporters accomplished? And what’s next for them?
Will they help elect Republicans this fall and in future years, including candidates who disagree with them on some issues? Can they spread their ideas? Or will they become disillusioned with less ideologically “pure” members of the GOP establishment and go their own way?
“It’s up to them” – said Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Pat Shortridge.
The Paul backers are welcome in the party, Shortridge said, if they stay engaged and work to build coalitions to elect GOP candidates.
Paul’s followers have endured four years of ridicule and electoral defeat, but they appear to have won a measure of respect here from the state’s establishment Republicans.