In Livin' Color

9:12pm Live from sprawling Strom compound in North Minneapolis we are watching the President's speech. Here is a chronicle of our reactions. Lots of flag waving: jingoistic patriotism is running rampant in the room.

9:15pm The crowd here eats up the Reagan reference. Maybe we should name a highway after him...

9:17pm Strom boos progress in education.

9:18pm Crowd down on prescription drug coverage.

9:19pm Atomizer boos American workers.

9:20pm Crowd wildly applauds tax cuts.

9:21pm Tepid reaction to working moms at MSG. Flag waving continues here.

9:22pm Flags waving like crazy here. Permanent tax relief is very popular.

9:23pm More flag waving. "Kill the lawyers now," chant begins.

9:25pm It's safe to say that any talk of tax cuts and simplification is playing to a receptive crowd here.

9:27pm Cheaper health insurance plan greeted with skepticism. HSAs much more well received. Portability is key.

9:29pm Bureaucrats booed lustily. Medical malpractice reform is cheered.

9:29pm Atomizer says he has a home.

9:29pm Saint Paul sips his beer.

9:31pm Strom calls for more war talk.

9:32pm Social security reform and personal accounts are very well received.

9:33pm Possible Jack Kemp sighting.

9:34pm More education funding booed.

9:36pm Saint Paul demands to know where the Mexican flags are. Strom and Atomizer are getting in an education pissing match.

9:38pm No live blogging from Power Line or Captain Ed. What are we paying these guys for anyway?

9:39pm Shots at Kerry as an old-school tax and spend Democrat are applauded. Enough with the chanting though.

9:41pm Fatigue setting in for Saint Paul. Shot at activists judges raises him out of his slumber. "Screw the libertarians," Strom cries. Strict constructionist judges play well.

9:42pm Hollywood bashing and trashing Kerry's conservative values have the crowd in a frenzy. Or maybe it's just the Scotch.

9:45pm War talk brings the flags out again. Can someone please crush that dissent now?

9:48pm Quiet now as Bush talks of Iraq and the rationale for the war. Good tie in with 9/11 and the madman. Defend America every time line is crowd pleaser.

9:50pm Progress on democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq cheered.

9:51pm Good explanation of why democracy in those countries is important to halting terrorism.

9:52pm Nice shot at Kerry with troops returning home with honor. Letter from soldier in field is effective. Flag waving for the troops. I told you it was a jingoistic crew.

9:56pm Don't tell me Kerry voted against the $87 billion? An oft used line, but still quite good.

9:57pm A Sarah Janecek sighting?

9:59pm Good defense of the coalition. Strom calls for more French bashing.

10:00pm Freedom good. Evil bad. I need another beer.

10:01pm Brief mention of Israel. More coming? I hope.

10:03pm Bangin' on the New York Times? Beautiful. And there was much rejoicing.

10:05pm Call to duty. The country requires us to stand together. To stand with Bush.

10:07pm Nice use of self-deprecating humor. Swagger line is killer. A nod to mom. Shortcomings and strengths nicely interplayed. Saint Paul scratches his eye.

10:08 Somber reflection on challenges of being a war time president. Loss is difficult, but for a higher purpose. Tears from the women here.

10:09pm Back to 9/11. Resurrection of NYC. Religious undertones. The hard core left must be hating this.

10:10pm A time for every season. Atomizer mentions the Birds. Some people.

10:11pm He opens my beer. All is forgiven. Bush wraps speech up. Strom thinks Laura Bush is a babe.

10:13pm Positive reports in the immediate aftermath on MSNBC.

10:14pm Our grades:

Saint Paul: B- Not enough use of foreign languages.
Margaret: B Clintonesque
My wife: B Good jokes, good slams
Atomizer: B+ Needed more hellfire.
Policy Guy: B- Too long, too disjointed.
Peggy: A Best speech she's ever seen him give.
The Warrior Princess: A+ I am a shameless partisan hack
David: A Ended on a high note.
Next door neighbor guy: B+ Good beat, easy to dance to
The Elder: B+ A bit wandering, but overall strong.