For those involved at any stage of last week's Republican convention in Tampa, was there anything sweeter than having a three-day holiday weekend to regain one's equilibrium?
We think not. But since last week's events, the political world has packed up and moved on to the second act of convention season, with the Democrats convening in Charlotte for the first of their (scheduled) three-day affair.
Tonight it's San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro who will give the keynote address, but the headliner will be the President's wife, Michelle, who gets her turn at the podium. As always, Mrs. Obama will be under strict scrutiny, as she tries to fire up the base without alienating the portion of the electorate ready and willing to call her "strident" if she somehow comes across as too energetic.
CL's Michael Newberger is up in Charlotte, where he covered the first major protest march of the DNC on Sunday - a march bigger than any held in Tampa last week.
There was lots of chatter and excitement about the fact that Jon Stewart and the Daily Show were in town all last week taping shows about the convention. On Saturday night, satirist Bill Maher delivered an explosive 100-minute set in Clearwater blasting the GOP and other favorite topics.
And we didn't get around to writing it up until this weekend, but CL had an opportunity to speak to several delegates on the floor of the Tampa Bay Times Forum last Thursday night at the convention. Read that report here.
