The best and worst from the GOP convention

ST. PAUL, Minn. — High points, low points and memorable moments from four convention days in the Twin Cities with Republicans, protesters, Ron Paul backers and assorted other folks.

Winners

She shoots, she scores: Hockey mom Sarah Palin, now the GOP's vice presidential candidate, wowed the hockey arena crowd. Memorable line – "Know the difference between hockey moms and pit bulls? Lipstick."

A whole new Fred?: After a lackluster presidential campaign in which many questioned whether he had the proverbial fire in the belly, ex-Sen. Fred Thompson was plenty hot in his Tuesday night convention speech. He passionately made the case for nominee John McCain and lobbed one of the convention's better quips with this reference to Palin's penchant for hunting and eating moose: "I can say without fear of contradiction that she is the only nominee in the history of either party who knows how to properly field dress a moose ./././ with the possible exception of Teddy Roosevelt."

One man's storm is another man's excuse: Hurricane Gustav prevented Vice President Cheney, arguably the nation's least popular Republican, from attending and speaking to the convention. By the time the all-clear was sounded, Cheney was far, far away, dispatched to Georgia (the embattled country, not the southern state) to trumpet U.S. support and criticize Russian actions. Gustav also kept President Bush away from St. Paul, but he weighed in by satellite with abbreviated remarks.

Two Democrats: Fully partisan GOP convention included some positive notes for Democratic Sens. Joe Lieberman and Hillary Clinton. Lieberman, the Dems' 2000 vice presidential nominee who was re-elected to the Senate in 2006 as an independent after losing his party's primary, spoke at the GOP convention to vouch for McCain's independence. Clinton, long reviled by Republicans, got positive references as Republicans tried to make the case that criticism of Palin was sexist. "One of the things I have been told by many, many Democrats over the last several months is how disappointed they were in their own party for not standing up against the sexist smears that Hillary Clinton endured," Carly Fiorina, chairman of the Republican Victory 2008 campaign, told reporters. "The Republican Party will not stand by while Sarah Palin is subjected to sexist attacks."

Media party: General consensus gave Minneapolis' riverfront party – heavy on local food, color and history – the nod over the one thrown a week earlier at the Democratic National Convention in Denver (nice amusement park but generic food). Yes, leave it to reporters to criticize a free party.

Losers

Wrestling with math: Ex-grappler and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura offered this analysis in speaking to Ron Paul supporters – "Independents in Minnesota, we're the majority – 40 percent."

Organized anarchy: Young anarchists who gathered for the big anti-everything protest at the Minnesota state Capitol held frequent on-site meetings to contemplate strategy. Are anarchists supposed to have meetings? "Privacy circles," they called them as they huddled and held their hands over their heads.

Loser for Republicans, winner for Democrats: In the wake of Palin's speech, Obama collected about $8 million in contributions from 130,000 donors. Thanks governor, says Obama spokesman Bill Burton, claiming Palin's attacks "have rallied our supporters in ways we never expected."

No mas: MSNBC contributor Tucker Carlson was the cordial host for Ron Paul's "Rally for the Republic," or at least for most of it. Carlson slipped away and didn't show up again after Ventura incited Paul backers who believe 9/11 was an "inside job" involving the federal government. Ventura pointedly asked why the Feds have not charged Osama bin Laden with any crimes. "Too much," Carlson later said to explain his disappearance from the rally.

Hey youse, keep it down: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani scored heavily among delegates with his blistering attack on Democratic nominee Barack Obama. But floor captains told delegates to hold down the applause. Reason? Speech was running long and threatening to move into Sarah Palin's prime-time slot. They made up the time by canceling a video about Palin.

Ruff duty: Security team explaining delays in checking media vehicles as they entered the convention site on Thursday – "We're running low on dogs."

Most inexplicable protest sign: "Stop bird porn."