Me? I’m glad to be here. I’ve covered my share of weather stories, some tragic, some amazing, and they stimulate the adrenaline, all right. And yes, political speeches can be tedious. But tedious isn’t the same thing as trivial. Our country’s Founders warned against political parties. Our first president, in particular, detested the very idea of them. But parties formed anyway, even in George Washington’s time, and as our democratic system of self-government evolved during the ensuing 225 years, so did a thriving two-party system. These political parties hold quadrennial confabs every four years to choose their nominees (or, these days, to officially finalize the ticket), discuss among themselves about what their party stands for, and then communicate that vision, as best they can, to the rest of the nation.

The Democrats did this successfully a week ago in Colorado. Here’s a toast that the Republicans can also pull it off in Minnesota. In other words, conventions really aren't about the late-night parties; they are about the party--the Democratic Party and the Republican Party--and the elections that follow. And us.