Live updates from the first night of convention speeches at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kZ76JImudjc

UPDATE: Enter New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Video Montage & Speech

So Gov. Christie says it's about respect not love. Ann Romney said it's all about love. SO CONFUSED.

#Christie2016

UPDATE: Ann Romney Speaks

Former Republicans Gary Johnson and Buddy Roemer appeared on CNN last week to talk about the broken political system and possible solutions.

The 2012 Republican Party platform was formalized today at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL. In it, the GOP takes a firm stance against instituting a national popular vote scheme.

Hurricane Isaac threat to New Orleans has failed to spark a national debate on global warming but it will test the city's new levee system.

Today's daily number at Pew Research Center's The Databank is 42 - representing the percent of independents who regard Mitt Romney's choice for VP, Paul Ryan, as an "only fair" or "poor" choice. Compared to Biden, however, this number fairs well, with the majority of independents agreeing that Biden has only done a "fair" or "poor" job as Vice President.

Pew Reports:

In an interview Monday, Brian Dougherty, a Republican National Convention delegate from the Pennsylvania delegation told IVN that if the controversial RNC rule change advanced by the Romney camp at this week's convention were in place in 1976, Ronald Reagan would have never risen to prominence in the GOP at the 1976 Republican convention, which set the stage for his successful presidential bid in 1980.

Dougherty said:

Chris Matthews created a stir yesterday after an exchange with Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus on MSNBC's Morning Joe. Watch below for Chris Matthews vs Reince Priebus and let us know what you think. Was Matthews out of line? Did he have a point?