Taft doesn't quite make it to prime time - Governor addresses a mostly empty Madison Square Garden at 1:50 p.m.



Taft doesn't quite make it to prime time - Governor addresses a mostly empty Madison Square Garden at 1:50 p.m.

Taft doesn't quite make it to prime time
Governor addresses a mostly empty Madison Square Garden at 1:50 p.m.

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft rallies Buckeye State delegates. He is chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
( THE BLADE/ALLAN DETRICH )
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By BLADE STAFF WRITERS

NEW YORK - Addressing the Republican National Convention at 1:50 p.m. is like sneaking into Yankee Stadium at 2 a.m. and trying to steal second base.

It might be fun, but no one sees you.

But that's the time slot Gov. Bob Taft received as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

"I'm pleased to report that we currently have Republican Governors in 28 states, and as their chairman, I proudly announce to you that we are strong and growing stronger,'' Mr. Taft said to the packed Ohio delegation in front of the podium.

Most of Madison Square Garden, however, was empty.

Brendon Cull, a spokesman for the Democratic coordinated campaign in Ohio, questioned why the governor of a battleground state is "almost invisible" at the GOP national convention.

"Is it because of the hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in Ohio? Or is it because tax rates have gone through the roof under his administration?" Mr. Cull said.

When this story was prepared, here was the front page of PCOL magazine:

This Month's Issue: August 2004 Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and who can come up with the funniest caption for our Current Events Funny? Exclusive: Director Vasquez speaks out in an op-ed published exclusively on the web by Peace Corps Online saying the Dayton Daily News' portrayal of Peace Corps "doesn't jibe with facts." In other news, the NPCA makes the case for improving governance and explains the challenges facing the organization, RPCV Bob Shaconis says Peace Corps has been a "sacred cow", RPCV Shaun McNally picks up support for his Aug 10 primary and has a plan to win in Connecticut, and the movie "Open Water" based on the negligent deaths of two RPCVs in Australia opens August 6. Op-ed's by RPCVs: Cops of the World is not a good goal and Peace Corps must emphasize community development.

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