RON HART: Blogging from the Republican National Convention

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The difference between the Republican National Convention and the  Democratic National Convention is minimal. Both have their Party faithful in attendance and hallways full of parties sponsored by drug companies, insurance companies, unions or any organization that wants something from them. While parties act like they differ on issues, one thing that they agree on is that they like the lobbyist money.

In the midst of the complexity created by layering law upon law, one  dynamic survives, lobbyist are the bag men of entities that want access to  power. And when they tap this power, you and I pay much more for goods and  services because of it. The goal is clear, they want to limit competition in  their space and the ability to insert a favorable clause in a future bill that will help them.
 
The big news here is Sarah Palin's daughters situation with her pregnant 17-year-old daughter. Until the father was named, the National Enquirer was doing the match to see if John Edwards was in Alaska six months ago. But the good news for the GOP, this gives Sarah Palin a chance to combine her two endearing traits of gun toting and pro-life record. She can use her gun to expedite a shotgun wedding so her daughter will be married when the baby arrives in three months.
 
Working hard at the edge of the convention is my choice for the GOP nomination, Mitt Romney. His understanding of business and the economy was, to me, the most important trait that we need in a president at this stage. Obama is woefully inadequate in this area and given to fits of socialism when faced with a business decision. McCain made more money in one business transaction than any of these folks by just a 30-minute walk down the aisle with Cindy McCain, so he has some nose for dough.

The good news about McCain is that while he knows that he does not know much about business, he will get out of the way of  corporate America and let it do what it does best --- provide goods and services to us in a very efficient manner that provides the best prices for the consumer.
 
I hear that Obama is going to try to upstage McCain's acceptance speech Thursday night by appearing on "The O'Reilly Factor" show. To me, it shows a bit of desperation on Obama's part to do this, since it is a risky move for him to go in a Q and A session without a fawning press and a teleprompter.

Ron Hart is a Southern libertarian and investor who writes a weekly column for The Destin Log.