Hearing America's mayor and a Georgia Democrat

Editor's note: Donna Lichtenegger of Jackson is a delegate at this week's Republican National Convention. This is the fourth of her daily reports.

By Donna Lichtenegger ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani loved talking to the Missouri delegation, but it's St. Louis Cardinals star slugger Albert Pujols he really wants to meet.

Giuliani said he is sure he will meet Pujols in October. He thinks it's going to be the Yankees and the Cardinals in the World Series.

Giuliani spoke to our Missouri delegation at a breakfast Thursday. He gave a half-hour speech that was top-notch. He uses humor well.

The consensus here is that Giuliani is a likely candidate for president in four years.

U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, a Democrat from Georgia, gave a fabulous speech Wednesday night. I thought one line referring to John Kerry was classic: "This is a man who wants to be the commander in chief of our U.S. armed forces? U.S. forces armed with what? Spitballs?"

I think the support of the president by Miller is very significant to conservative and undecided voters.

The convention speakers show that the Republican Party is not a one-issue or two-issue party. We have a large tent.

You have to be able to welcome others with different ideas. I hate to think what this country would be if we don't do that.

A protester got a press pass and was discovered sitting right next to alternates in the Missouri delegation Wednesday. Our alternate delegates stood in the protester's way so television cameras could not get a glimpse of her anti-Bush shirt. The police came and ushered the woman out.

I was really proud of our alternates. They took care of the situation.

Our delegates that were on the aisle really had a hard time seeing Wednesday night because so many members of other delegations and the news media gathered at the front of the convention hall.

Thursday night will be total chaos. The floor will be packed. Security will be incredibly tight. You might not be able to get into the bathrooms without proper credentials.