Protesters' impact and Schwarzenegger's strength

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

By Donna Lichtenegger ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian

The Missouri delegation was targeted Tuesday night by gay-rights activists.

Protesters jeered and chanted "Missouri is a hate state" because voters in our state recently passed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

They were outside our hotel and outside the restaurant where we were eating. It was a very small group. Tuesday's protest was the first specifically targeted at our delegation.

Elsewhere in New York City, a tragic thing happened -- a police detective was badly beaten by a protester on Monday. We have, as a delegation, collected money for his family.

The Missouri delegation arrived late to the convention center Tuesday night because the group was riding an improperly marked shuttle bus. We were on a different bus than we normally took. When we got to the convention center area, they wouldn't let us go through.

The matter was resolved, but not before our delegation missed the preliminary speeches at Tuesday night's session.

Still, the police did the right thing in terms of security. If you stop and think about it, that is a good thing.

It wasn't anything we couldn't handle. We arrived in time to hear the big speakers.

We got to hear California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The place went nuts.

I don't think you could even depict on television the amount of enthusiasm in that room. You couldn't give him a standing ovation because everybody was already standing. He is just the image of what can happen in this country for an immigrant. It can happen to anybody with hard work and determination.

Laura Bush also spoke to the crowd. She is just very gracious. We haven't had this gracious a person as first lady since Jackie Kennedy.

Laura Bush has gotten better and better with speeches. I think she is quite good now.

Today I am going to hop on a bus and go down to the Hilton, where they have a Grand Old Party market. They are selling Kerry-Edwards flip-flop shoes, symbolizing the Democratic ticket's waffling on the issues. I plan to buy some of them.