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Cardinal Dolan Says Appearance at Republican National Convention Isn't Political  In an interview with the Roman Catholic broadcaster EWTN, Mitt Romney revealed today that Cardinal Timothy Dolan will deliver the closing prayer after he accepts the Republican nomination next week in Tampa. Though it's hard to imagine a more political event, Dolan wants to make it clear that this isn't a partisan move and doesn't mean he's endorsing Romney for president. In fact, he'd be willing to give the benediction at the Democratic National Convention as well, though that would be kind of awkward since his archdiocese is currently...

Who knows exactly what our crazy old uncle has up his sleeve? The only thing I know for sure is it’s not his sleeve. As far as I’ve been able to determine this is Val Jar’s idea, although it looks like she’s working in concert with the rest of the handlers. I’m not clear on the particulars, butt it sounds like a nefarious update on the old Dirty Tricks strategy. You know; create a rumble of some sort – I’m hesitant to say what sort, butt if you read the comments on Ulsterman’s WHI report you’ll get the gist of...

TAMPA (CBS Tampa/AP) — Tampa’s mayor warns that the Republican National Convention could be canceled if Tropical Storm Isaac heads for the city. Mayor Bob Buckhorn told CNN that he is more concerned about the safety of his people than holding the convention. “Absolutely we’re prepared to call it off,” Buckhorn explained to CNN. “I mean, human safety and human life trumps politics. I think the RNC recognizes that.” Buckhorn also added that the city has contingency plans ready in case of an emergency. “I don’t think it’s going to be a factor in this particular convention,” Buckhorn told CNN....

So when a hurricane hits a heavily populated area, it is no laughing matter. But some liberals are enjoying the news anyway.

Dems prepare to go behind enemy lines at GOP convention in TampaBy Mike Lillis - 08/21/12 01:40 PM ET Don't call it sabotage, but as Mitt Romney and the Republicans are taking over Tampa for next week's GOP convention, a sizable crew of Democrats will be there as well, working furiously behind enemy lines in an effort to muffle the GOP message. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), head of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is launching the Democrats' counter attack on Tuesday with a Tampa-based press conference slamming Romney and the Republicans for their opposition to abortion rights — an...

If you're headed down to Tampa for the RNC next week, don't miss this fabulous event brought to you by the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Passing Lane Films. On wednesday, August 29 please join your fellow patriots for The Grand Old Picture Show at Carol Morsani Hall in the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Tampa. This complimentary event begins at 3:00. Guests of the reception will be treated to free wine, beer and food followed by a screening of short films that tackle some of today's most important issues. After the films, guests will enjoy a lively...

Vice President Joe Biden will be in Tampa during the Republican National Convention, a campaign official confirms. "Next week, on Monday, August 27 and Tuesday, August 28, Vice President Joe Biden will travel to the Tampa area and other cities for campaign events," an Obama campaign official tells THE WEEKLY STANDARD. "Additional details on the Vice President’s trip are forthcoming." The Republican National Convention will run from August 27-30 in Tampa. The Drudge Report first reported the news that Biden would be in Tampa at the same time as the Republican convention.

Rep Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is Co-Chair and conducting the session at the Tampa Marriot Waterside Hotel. LIVE VIDEO

When GOP delegates make their way downtown each day next week, they'll get a reminder that they're holding their quadrennial convention in a city run by Democrats. A billboard scheduled to go up today on Interstate 275 at Armenia Boulevard welcomes Republicans to a city "Where the mayor and all city council members are Democrats." It adds, for good measure, "Enjoy our well-run city!" The billboard was purchased by Ruth's List Florida, a group that works to elect what it describes as progressive women. It's one of a number of organizations – partisan and non-partisan – laying claim to the...

SOURCES: Biden at GOP convention; Secret Service in Tampa say they are Biden advance -- he's coming Monday or Tuesday... Developing ...

But the only question this Florida reporter had for the former govenor of Alaska and Tea Party favorite, was a simple one: Will we see you at the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August? "We'll have an announcement in a couple of days," said Palin, as an aide insisted journalists direct questions to Todd Palin. "I don't know if we'll do anything fancy as a press conference, but we'll get the word out." As the GOP convention draws closer, rumors persist that Palin is scouting space to rent in Tampa and supporters wonder if she will be given a...

Members of a local Black Panther group are planning a protest today after Tampa police shot and killed an armed teenager Sunday night in a Tampa Heights apartment complex. The St. Petersburg/Tampa New Black Panther Party says it expects 200 protesters to attend a rally at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Police Department headquarters on North 22nd Street. The protest is in response to the shooting death of Javon Neal, 16, who police say ran from police up a stairwell then whirled around brandishing a pistol grip, pump-action shotgun before police shot him. The shooting ignited anger among the apartment...

Powerful conservative Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., thinks former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin deserves a prime speaking position at the Republican convention. "I'd love to see Sarah Palin have a big slot — as far as speaking — because there's no one still in America that excites the base of conservatives and even libertarians as she does,” he told Fox News Thursday. “She can draw a crowd more than any other Republican, and I think has more influence in primaries than any other endorsement right now, so I think she'd be good."

Air Force Cargo Jet Lands at Wrong, Smaller, Airport TAMPA | A military cargo plane that typically requires 3,500 feet for takeoff landed unexpectedly Friday at Peter O. Knight Airport, where the longest runway is 95 feet short. Work began immediately to lighten the load of the 174-foot-long aircraft so that it might leave Davis Islands safely. The drama ended at 8:27 p.m., when the C-17 Globemaster III took a hop over Hillsborough Bay to MacDill, the original destination. It landed just a few minutes later. It was unclear why the plane, headed to MacDill, made an unscheduled landing at...

The word is going out quietly to Republican activists across New Jersey: If you’re going to the GOP convention in Tampa next month, be sure to be there by Tuesday night, Aug. 28, because Gov. Chris Christie is going to be giving the keynote speech that night. “We’ve been told that’s the night to be there, that’s when the governor is going to speak. They’re saying he’s the keynoter,” one top party activist told The Post yesterday. (developing)

She is the Tea Party diva who lit up the 2008 Presidential campaign. But four years later Mitt Romney is facing one of the most vexing questions of his campaign: what to do with Sarah Palin? In an increasingly uncomfortable stand-off, he has not invited her to next month’s Republican national convention whilst she has failed to give him her full backing. Palin has also not appeared with the Romney on the campaign trail and prefers to use her Facebook page to bash Barack Obama. The result is that the Republican presidential candidate is left without the endorsement of a...

[T]he Romney campaign has not asked Palin to speak at the convention nor contacted her about even attending the party’s marquee event in Tampa. Queries to the Romney camp about any possible Palin role at the convention meet with a stony silence. Palin does not seem surprised. “What can I say?” she responded in an email from Alaska, when asked by Newsweek about the convention, just before heading to Michigan to deliver an Obama-thumping speech. “I’m sure I’m not the only one accepting consequences for calling out both sides of the aisle for spending too much money, putting us on...

“ResistRNC,” a five day Occupy protest of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida this August, has some chilling new videos posted on their website that encourages horrific protestor violence towards police. In a statement at the top of the action webpage, resistRNC says, “if you are looking for ideas to help you with your action planning, here are some helpful videos!” In one of ResistRNC’s “helpful videos,” a young man is seen lighting a Molotov cocktail on fire, and then hurling the firebomb towards a group of police. The video is actually a mashup of a Jay-Z and Kanye...

Welcome to the molten core of the political universe, the hottest battleground in the biggest battleground state. Since 1960, Hillsborough County has called every single presidential election except for one—and there’s no reason to think that voters here won’t do it again. Look around this county of 1.2 million and you’ll find a mash-up of past and future: a solidly Democratic city bracketed by Republican-leaning suburbs; strawberry fields, ranch-style homes, and gentrified urban neighborhoods; Puerto Ricans, Cuban-Americans, African-Americans, Midwestern retirees, college kids, active military, and young families; the brick and wrought iron of historic Ybor City, and the stucco and...

SNIPPET: "Google removed 640 videos from YouTube in the second half of last year amid fears they promoted terrorism. The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) made a request for five user accounts to be closed for allegedly promoting terrorism. Google agreed and deleted the 640 videos."