FReeper on the live thread pointed out something telling: at the DNC convention, the crowd kept chanting "Obama", at the RNC convention, they kept chanting "USA".
Loved them playing "Barracuda" (song has been playing in my head since last Friday) and also, did you notice how long McCain/Palin and families stayed on the stage, as opposed to the Obama family who disappeared immediately after the end of the speech? Also not the difference in music, upbeat pop music, vs. the weird movie-credit-music at the end of Obama's speech.
I noticed that, too.
To expand on that thought a bit more, I felt like there was a big contrast between the two parties where patriotism is concerned. The RNC speeches and crowds were overflowing with pride in and love for this country, even with its faults. They pointed out ways to make it better, but it was all pretty positive.
The Dems seem kind of embarrassed by flag wavers and "USA" chanters. The spirit there is more along the lines of "We're just one country out of a world full of countries, and we should just try to get along with everyone else, 'cause that's nice. And we'd like to apologize to anyone who might feel like we've ever said we were better than them, or more right than them. That was mean."