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Top evangelical Christians may not have a high profile at the Republican National Convention this month. Some prominent evangelical Christians say they have not been invited to participate in or attend the Republican National Convention less than three weeks before the event is to begin. Analysts said the move likely reflects a GOP desire to sideline its more polarizing supporters during a tight presidential race, but convention organizers deny they're marginalizing the religious leaders. Republican strategist Ralph Reed said Wednesday that invitations just started going out to evangelical figures, but he would not release any names. The Rev. Franklin Graham,...

August 6, 2004 Alaskan Delegate to New York: Don't Fence Us InBy ALAN FEUER ORTH POLE, Alaska, Aug. 1 - Doug Isaacson has a few ideas about city folks. First of all, they do not understand Alaska. Second of all, they do not understand Alaska.He was flying in a six-seat Piper Navajo the other day above the tundra, grousing that he could not build on all that empty land because the city slickers wanted to preserve it. They needed some place to dream of in their cramped apartments, he was saying. It drives a man like Mr. Isaacson insane."It's a...

THE REPUBLICANS Some prominent conservatives say they are upset at the apparent exclusion of the champions of their favorite issues from the limelight of the Republican convention in favor of more moderate members of the party. Conservatives said they were surprised to see former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Senator John McCain of Arizona - all moderate Republicans who oppose the proposed constitutional amendment blocking same-sex marriage - given high-profile roles at the convention, with few conservative Republicans on the list. "I hate to say it, but the conservatives, for the most...

He relishes the idea, and it is just an idea, he says, of linking arms on streets around Madison Square Garden to block delegates and bring the Republican convention to a halt. Getting arrested for civil disobedience, if it comes to that, does not faze him. "I am not going to have a work schedule for two weeks after, just in case,'' says Jim Straub, 23, who is a part-time dishwasher and bookstore clerk and full-time radical in Richmond, Va. Advertisement For Jen Lawhorne, 24, who also plans to attend the convention from Richmond: "This is going to be one...

NEW YORK - A growing list of potential protesters — including abortion-rights supporters, anti-war activists and even off-duty police officers — wants permission to hold demonstrations during the Republican National Convention, police officials said Friday. About 17 organizations have contacted the NYPD so far about permits that would allow them to legally march and rally outside the convention at Madison Square Garden and at other sites around Manhattan. More are expected to apply before a June 15 deadline. Authorities say the applications could overlap and conflict in demands for times and space. One request by an anti-war group has been...

Every train headed for Penn Station during this summer's four-day GOP convention will be stopped and searched by cops and bomb-sniffing dogs, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced yesterday - an unprecedented plan likely to create a nightmare for millions of passengers on seven subway lines, two commuter trains and Amtrak. Inconvenience aside, sources familiar with convention security plans say, Kelly believes it is the best way to prevent a terrorist attack. "It's our goal to check every train, physically, with dogs and with police officers before it comes into Penn Station," Kelly said. "I think we're going to be well...