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The best of the Republican national convention: what will you remember? The best of the Republican national convention: what will you remember?
(4 days later)
The 2012 Republican national convention is officially over, and as we remove the "NObama" pins from our jackets and take off our elephant hats, we're looking back on the convention that was.The 2012 Republican national convention is officially over, and as we remove the "NObama" pins from our jackets and take off our elephant hats, we're looking back on the convention that was.
Clint Eastwood's "gran turdito" stands out as a highlight, but what else will you remember? Share your favorite RNC moments with us in the comments or on tweet us and help us grow our Best of the RNC collection.Clint Eastwood's "gran turdito" stands out as a highlight, but what else will you remember? Share your favorite RNC moments with us in the comments or on tweet us and help us grow our Best of the RNC collection.

To start us off, we've asked a few of our Tampa correspondents to share their picks. Check them out or start adding to this list here
To start us off, we've asked a few of our Tampa correspondents to share their picks. Check them out or start adding to this list here
Richard Adams: For a convention that was so earnest about "making history," there was remarkably little that was memorable, other than Clint Eastwood's comedy stylings. Certainly little that Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan said lingers in the memory.Richard Adams: For a convention that was so earnest about "making history," there was remarkably little that was memorable, other than Clint Eastwood's comedy stylings. Certainly little that Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan said lingers in the memory.
Two moments, though, stand out. One was the extraordinarily moving tribute paid to Mitt Romney by Pamela Finlayson, one of his parishioners in Massachusetts. She described how the Romneys helped her family as they struggled with their premature daughter, and 26 years later were still caring. I'd have voted for Mitt if the election had been held when Finlayson finished speaking.Two moments, though, stand out. One was the extraordinarily moving tribute paid to Mitt Romney by Pamela Finlayson, one of his parishioners in Massachusetts. She described how the Romneys helped her family as they struggled with their premature daughter, and 26 years later were still caring. I'd have voted for Mitt if the election had been held when Finlayson finished speaking.
The other was the powerful keynote addresses by two governors, Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Susana Martinez of New Mexico. Haley's speech was the most accomplished of the convention, but Martinez's exhibited a quiet confidence that singles her out as a future party leader. "As the first Hispanic female governor in history, little girls often come up to me in the grocery store or the mall," said Martinez. "They look and point, and when they get the courage, they ask 'Are you Susana?' and they run up and give me a hug. And I wonder: how do you know who I am?"The other was the powerful keynote addresses by two governors, Nikki Haley of South Carolina and Susana Martinez of New Mexico. Haley's speech was the most accomplished of the convention, but Martinez's exhibited a quiet confidence that singles her out as a future party leader. "As the first Hispanic female governor in history, little girls often come up to me in the grocery store or the mall," said Martinez. "They look and point, and when they get the courage, they ask 'Are you Susana?' and they run up and give me a hug. And I wonder: how do you know who I am?"
Ana Marie Cox: My favorite convention moment was actually one of the most ordinary: I had a conversation with someone. Looking for women to talk about the GOP platform with, I found a lady who was a senior-citizen black alternate delegate from Nebraska. She single-handedly embodied half of the contradictions at the center of the 2012 contest, including the fact that she was utterly gracious and willing to spend quite a bit of time talking very reasonably about issues many want to avoid. We talked about abortion, about broken families, even about Ron Paul. After a week of being reminded at every turn of the anger at the heart of the Republican message, I hope I can keep in mind the potential for real conversation once we meet each other face-to-face.Ana Marie Cox: My favorite convention moment was actually one of the most ordinary: I had a conversation with someone. Looking for women to talk about the GOP platform with, I found a lady who was a senior-citizen black alternate delegate from Nebraska. She single-handedly embodied half of the contradictions at the center of the 2012 contest, including the fact that she was utterly gracious and willing to spend quite a bit of time talking very reasonably about issues many want to avoid. We talked about abortion, about broken families, even about Ron Paul. After a week of being reminded at every turn of the anger at the heart of the Republican message, I hope I can keep in mind the potential for real conversation once we meet each other face-to-face.
Adam Gabbatt: One of my favourite moments was chatting to young gay Republicans about their quest for equality within their party. These are people under 29, well educated, who believe in the Republican core of small government and lower taxes. They just happen to be homosexual.Adam Gabbatt: One of my favourite moments was chatting to young gay Republicans about their quest for equality within their party. These are people under 29, well educated, who believe in the Republican core of small government and lower taxes. They just happen to be homosexual.
Unfortunately, that means that outside of groups like the Log Cabin Republicans, there isn't much of a place for them within the modern GOP. It was interesting to hear the people I spoke to put forward the idea that Republicans, as individual freedom champions, shouldn't give two hoots about what goes on behind closed doors between consenting adults. Unfortunately, the party is in such a thrall to the rightwing, God fearing base, that change is unlikely from a top down level any time soon - and while you have someone like Rick Santorum trotting around the country comparing gay sex to "man on dog", Republicans are unlikely to attract the kind of socially liberal members who could effect change at a grass roots level.Unfortunately, that means that outside of groups like the Log Cabin Republicans, there isn't much of a place for them within the modern GOP. It was interesting to hear the people I spoke to put forward the idea that Republicans, as individual freedom champions, shouldn't give two hoots about what goes on behind closed doors between consenting adults. Unfortunately, the party is in such a thrall to the rightwing, God fearing base, that change is unlikely from a top down level any time soon - and while you have someone like Rick Santorum trotting around the country comparing gay sex to "man on dog", Republicans are unlikely to attract the kind of socially liberal members who could effect change at a grass roots level.
Ewen MacAskill: There are two main contenders for moment of the week at the Republican convention: Clint Eastwood's meltdown on stage, and the star turn by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.Ewen MacAskill: There are two main contenders for moment of the week at the Republican convention: Clint Eastwood's meltdown on stage, and the star turn by former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.
Eastwood, though an actor, offered up a rambling, at times almost incoherent, speech. He was the 'mystery guest', the element of surprise. When he took to the stage at first, it seemed to work, his appearance dramatic, against a screen backdrop of one his most popular roles The Man With No Name. Although he was cheered throughout by convention delegate at the time, the postmortem was less charitable. He ran well over his alloted slot, throwing out the schedule, meaning Mitt Romney overshot his primetime television slot.Eastwood, though an actor, offered up a rambling, at times almost incoherent, speech. He was the 'mystery guest', the element of surprise. When he took to the stage at first, it seemed to work, his appearance dramatic, against a screen backdrop of one his most popular roles The Man With No Name. Although he was cheered throughout by convention delegate at the time, the postmortem was less charitable. He ran well over his alloted slot, throwing out the schedule, meaning Mitt Romney overshot his primetime television slot.
Rice, though well known as a speaker at foreign policy thinktanks, was not generally regarded as a politician. She was seen as primarily academic. Along with Florida senator Marco Rubio, she turned in one of the best performances of the week. She brought to life what had until that point been a listless convention, at which delegates had been milling around, barely listening to the speakers. Her best line was that she was able to rise from segregated Alabama, unable to eat a hamburger in a Woolworth store, to become secretary of state. And one day president, perhaps? />
/>• Over to you! What will you remember most about this year's RNC? Toss your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @GuardianUS. 		Rice, though well known as a speaker at foreign policy thinktanks, was not generally regarded as a politician. She was seen as primarily academic. Along with Florida senator Marco Rubio, she turned in one of the best performances of the week. She brought to life what had until that point been a listless convention, at which delegates had been milling around, barely listening to the speakers. Her best line was that she was able to rise from segregated Alabama, unable to eat a hamburger in a Woolworth store, to become secretary of state. And one day president, perhaps?
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MaribelleFL: I will remember Marco Rubio's speech the most. Truly the best speech. The best part ...
Our problem with President Obama isn't that he's a bad person. By all accounts, he too is a good husband, and a good father — and thanks to lots of practice, a pretty good golfer. Our problem is he's a bad president.
The new slogan for the president's campaign is "Forward." A government that spends $1 trillion more than it takes in. An $800 billion stimulus that created more debt than jobs. A government intervention into health care paid for with higher taxes and cuts to Medicare. Scores of new rules and regulations.
These ideas don't move us 'Forward', they take us backwards. These are tired and old big government ideas. Ideas that people come to America to get away from. Ideas that threaten to make America more like the rest of the world, instead of helping the world become more like America.
Under Barack Obama, the only "Change" is that "Hope" has been hard to find.
Now millions of Americans are insecure about their future. But instead of inspiring us by reminding us of what makes us special, he divides us against each other. He tells Americans they're worse off because others are better off. That people got rich by making others poor. Hope and Change has become Divide and Conquer.
TheBonsaiKid: The moment Mitt Romney said "President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet." pulling a silly face and enjoying the laughs.
The very idea of climate change dismissed as a joke unworthy of even commenting on. It just seemed to embody the detachment from reality of the whole shebang.
sbanicki: Here is what Barack Obama and the Democrats need to do at next weeks convention. They need to explain the contrast between the Democratic parties platform and the platform revealed by the Republicans last week. While doing this, major falsehoods expressed by Republicans must be addressed.
Obama must debunk the fallacy that the country is worse off than it was four years ago. The events causing the collapse of housing and stock markets did not happen in the fall of 2008. The fall of 2008 was when the market, and thus the country, acknowledged the devastation of home values brought about by sub-prime lending throughout the first eight years of this century.
In the normal course of banking and finance, holders of financial assets are required to establish a reserve for losses against assets acquired. When a bank makes a car loan they immediately set up a loss reserve. No lender expects a specific loan to default on the day the loan is made. However, an experienced lender knows that a certain percentage of loans made will end up in default. He just does not know which specific loans will fail.
• Over to you! What will you remember most about this year's RNC? Toss your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @GuardianUS.