MSNBC is up to 1968 in its election archive, when Square America overcame the Beautiful People. Not this time.

Some really historic footage, including the famous Chicago riot at the Democratic convention.

He can’t do speeches and at 72 it’s too late to learn. But John McCain still managed to come out ahead last night.

The anti-war disruption was an absolute gift which he handled pretty well.

But even better for the Republicans, the protesters had picked completely the wrong night to sneak in: if they’d disrupted Palin instead, think how it would have added to the whole narrative of chaos and crisis surrounding her.

Tonight we have the VPs that never were, Pawlenty and Ridge. Don’t expect MSNBC/CNN to miss the chance to hint how much better than Palin either of them would have been.

Then Cindy McCain – who was surprisingly good on Monday night – introduces her husband. A thoughtful speech is probably called for after yesterday’s excitement, especially since McCain can’t do oratory anyway.

He’ll get a big lift from the new CBS poll showing a 42-42 tie, which takes the sting out of the daily trackers where he’s still down 5 points plus.

The aggression and sarcasm raised a few eyebrows (Harry Reid called it shrill – he really does need a diversity refresher course) but the important thing was that she didn’t shrivel up and look like she wanted to be somewhere else.

The video has the speech in two parts. For the ovation at the beginning which really set the tone, go to Hot Air.

Some big hitters are on tonight: presidential candidates Giuliani, Romney and Huckabee, plus Michael Steele.

But the main event is the make-or-break Gov Palin speech.

As it may be the last chance to say I told you so before Sarah knocks it out of the park and carries the ticket to victory, let’s go back a couple of months and say John McCain, I told you so.

After Gustav and the Palin furore it’ll almost be a relief to have some boring speeches to snooze through again. So who have the GOP got in store for us tonight?

George Bush (video link), the First Lady, Lieberman, Fred Thompson and Norm Coleman, whose Senate race in Minnesota against Al Franken is the one the base of both parties are desperate to win.

For the moment Coleman has successfully pigeonholed Franken as a weird interloper, but an Obama tide could yet sweep him out.

For coverage, it’s the same as last week: Fox, CNN or C-Span via BBC Parliament. 

CNN reports that neither Bush nor Cheney will be going to the convention on Monday.

A sensible decision. It suggests that there won’t be very much of anything going on in St Paul until Hurricane Gustav has done its worst – and they can then play it by ear.

Meanwhile Democrats need to avoid being caught on camera chortling about what a godsend Gustav is for them. 

To be fair, it’s in the context of conservatives praying for rain at Obama’s open-air speech (hence the line “God is on our side”), but still in spectacularly poor taste.

Michelle Malkin has the video – no MSM interest yet but potentially a huge story.

UPDATE One of the chortling Democrats has apologised.

McCain will appear with his VP pick in Dayton, Ohio today at 5pm our time. The smart money is still on Mitt Romney.

Then it’s on to Minneapolis-St Paul and the prospect of split TV screens showing another hurricane smashing into the south coast while delegates wave flags and party.

It’ll take some real political genius on the part of the McCain campaign to steer their man through this one unscathed.

UPDATE Having given a fairly heavy nod towards Romney, Fox now reports it’s not him and it’s not Pawlenty either. NBC has the same information.

Sarah Palin, anyone? She’d certainly be an electrifying pick and would represent a serious pitch for the Clinton refuseniks. But rather than acclaim her, the press would no doubt attack McCain for a transparently political selection, which would take some of the gloss off it.

Bill Kristol, incidentally, has been championing her on Fox News Sunday for months.

UPDATE Palin it is.

Well, that was not the speech Obama would have imagined himself giving two months ago. But all the mockery has forced him down off his high horse.

The question is, will the American voter take to this new, angry Obama with his John McCain this and John McCain that? 

It could convince them he’s on their side – but all the charm went missing last night and without that, what does he have to recommend him?

UPDATE Jim Geraghty at NRO’s Campaign Spot noticed the anger too.

The main event, with Obama due on around 3am. The Greek temple setting is unfortunate but they’re stuck with it now.

What he’ll be tempted to do to compensate is have his serious face on, talk about kitchen table issues and give some of the more fanciful rhetoric a miss.

And if that doesn’t work, there’s always Michelle and the kids.