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Cindy McCain, the woman Republicans hope will be first lady next year, received a standing ovation from delegates when she entered the Xcel center Tuesday night.

As the GOP convention kicked off in earnest, Cindy McCain attended the festivities with her mother-in-law and daughter Bridget.

She has been a strong presence at the early part of the convention, and helped lead efforts last on Monday to help the region affected by Hurricane Gustav.

Former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush also received standing ovations when they entered the convention hall. The delegates started chanting "41! 41!" -- a reference to Bush's service as the 41st president -- as they sat down.

-Klaus Marre

President Bush will praise John McCain for his support on the Iraq war in his address Tuesday at the Republican convention, according to speech excerpts released by the White House.

Bush is scheduled to speak some time during the 9 p.m. ET hour. He'll give his address via satellite; he had been scheduled to speak at the convention in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday, but he cancelled his visit due to Hurricane Gustav.

On Hurricane Gustav:

We are thankful that the damage in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast was less than many had feared.

I commend the Governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas for their sure-handed response and seamless coordination with the Federal government. I thank all of the wonderful volunteers who stepped forward to help their brothers and sisters in need.

On Senator McCain Being Prepared To Make the Hard Decisions That Fall Solely to the President:

John McCain

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) used his speech at the Republican National Convention Tuesday evening to tout the month-long energy protest that House Republicans have waged during the August recess.

"When Nancy Pelosi sent Congress home last month without an energy vote Republicans refused to leave," Boehner said. "Congressman Thad McCotter (R) of Michigan is back in the nation's Capitol as I speak leading a group of our colleagues who are continuing our... protest in the House."

Republicans began their protest last month to express their frustration with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for adjourning Congress without taking up comprehensive energy legislation. They have continued speaking to tourists in a near empty House chamber throughout the Democratic and Republican conventions. Over 120 members of the House Republican conference returned to Washington take part in the demonstration.

-Jackie Kucinich

Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-Conn.) long-awaited speech at the Republican convention takes a shot at Barack Obama for voting "to cut off" funding for troops in Iraq, according to excerpts released by the Republican National Committee. His attacks will be closely monitored by Democrats who could retaliate against him next year.

Here's a glimpse of his speech, which he is scheduled to deliver at 10:40EST.

On why he supports John McCain to be our next president:

"And that brings me directly to why I am here tonight. What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this? The answer is simple. I

Joe Schloss feels a bit like he

According to AP:

The boyfriend of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's unwed, pregnant daughter will join the family of the Republican vice presidential candidate at the GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Kyle Iturralde was driving a hard bargain, but Frank Adamo would not be denied. He wanted the Montana delegation button. Iturralde, a member of the New Jersey delegation, initially held fast.

John McCain's campaign today e-mailed a video to supporters of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) speech acknowledging her selection as McCain's running mate.

The video, which shows speech excerpts cut together with music and newspaper headlines favorable to Palin, is designed to introduce Palin to McCain's supporters, the campaign's e-mail says.

Since the weekend, Palin has been embroiled in controversy over her teenage daughter's pregnancy, her previous membership in a secessionist political party, and her firing of a public safety commissioner who would not fire her former brother in law from his job as a state trooper.

UPDATE: And the OK! magazine cover story.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) will praise John McCain as having the character that "civilizations from the beginning of history have sought in their leaders" during his address to the GOP convention tonight.

Thompson will also emphasize that McCain is a reformer and someone who has taken on his party to do "what is right" and not what is popular.

The excerpts as released by the Republican National Convention are after the jump.

- Ian Swanson

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