Let’s talk quickly about the RNC’s festivities last night.

Joe Lieberman’s appearance was the most anticipated of the evening, what with him having been a vice presidential candidate—and on the Democratic ticket—just eight years ago. My, how time flies. At the I-70 interchanges in Kansas City, ol’ Joe decided to take I-35 north to Minneapolis instead of I-70 to Denver. More on that in a minute.

Lieberman’s speech might have been the most anticipated of the night, but it was Fred Thompson who stole the show. Thompson, whose own presidential campaign faded away before it ever really took off, showed no qualms about getting after the Democrats, their nominee, their political philosophy, their “friends in the media” and pretty much anyone and anything else out there. But in addition to lowering the boom on liberalism, Thompson spent a great deal of time in storyteller mode, detailing in terms rarely heard before the life—and especially the years as a prisoner of war—of John McCain.

His language was vivid, his sentences simple and short, and the room was transfixed as Thompson detailed the torture that McCain withstood for five and a half years. One newswriter used the term “mesmerized” to describe the atmosphere in the hall.

Thompson’s strategy was apparently to use those experiences to buttress his argument: If five and a half years in a prison camp couldn’t break John McCain, we won’t need to worry about him in Washington.

You can see the speech here or read the text here.

It was interesting to me that the Democratic pundits on CNN seemed appalled at Thompson’s partisan tone and the swipes—and they were sharp swipes—he took at Barack Obama. But last Monday night, after Michelle Obama and Ted Kennedy had spoken, Paul Begala had his shorts in a twist that the Democrats weren’t being partisan enough. So I was amused to see them all in a what’s-good-for-the-goose-isn’t-good-for-the-gander lather.

Then came Lieberman. In case you missed it, Lieberman lost a Democratic primary challenge for his Senate seat based on his support for the Iraq war. He left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent, beating the Democratic nominee in winning re-election. He retained his independent affiliation but caucuses with the Democrats; as a result, he has been allowed the chair the Homeland Security Committee during the last Congress.

It probably won’t be that way in the next Congress.

Lieberman not only delivered the expected—which was a full-throated endorsement of his good friend, John McCain—but he “went out of his way,” as CNN pundit Gloria Borger put it, to praise Sarah Palin, a woman with whom he disagrees on nearly every social issue—if not every social issue—in the book.

The pundits noted that Lieberman had spent time with Palin since she was announced as the VP pick, and that he had shared advice with her about running as the No. 2. But it was curious to hear him extend his remarks to include her.

As for his endorsement of McCain, Lieberman was gracious and conversational in comparing John McCain with Barack Obama. For example, he said, the former had crossed party lines on issues like immigration and campaign finance reform; the latter hadn’t attempted any reach across the aisle on any issue of substance.

Near the end of his remarks, Lieberman spoke directly to the so-called “security Democrats” and Independents whose votes might be attracted by McCain’s “maverick” reputation. Lieberman appealed to them to vote for McCain, a move that seemed to push already-irritated Democrats over the edge.

See Lieberman’s speech (available in parts at YouTube) or read the text of it here.

I’m out for a couple of hours, but I’ll be back to share some more things about Sarah Palin with you as she gets ready to address the convention tonight.

... Speaking of highly anticipated speeches!