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Friday

Eastwood And His Chair Not Only Entertainers On The Trail

Matt Berninger of The National will open for a President Obama rally Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa. Here, Berninger performs in Brisbane, Australia, in 2011. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Eastwood And His Chair Not Only Entertainers On The Trail

Mitt Romney has Clint Eastwood and that now-famous empty chair on his side. But the Republican presidential nominee isn't the only one getting entertainment industry shoutouts this week.

It's All Politics, Aug. 30, 2012
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

'It's All Politics': NPR's Weekly News Roundup

It's All Politics, Aug. 30, 2012

NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin discuss highlights of the Republican National Convention — the speeches, the delegates, and what it all means for this year's election. In other news, Rep. Ben Quayle loses the GOP congressional primary in Arizona. Does that signal the end of his political career?

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A Few Convention Oddities, Pre-Clint Eastwood

Sen. Joe Lieberman appears at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., in 2008, just eight years after he was the Democratic vice presidential nominee. His appearance is just one of several notable oddities at recent political conventions. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP hide caption

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Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Elections

A Few Convention Oddities, Pre-Clint Eastwood

The actor's speech to an imaginary President Obama at the Republican National Convention was to many a strange moment. But it has company.

In Defense Of Tampa

Never mind the palmetto bugs. There's a lot to like about Tampa, Fla. Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images

It's All Politics

In Defense Of Tampa

WUSF News

Scott Finn of WUSF Public Media in Tampa, Fla., wonders why some media reports paint his city — host of the Republican National Convention — as "a disaster" and the "strip club capital of the world." He says Tampa looks as much like America as anywhere else and that bashers should back off.

Fact Checkers Ding Romney On A Few Familiar Points

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on Thursday at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Fact Checkers Ding Romney On A Few Familiar Points

The Republican presidential nominee is being faulted for saying President Obama went on an "apology tour" and for things he claimed about Obama's tax and Medicare policies. But overall, independent fact checkers aren't finding many problems.

GOP's 'We Built It' Refrain Is Both Puzzling And Telling

Delegates filled the floor Tuesday during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

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Win McNamee/Getty Images

Opinion

It's All Politics

GOP's 'We Built It' Refrain Is Both Puzzling And Telling

The GOP's "We Built That" theme, which grew out of a gaffe by President Obama, all but took over the Tampa convention. Republicans say this line of attack, legitimate or not, highlights what they say is Obama's true attitude toward business. And they believe they can win by convincing the public that the president doesn't understand where jobs come from.

Israel Finds Itself A Partisan Election Issue In U.S.

Republican Mitt Romney greets audience members after delivering a speech in Jerusalem on July 29. Israel's new prominence in campaign rhetoric has some in the Jewish state worried. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

Middle East

Israel Finds Itself A Partisan Election Issue In U.S.

The country has featured prominently in past campaigns, but observers say it's different this time. The shift is partially attributed to the GOP's aggressive courting of the Jewish vote and the Israeli government's perceived taking of sides, a charge it denies.

Israel Finds Itself A Partisan Election Issue In U.S.

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A Fine Night For Romney, But No Game Change

Mitt Romney accepts the Republican nomination for president at the party's convention Thursday. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

It's All Politics

A Fine Night For Romney, But No Game Change

The most important speech of Mitt Romney's career reached out to skeptical female voters, spoke to those disillusioned with President Obama, and had its genuinely moving interludes. Was it enough to change lingering perceptions of the long-running candidate?

Five Takeaways From Thursday At The Republican Convention

Mitt and Ann Romney (center) are surrounded by family members and balloons at the end of the 2012 Republican National Convention on Thursday in Tampa. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

It's All Politics

Five Takeaways From Thursday At The Republican Convention

It was Mitt Romney's big night. He got to tell the nation about what he wants to do. But the evening was also about President Obama. And, rather oddly, about Clint Eastwood.

Thursday

Transcript: Clint Eastwood's Convention Remarks

Clint Eastwood speaks at the Republican National Convention on Thursday. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Elections

Transcript: Clint Eastwood's Convention Remarks

Actor and director Clint Eastwood's address to the Republican National Convention, as delivered.

Listen to Clint Eastwood's Remarks

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Transcript: Mitt Romney's Acceptance Speech

Mitt Romney delivers his acceptance speech Thursday at the Republican National Convention. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Mitt Romney

Transcript: Mitt Romney's Acceptance Speech

Transcript of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's acceptance speech as prepared for delivery at the Republican National Convention.

Listen to Mitt Romney's Speech

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Transcript: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's Convention Speech

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. on Thursday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Elections

Transcript: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's Convention Speech

Transcript of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's speech at the Republican National Convention.

Listen to Marco Rubio's Speech

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On Romney's Big Night, A Rare (And Fraternal) Shoutout For President Bush

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks Thursday at the Republican National Convention. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

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It's All Politics

On Romney's Big Night, A Rare (And Fraternal) Shoutout For President Bush

Appearing at a Republican convention that has barely mentioned President George W. Bush, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush took a point of personal prerogative to honor his brother and scold the man who followed him into the Oval Office.

With Tears And Thanks, Friends Add Context To Romney's Mormon Faith

Pam Finlayson from California tells of how Mitt Romney helped her family when her daughter was ill and after the young woman died. Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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It's All Politics

With Tears And Thanks, Friends Add Context To Romney's Mormon Faith

Testimonials from friends speaking to the nation from the state of the Republican National Convention began the process of both explaining his faith and painting a picture of a man it hopes most Americans can relate to — and, of course, vote for.