One of those Republicans who defended the presidency at some peril was Henry Hyde, who served as guest of honor at a National Review reception Wednesday. The chance to pay him his due attracted one of the week's best guest lists: William and Pat Buckley, the editors of NR and NR online, Ralph Reed, Michael Gerson, and a rather nervous looking Joe Klein, among others.
Hyde didn't say much. He told one or two jokes and offered a political toast that had not been new when the Republicans last gathered in Philadelphia. But then, he didn't have to say much. His mere presence was a reminder of the principles at stake this year.
Unfortunately, for all the New Republican talk of diversity spicing up the American character, somebody decided that Henry Hyde was too hot a jalapeno for the convention as a whole. His name was not so much as whispered from the podium all week. Maybe it's just as well: The Republicans face an expensive election campaign. Who would have paid to have the roof bolted back onto the First Union Center?