I love political conventions and hurricane watches. Both offer excitement, the exhilarating anticipation of surprise announcements and 24-hour television coverage.

So this past week and this week brings great joy to a typical night owl news junky like me.

All last week I watched with amusement, admiration, anger and downright outrage (do all politicians, regardless of party think all Americans are really THAT stupid?) as I listened to the Democrats put forth their agenda, pat each other on the back and bash Republicans.

This week I will listen just as intently when the Republicans put forth their agenda, pat each other on the back and bash Democrats. Most likely I will have the same emotional mix during this event.

However, as I write this, Tropical Storm Gustav is anticipated to enter the Gulf of Mexico and could become a huge hurricane by the time it makes landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast.

So, will I choose to watch the Republican convention or will I tune into the expected 24/7 local news coverage of the approaching hurricane?

Local reporters will be stationed on every beach on the Gulf Coast; maps and projections will fill the TV screen in glorious color. Warnings to buy bread, batteries, candles and water will be intermingled with historical remembrances of disaster hurricanes of the past.

The Democrats had fireworks. Perhaps the Republicans will too. But the hurricane watchers will have fantastic lightning displays, palm trees whipping, and debris blowing by—even if they have to go to another state to get it.

No matter what, I will see a lot of theatrics and be exposed to large volumes of hot air.