The program has kicked off. Former Assemblyman Tom Wood is serving as master of ceremonies, and he introduced OC's very own, the ubiquitous Anthony Kuo, who did fine fine rendition of the the National Anthem.

CRP Chairman Ron Nehring is rousing the crowd with a real stemwinder. The crowd is so on fire, they even cheered when Nehring brought up the 2003 election fo Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Former Assemblyman and current state Senate candidate Tony Strickland is speaking now. He made a remark about "knowing something about a strong-willed woman in politics," a reference to his wife Assemblywoman Audra Strickland.

Tony was followed by termed-out Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, who was just followed by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, who is doing an outstanding job.

There's a plane circling the stadium towing a banner: "Sarah Palin - Thanks, But No Thanks! No On Prop. 4"

Rep. Ed Royce, who was one of the earliest advocates of pikcing Palin as Veep, is delivering a typically great sir-up-the-crowd speech.

CRP Communications Director Hector Barajas just told us their out of room in the tennis stadium and their sending people into overflow.

Now, here comes Rep. Dana Rohrbacher, to a tumultuous welcome: "Patriots! Together, we will save America! Patriots! We have a message for Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden - you think you can tax us into prosperity. No you can't!"

Now it's termed-out state Sen. Bob Margett's turn.

Rosario Marin is at the podium: "Let me tell you something: the Democrats were so happy there was only one vice presidential debate!" It's one of the great shames of recent CRP politics that we didn't nominate her for U.S. Senate in 2004. She may not have beaten Barbara Boxer, but she's got moxie and a great story and would have made it a hell of a fight.

Well, time to head down and man the Red County UnSteadiCam. I'll try to comment via Twitter on the RedCounty.com home page.

OK -- they took a break, so I took the opportunity to take a look what was happening outside the stadium. The knot of Democratic protesters has swelled to about 100, and they are standing by the long line of people still filing into the stadium as of 2:30 p.m. and yelling slogans at them. The long line of folks are looking at them like they're refugees from the looney bin.

2:45 p.m.: I moved down to the camera riser, and we're still waiting for Palin. A man in the crowd near the riser started yelling, "NBC sucks!" Three young people were asked to leave the VIP area (and the event, I presume). They were wearing Obama shirts and were roundly booed as the made the walk of shame out of the arena.

They're letting another stream of Palin fans onto the VIP area, which is the tennis court (we're in a tennis stadium). That may be the reason for the delay -- to give the thousands of folks outside the chance to get in.