The competition at the Olympics is all but over. When all is said and done, the news media will have partially fixed their gaze on the Orient, namely China. On Monday, though, the media eye facing the Orient will be trained back to Occidental territory.

Michael Phelps and the rest had their golden moments in China. Now it’s the presidential candidates’ turn here in good ol’ USA. It’s time for the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

Next week, the Democrats go first in Denver. The Mile High City in collaboration with the Democratic National Party wanted to put on a u-rah-rah event by holding the convention in not one, but two venues. The main venue for DNC meetings, symbolic nomination (which is what it is) and articulation of the party platform is the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver, where the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and Colorado Avalanche of the NHL play their home games.

If that weren’t enough, the DNC is showcasing its main man at Invesco Field. Wow, I wonder why. Could it be that the DNC wants to put Barack Obama on a pedestal in front of a larger audience?

After all why present your party’s nominee with only 25,000 in the building when you could have 75,000 screaming in unison, “Obama! Obama!”

For which I hope he would say, “Merci boucoup.” Hopefully, then he can address the windfall profits organic food outlets get from the exorbitant prices they charge for arugula.

The Republican National Convention, while closer in proximity to the Coulee Region, doesn’t escape comment from Gray Matter. After reading a recent edition of the Washington Times Weekly, Gray Matter has come to the conclusion that right wing conservatives would have an easier time nominating John McCain with a little something to sedate them. After all McCain has veered to the center, if not left, on — among other issues — the environment by giving tree huggers something to embrace.

The St. Paul Grill has just the means for staunch conservatives to lighten their stress and their wallets. For $525, conventioneers can get a shot of 55-year-old Macallan scotch. No word has been given if the St. Paul Grill will offer $5.25 glasses of Grain Belt beer as a chaser.

Perhaps Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty should get involved with bars and restaurants providing cheaper libations if he has aspirations for the VP slot.

The good news is the Olympics are on for another few days. The bad news is we’ll be subjected to 24/7 presidential hash and rehash. For me, Nov. 4 cannot come quickly enough.

Columnist Tim Gray, a West Salem resident, can be reached at tim.gray.matter@gmail.com.