By Larry Ryan

You might recall this week's Republican state convention in Dallas as the place where those delightful Barack Obama badges were sold. A keynote speech at the convention by Texan Senator John Cornyn grabbed fewer headlines but it was notable for a rather stunning introductory video. It even moved political gossip site Wonkette to pen this touching ode in tribute.

The clip is so silly, full of self parody and ripe for ridicule that it has got the people at Gawker thinking perhaps it might be a deliberate ploy of self flagellating viral marketing. Are folksy Republicans that savvy with the ways of the web? Either that or Cornyn is just a nutbar. Judge for yourself...