All I will say is this tonight: Anyone who can synthesize as much in one speech as Obama did tonight and keep the story compelling is more than ready to be the first real President of the 21st Century. Thank you, and goodnight.

And this sums up my previous rant much better than I can convey it.

"And I suppose if you look at the events through a soda straw, it does look unusual. But if you include the slightest bit of context, the story changes into something normal and routine." Great stuff!

I am disgusted by the state of American journalism. Most of the mainstream journalists writing about the election and the current Democratic convention are so concerned about keeping some kind of controversy alive, that they pull shit out of their ass. One headline reads: "Bill Clinton and Barack: Too Alike to Like Each Other?" And then there are the CBS "experts" trying to read Hillary's "body language" to interpret how she "really feels" about Barack Obama in her speech last night. And still others talk about how the speech was "great, but listen to what she didn't say," and then pull out a rabbit like, oh, "Barack is ready to be President." "But why? Why didn't she say THAT?" Un-be-fucking-lievable. It's as if GOP operatives secretly funded groups to funnel money to lackeys in J school to get their degree, look handsome, and then parrot their talking points. Like the one about the Greek Temple. I mean, give me a fuckin' break! Clinton's speech was fine. Maybe she and Barack aren't going to bake cookies together, but Jesus. I'm sure it will be all love, peace and harmony in St. Paul. At least, according to the toadies that give McCain free pass after free pass.

Now, who knows what Bill's gonna say tonight. But I am at least heartened by this exchange. Git' em, Joe!

Contrary to what the James Carvilles of the world think, Obama and company are smart for letting the GOP go negative in their convention, if that's what they're going to do. What's McCain's vision, other than the same old supply side, shoot first, ask questions later crap, and trying to paint Obama as a celebrity, you know, like Paris Hilton? I look forward to the debates, especially the VP debates. I think it will be over by then. Mark my words. All the rest is noise.

After watching this rally in Sturgis, SD, I can now say with confidence that we know John McCain's base:

Bikers, strippers and walkers.

(Special thanks to my coworker Mark for that last bit)