A word of caution about the feeding frenzy going over Palin: The GOP are counting on this to take on a life of its own and make her into a sympathetic figure for those prone to believe that this country is under the influence of a "liberal" media. I don't think it's going to work this time, because things are looking bad for the GOP. However, I will be interested to see what she says in her speech tonight in contrast to this little speech to evangelicals in Alaska a while back. Remember how many people were turned off by Buchanan in 1996? Let's just say ol' Pat's in her corner. Point is, we all need to be careful, and start talking about this potential smoke screen. Because she's going to frame herself as the girl next door tonight. Think Ollie North. Or...

...this may seem counterintuitive, but I can't help but think back to the Anita Hill controversy, and wonder if Thomas would have sailed into the Supreme Court in 1991 if not for the sexual harassment allegations. At the time 98% of the Senate was male, and...I'll need to check the record on this...but I wonder if Thomas would have had the votes if his record and views alone were all that were considered. The controversy polarized a lot of people at the time, and though the shift took place later (remember 1992 as "year of the woman?"), I think for some in the Senate, the claim Clarence Thomas made, that of a high tech lynching, might have resonated with some in the Senate who might otherwise have voted against him because it made him a "sympathetic figure." Food for thought anyway. Camille Paglia said as much many summers ago.

Here's all I'll say about Palin: Getting personal with family matters should be off the record, unless what you do for yourself isn't what you prescribe unto others. Remember when the Clintons were practically hanged for sending Chelsea to a private school? And I hear wingnuts yak about Al Gore's energy bills for his estate all the time. Come clean about your abstinence-only philosophy and now you're talking.

She's got bigger issues than her daughter's pregnancy, but more to the point...McCain's got two big problems:

1. Judgment to lead - This was clearly a last minute hail mary a-la Brett Favre 2005-2006.

2. Readiness - How is McCain's argument about Obama's readiness to be commander in chief holding up? How about all of the wingnuts who parroted the same line? They can all stew in their moose shit now.

I wonder if Gustav's the only reason these guys are scaling back their convention. For one, it doesn't seem like everyone got the memo. And another, I wonder if turnout and enthusiasm would be any different Gustav didn't happen. I guess we shall see.

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)