Dem Convention re****t

I used to love the conventions of both parties --- seeing them on TV.
But they have become so staged in recent years (since 1984) that I've
lost a lot of interest and have tended in the last few elections only
to watch a few highlights, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger "girly man"
speech from 2004.

However, for whatever reason, I watch most of the Dem's convention
last night and was impressed. I'm for Obama, so I was not interested
in learning how to vote. Just the theatre of it. Lots of neat stuff.

The speech by Jim Leach (Republican) might have bored some, but it was
filled with substance and was really good. Not many political
convention speeches have that kind of substance. 

http://www.demconvention.com/jim-leach/

I know a lot of Republicans and even some Democrats tend to demonize
Teddy, but the film, the speech by Caroline, and Teddy's own
appearance all came over very well. Teddy really got sold as a family
man in a way I've never seen before. And even the Republican
commentators were full of praise --- one calling him one of the 5 most
effective senators in US history. Interesting that McCain likes Teddy
a lot. Not that we won't get the usual stuff from the usal sources.
But for a day, Teddy was v. good and got a lot of respect from a lot
of people.

I've been an admirer of Jimmy Carter and favored him over Kennedy in
1980. Okay, he sometimes annoys me, but in general, I thought he was
on the right side of most issues, even if he was somewhat ineffective
on some stuff (but more successful that Gnork images, starting the
Federal Reserve on its anti-inflation move, ending price controls on
gasoline, blocking some Republican  tax nonsense, and pressing for
int'l human rights --- one of the keys to the Soviet demise in Eastern
Europe). Anyway, Jimmy got a great deal of coverage and lots of kudos,
and not just from the usual Dems. And he looks good, except for one
eye.

Michelle Obama did v. well and her kids were show stealers. And the
unrehearsed (or so it appeared) exchange with the kids and the video
image of Barack was priceless from the Dems' perspective. Really gave
the Dems the "family values" issue, at least for the day.

No predictions on the race, but the Dems definitely got off to a good
start yesterday evening. and the Republican garbage adds were not just
in bad taste but IMHO bad politics.