Contrary to what some media folks complained, I saw the Democratic convention as one of the very best ever. To me, the order of the speakers and, indeed, their speeches, built from day to day, night to night. From the initial welcoming tone to Michelle's earnest down-home talk and then the kiddies onstage and Barack on closed-circuit wherever he was -- to Hillary's magnificent and absolutely effective inclusivity message to the nominations and the roll call votes, reminiscent of the good old conventions when you didn't know who would be the candidate until every state had its say -- to Bill's always eloquent futuristic positives and no-doubt-about-it Barack endorsement to Joe Biden's energy and enthusiasm for us and our future. And did you notice that Al Gore and John Kerry are both far better, more animated speakers than when they ran for office?

Bottom line, I was primed for Barack and he delivered what some commentators proclaimed the best political speech they had ever heard. He hit ALL the right notes, both manner and content neither over-the-top nor everyday delivery. As someone who believes implicitly that Hillary should be the candidate, I found myself smiling, nodding in agreement and hoping it works.

However, maybe it's a function of age (smile) but I rather think it's being aware just how far this country has fallen from its core beliefs after seven years of the Rove-Cheney-Bush-Rumsfeld oligarchy, not to mention just how pervaded by below-the-belt tactics are the McCain campaign and the current Republican party -- I could not muster the emotional component that would take me to the sublime height of belief that our Democratic candidate would win and, once again, all would be well.

I guess it can never again be JFK in 1960, a time that now seems lovely and simple, doesn't it?

Positively,
Carolan