You have to feel sorry for the poor schmuck just interviewed at the convention who said that tonight was "...the greatest moment of my life up to now."

I kinda feel sorry for you Rand - this dismissive attitude you have with regard to other people and what their lives may be like.

Imagine that you grew up in a small town, have strong political ideals, and suddenly found yourself in the convention hall as a delegate with everything - including your views - being broadcast on national television. All the politicial speeches pumping you up for action. I can easily see how someone would feel this way.

Believe it or not Rand some people haven't been doused with the buckets of cynicism you and I have been exposed to.

Lighten up.

Keith,

You do have some points there, and yes, Rand's take may have been a little too flaming against the guy.

But, and there's always a but:

There is one more thing to consider, and that is one major angle that Kerry's campaign is taking, the appeal to the "provincials". Get at those people who, up to now, haven't really looked at the political and social landscape of the country in any thoughtful way.

Kerry brings a message that he can bring to them some sort of change, and that it will bring them some level of "coolness" and "correctness". In their lack of cynicism, they accept the Kerry Camp script, whether it is true or not. And it certainly isn't.

The guy dazzled by the glitz and the rhetoric of the DNC will not look into the false arguments because they lack the cyncism to recognize the contradictions in virtually EVERY speech Kerry makes.

I watched the highlights this morning, and was very surprised the stage didn't catch fire from all the strawmen lying about...

Keith, I think it depends on the schmuck. A bright-eyed gee whiz kid just past his majority might be excused for saying that. A middle-aged man who thinks that going to any convention is the greatest moment in his life .. ain't done very much living.

Heck, come to think of it, if the kid can say that as well, he's not done much living either. Open season for derision, I say.

Actually, I was being a little facetious. My comment wasn't so much about the delegate, as about the attitude of anyone who can take these clowns seriously, particularly Kerry.

I find something very disturbing about people who live their lives, from childhood, with almost every conscious act predicated on how it will affect their chances of one day being president (one of the major problems I had with Clinton). If I could figure out some way to do it objectively, I'd like to make such folks ineligible for the job.

Rand, does that mean you're not disturbed by people who never took their lives seriously before deciding to enter politics? I can understand your argument about being uncomfortable with "career politicians", but I have just as difficult a time accepting those who have fallen into positions of power due to heredity. Keep in mind that while John was re-enacting his combat scenes, George was busy skipping his National Guard service. Not that I think either one is a good idea...

Rand, does that mean you're not disturbed by people who never took their lives seriously before deciding to enter politics?

Are you implying that that applies to George Bush? My sense is that he went on the wagon, and then decided to go into politics, after starting to take his life seriously, not that he did so in order to go into politics. It's not like being a lush precludes one from politics, after all...

"George was busy skipping his National Guard service..."

You have GOT to be joking...

You have GOT to be joking...

Yes, the myth that will not die.

"I kinda feel sorry for you Rand - this dismissive attitude you have with..."

Writes the man who runs a website dripping with snide commentary...

I just got a new oven last night with convection speed cooking and cooked frozen pizza in 13 minutes. This is the best moment of my life up until now. :D

I first started cluttering up Rand's website when he expressed a desire to start a dialouge across party lines. I took up the offer and I confessed up-front that I was part of the "Bush is a smirking chimp" camp.

Perhaps I am an oddball, a Democrat with a passion for space policy.

But I now see that if I refuse to move beyond "Bush is a smirking chimp" that is bad for space policy and is bad for the nation as a whole. However, I feel I need to be met part way - - too many GOP-ers (IMHO) define patriotism as "shut up and obey your commander in chief" - - hardly an American value, again IMHO.

So can we have a civil dialouge across party lines without personal attacks by either side?

Red, White (me!) and Blue as one nation.

PS, on this:

My comment wasn't so much about the delegate, as about the attitude of anyone who can take these clowns seriously, particularly Kerry.

= = =

"smirking chimp" versus "clown"

Helluva choice we Americans have this cycle. ;-/

...too many GOP-ers (IMHO) define patriotism as "shut up and obey your commander in chief"

That may be true, but I fail to see the relevance of it to my site, since I'm not a GOPer at all, let alone one who does that.

"Writes the man who runs a website dripping with snide commentary..."

...and posts self-important, condescending and/or personally abusive messages on most every forum in which he deigns to appear...

A clown is at least human, Bill.

Kerry is no Clown!

He is a a Mime!

"All the world loves a clown but all the world hates a mime."

Besides, Mime's are French!

WRT "Writes the man who runs a website dripping with snide commentary..." ...and posts self-important, condescending and/or personally abusive messages on most every forum in which he deigns to appear...

My anonymous friend: unlike your two posts here at least Rand and I sign everything we write - everywhere - you seem to have an issue with letting people know who you are.