DNC leftovers

I’m going to use the abbreviated program in the early going of the RNC as an excuse to share two thoughts from the DNC that I’ve been delinquent in sharing.

First, of course it’s fundamentally the correct move to talk about the Bush-McCain this and the Bush-McCain that, but why are we emphasizing Bush’s policies so heavily, when it’s really the man’s approach that everyone hates, not the policies. Isn’t it? I mean, sure, the policies are a factor, but what people really hate, I think, is that he’s a bad executive, that he doesn’t listen to people who disagree with him, that his judgment is clouded by insecurity (or something), that he takes so much vacation time, that he at worst doesn’t have the stones or the brains to stand up to big business, or that he at best is happily in its pocket – in short, that he’s the decider.

If this is the connection you make between Bush and McCain, then the Palin choice is a huge gift. I’d be interested to see some polling on what exactly it is that people don’t like about Bush.

Second, my sister’s father-in-law, Pete, had a gem during Biden’s speech on Wednesday night. In fact, Pete had lots of gems during the week and a half that we all spent together watching the VP and convention drama unfold. There’s nothing like watching some of the key moments in the presidential campaign with a guy from Zimbabwe to give you some good perspective on our…unique…way of doing business here. The fireworks, for example. Anyway, here’s what he said:

Biden: [explaining how his 115-year-old mother raised him to believe…] …that no one is better than you, and that everyone is your equal!

Pete: You don’t often hear that last bit. But that’s the bit that makes all the difference, isn’t it?