Belatedly typing in the contents of that last rambling, I think to myself, "What a bunch of crap I write." Maybe I've been doing this for too long.

Last night, I tuned into the Democratic convension in time to catch the tail end of Carter's speech.

But most noteworthy was Bill Clinton. I have to say I was impressed. Though I was no fan of his during his term in office, maybe it takes a few years of the downright awful before one can learn to appreciate the merely mediocre, and see it as good. Except that his speech last night wasn't mediocre. It laid out in a crystal clear, non-inflammatory, straightforward manner, the key differences between the Democrats and the Republicans for the coming election.

Rather than directly focusing on the shortcomings of Bush, as so many others have rightly done, Clinton eluded to a vision of America in which the leadership doesn't try to alienate or castigate those with differences. He talked about an America where everyone is valued and respected; where rewards as well as sacrifices are shared by all. Hyperbole? Perhaps. Nevertheless, I found myself wanting to buy into his idea of an inclusive America, standing in such sharp contrast to the ways of the current White House.

As to whether John Kerry would truly bring us in the direction of "a more perfect union", as Clinton implies, is another matter entirely. At this point, however, I would suggest that slowing or stopping the fast slide to "a crappier union" would be a start.

Anyway, back to whatever it was I was doing...