So it was red meat night at the Republican convention, and one expects the usual attacks and swipes at the opponents. Third night at political conventions for both parties can get rough.

I’m just wondering if there are any Republicans out there who are aware of the semiotics of an arena full of middle aged white people, arms raised over their heads, gleefully yelling “Zero! Zero! Zero!” about the most successful black American politician ever.

Sarah Palin became Governor of Alaska after serving two terms (totaling four years) on the “city” council of Wasilla Alaska. And then she became mayor of the same “city.” For residents of Pennsylvania, Wasilla would roughly translate to “borough.” Wasilla’s population is equivalent to sleepy little Hummelstown or Swarthmore, PA; the population is quite a bit smaller than almost all of the Townships in Delaware County, which manage to operate quite well despite the fact that they usually do not even have mayors.

Palin has only completed two years of her first term managing the government of her tiny state. Alaska has a population of roughly half the size of Dallas, TX. It’s legislature is constitutionally required to be in session for no more than 90 days per year.

I would get her selection as a perverse choice for Secretary of the Interior, but there is really only one requirement for a veep selection. A good veep candidate doesn’t necessarily  have to be from an important swing state; or pass particular political litmus tests; or even be sympatico with the President. S/he must  be obviously qualified to be President if required to do so.

McCain is too clever for his own good, and too desperate to prove he’s still a maverick.

Sweet Bippy came home from the hospital today, 3 months and 2 weeks after his birth. Getting out of the hospital was a bit of an adventure. Loaded down with our oxygen tanks, monitors, and bags a-plenty, we’d gotten about five steps out of the NICU when red lights started flashing and alarms went off. Standing in front of the elevators, the excited nurse ran out to us apologizing for forgetting about the security bracelet around his ankle. (It’s like house arrest!) Lest we be accused of abducting our own baby, we turned back around while she cut off the bracelet and gave the all clear.

Down in the lobby we are confronted by the security who checked our parental identity bracelets. We were allowed to pass, but then we were chased down again in the elevator. Security hadn’t gotten the all clear. But after assessing that we were a legitimate discharge, we were finally allowed to depart the hospital.

In the car, pulling into busy traffic, I told him, “We sprung you, boy. You’re on the lam now.”

It’s been a long day, trying to get Mr. Infant settled, swaddled, fed and med’ed. I can’t imagine what a wild day of stimulation it has been for a baby who has stared at hospital ceilings for months. But he’s here now and our lives together are underway.

While we were attending to two sons–Son One had his 1st grade orientation today–we were blessed with the support of many. Special thanks to Laurie and Jim, who tracked down hardware to replace our missing crib hardware. And Mary, who entertained our son for hours this evening. And Nonna and Papa who brought us breakfast, did the laundry, and helped with the boys. And Dawn, who gave us clothes and an important pep talk. Midge decorated our mailbox for our return, and Son One drew a lovely welcome banner and diligently made sure that nobody stepped on his brother’s cables. (He is indeed his brother’s keeper.)

Says Son One of his new brother: “He looks like a monster with a tee-shirt on.”

Also says Son One: “I’m not going to get another brother after this, am I?”

Says Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention: “That is the change we need now.”
My response to the TV, taking a sniff: “The change we need now is a diaper change.”

The first time I ever canvassed door-to-door for a political candidate was in 1976, when I knocked on every door of every little brick row home on our block stumping for my candidate.

Tonight I rediscovered an old elementary school project, for which I’d written the following:

Go Ford

Well, it’s election day and I’m rooting for someone. Guess who??? Gerald R. Ford. He may have lost the election, but I still thought he was the best president of my time yet. Jimmy Carter won this year–that was an upset–in more than one way.

Apparently I was blogger ahead of his time.

I was polled this evening by Zogby International.

Wanted to know if I was registered to vote in PA. (check)

Wanted to know if I was very likely, somewhat likely, or not likely to vote in the primary. (Whadda you think?)

Wanted to know if I was a registered D, R, NP, or other/minor party. (Whadda you think?)

Do I currently consider myself a Catholic? (Nope.)

Thank you. [Click.]

I was kinda surprised to not be asked my preference on candidate, but I guess they’re polling the Catholic vote.

This was the conversation as he was getting ready for bed this evening:

Lad: I think that George Bush was worrying way too much about Iraq. That was his big mistake. It’s like he wanted to start a war. He should have worried about other things, and not started another war.
Dad: Wow, that’s a  serious thought.
[Beat.]
Lad: But now, I want to know who started the Vietnam War and why they did that.

If Michigan revotes and Obama wins, will Clinton drop out then? Doesn’t that take the remaining wind out of the big state fallacy? Just wonderin’