Skattershooting about the Democratic National Convention:

• Back in 1988, the audience making up the Democratic National Convention held up sign after sign in support of abortion and gay rights. Although the platform may not have changed, at least they're smart enough to get rid of the overt support of those hot button issues.
• Why Ann Richards continues to get national TV commentary gigs is beyond me. She was a one term governor who won only because of the stupidity of Clayton Williams, and, when she ran for re-election, she was crushed by a complete political novice, George Bush.
• Call me crazy, but I think Bill Clinton would win in November if he could run once again for the presidency.
• Speaking of Clinton, wasn't it a bit weird to see his walk to the podium through the catacombs of the Staples Center on Monday night? Well, that wasn't exactly the way it was scripted. Those in the convention hall, who were watching the walk on the Big Screen, saw what the national TV audience saw  but with the added effect of seeing text of the president's accomplishments scrolling across the screen.
• Wasn't it a coincidence that a news leak on Thursday, the same day that Gore addressed the convention, revealed that a grand jury was being empaneled in Washington for the possibility of indicting Clinton. Give Karen Hughes, Bush's campaign chief, much due credit. When asked by Tom Brokaw what she thought about the timing of the news, she said it was "totally inappropriate".
• I hate just about everything Jesse Jackson says, but I could listen to him say it all day long.
• Clinton's best line when taking credit for the economy: "If you want to live like a Republican, vote like a Democrat".
• Joe Lieberman's best line when poking fun at the Republican National Convention: " We may be near Hollywood, but not since Tom Hanks won an Oscar has there been that much acting in Philadelphia."
• Al Gore's best line: None.
• Hillary Clinton may be the worst public speaker in America.
• If the presidential election was based upon the candidate's daughters, Karenna Gore Schiff would sway my vote. 
• I consider myself willing to jump into any fray, but there's no way in the world I would have been outside the convention hall on Monday night when the "protesters" were holding a concert by Rage Against the Machine.
• Caroline Kennedy, it seems, walks like a guy.
• For as much as the Democrats have cleaned up their image, they are still not smart enough to keep Ted Kennedy off of the stage.
• I had forgotten what a thick southern accent Jimmy Carter has. Since today's presidential candidates must be as generic as possible, I'm not sure we'll ever have such a "regional" president again.
• Did you see that kiss between Tipper and Al Gore immediately before his speech?