[NormsRevenge]

First lady Laura Bush addresses the delegates at the Republican National Convention Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, in New York. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

[NormsRevenge]

[mtntop3]

First-class speech by the First Lady, which covered some serious and necessary topics in an appealing, warm, low-key, and highly effective manner. Laura Bush is even prettier by the day.

The daughters didn't do badly. Although perhaps not as sophisticated (and listless) as Kerry's, they have a freshness and exuberance which would make them (or would have made them) for many of us the choice for a date.

[Delta 21]

Outstanding job by the First Lady.

She passed on some very moving and powerful images that are the bread and butter to traditional America.

GOD bless her. We need her and W in the Whitehouse for a few more years.

[fire_eye]

Someone commented that Laura spent a good deal of time praising her husband, while Terroresa spent very little.

That's when it struck me... there's a profound difference between the two conventions (Everybody get ready to say "Well, DUUUH...").

Even apart from any specifics of politics or issues, the Republicans - without exception, as far as I can tell - come across in a positive manner, reflecting a commitment to a set of values, or an agenda, or whatever - you name it - whereas the Demonrats - again without exception - seem to be entirely negative, focused only on criticizing Bush and the state of affairs in America.

I know this has been getting pointed out, in that the Demonrats don't have anything *to* stand for, or that they're only motivated by dissatisfaction and hatred, etc. - but what struck me today is that taken as a whole the Demonrat convention and the Kerry campaign generally, just come across as one prolonged loud **Whine**, while Bush and his supporters actually lay out a program, a vision for the future, and some optimism about being able to carry it forward.

Again, I'm stressing that this difference in appearances is independent of the issues - and if I were, God forbid, a Demonrat, I'd be really, really, REALLY worried.