Fist bump

Three speeches: good, bad, and ugly

The Ugly

McCain was pathetic, reading stiltingly from one teleprompter screen to the other, standing before a green wall and to a listless, all-white audience. He repeated parts of it, obviously getting lost despite the teleprompter. He thought he had a clever idea with his "that's not change we can believe in" catchphrase, but his forced uncomfortable smile after he recites it is just creepy. I may begin to feel sorry for him early -- if it weren't for the dark and dangerous forces playing tug-of-war with his candidacy.

The Bad

Clinton's speech would have been a good one were not for the circumstances. Being introduced as the next President of the United States, while commonplace in a contested race, is quite awkward moments after one's opponent has clinched the nomination. Clinton focused on herself and her accomplishments, not in celebration or congratulations to her supporters, but as justification for continuing the fight.

The Good

The energy from the crowd fueled it, and the candidate showed he understood the historical context of the moment. But Obama did not focus on that; instead he spoke graciously and effusively of his competitors, praising Mrs. Clinton extensively and jabbing a little at his fall opponent. Most importantly he offered a rallying cry, not just to his supporters but to America as a whole.

On to the nominating conventions and the fall campaign. At last.

Michael Skelly, Kathleen Sebelius, and Wesley Clark

Potentially the next Vice-President of the United States appeared in Houston this week with the next US Congressman from my home district ...

U.S. Rep. John Culberson's Democratic challenger harvested some political power at the international wind power convention here Monday.

Michael Skelly, a wind power executive, is co-chairing the American Wind Energy Association convention, and some attendees also contributed to his campaign at a Monday fundraising event.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a former Democratic presidential candidate, were the magnets at the campaign function. They are also featured speakers at the alternative energy convention.

It's pretty much over for Cumbersome at this point. He simply cannot compete with Skelly for media attention, money, or even influence. An incumbent Republican Congressman, tied still to Tom DeLay and the failures of the Bush administration, who cannot raise money and can't get any free media without ridicule.

It's almost sad to see. But not quite.

(Hat tip to Kuffner for much more detail than I can get to.)