with the great summary and analysis of the speech last night. Nice words for me in there too!

The only thing that really bothers me at this point is that things have sunk so low that in one breath a republican can say they mean to simplify the tax system and in the next few breaths propose no less than 6 new loopholes. And no one will call him on it.

over at Washington Monthly’s site, has posted a good round-up of reactions to “Zell Miller’s temper tantrum last night.” Lots of good opinions, but one very likely possibility that I haven’t read yet is that the whole thing last night was simply a set-up.

I believe, and we’ll all see just hours from now, that Bush may come out with some fire, but using very reasonable words and a very calm, “Presidential” demeanour, eschewing the fire and brimstone of last night to project an image of sanity, reason, and calm resolve. Underlying this will be the same strong “with-us-or-agin-us” rhetoric, the same vague pronouncements about how he wants everyone to be safe (and that the other guys do NOT care about that) and the rest of it. But it will be presented in a package that will be starkly contrasted with the bile we saw last night. Such a strategy wouldn’t be possible if they hadn’t pushed the envelope – which the speakers last night certainly did. Let’s just hope everyone doesn’t take the bait.

draws the comparison between two very different keynote speeches at this summer’s US Political conventions: Two Keynotes, Two Parties, Two Americas. Who’s the uniter and who’s the divider now?

on the RNC: And the gloves come off. In re: last night’s “venomous, scorched-earth, spittle-a-flyin’ screed” from Zell Miller.