what the F in JFK?

News story linked from the splash page: Sullen, Depressed President Retreats Into Private, Paranoid World, describes a tightening political circle around Bush, who is depicted as a “dry drunk” who is on strong anti-depressants. Of course, it’s attributed to staff members and officials who will only make these statements “privately” but it’s an interesting read, nonetheless, and if true would certainly make a lot of other things add up in ways they currently do not. The only way this story gets legs is if someone goes on the record, and that would lead to swift political retribution. Log away in the “things that make you go hmmmmmm” category.

Meanwhile, it’s John Kerry’s big night in Boston and I can’t stop feeling a bit uneasy. The scripting of this convention and the run-up to Kerry’s acceptance speech has set huge expectations. Basically, if he doesn’t hit the proverbial home run, it’s going to be a disappointment. I fear it’s not a wise strategy because Kerry is not anywhere near the most dynamic or personable speaker in this political party. The Democrats are projecting unprecedented unity and are staying on message. I just think the message should be credibility, compassion and intellect as opposed to a shining beacon of strength and hope.

Barack Obama’s keynote speech Tuesday night is probably the highlight of the convention so far, but it’s a toss-up with Bill Clinton’s address. Obama is that good. Obama is so good, in fact, that John Edwards used a passage from Obama’s speech nearly word for word (that part about we’re not White America, or Black America, or Latino America, or Asian America … we’re the United States of America). Obama wrote his own speech and delivered it a night before Edwards. More hmmmm. Overall, I thought Edwards came across a little too contrived. But I’ve never been an Edwards fan, so my perception is somewhat tainted. I am a fan of Teresa Heinz Kerry and I loved what she had to say, but she’ll be a hard sell in this campaign. Maybe she’s better in smaller groups, but to some people (for instance: my neighbors, my parents) she acts as though she is talking AT them and not talking WITH them — not the type of image you should project as an opinionated, multi-millionaire philanthropist. And the space-age ambassador dress didn’t help.

Finally, how well do the Democratic convention delegates know their presidential candidate? Unless you’re a convention junkie, you probably missed this, but it’s very telling that Anybody But Bush is the real nominee of this party: during the roll call for the official nomination last night, well after Edwards’ speech was over and after most cable and network coverage had ceased (I still had CSPAN on), two delegations (I think it was Nevada and Utah) cast their votes for John “Fitzgerald” Kerry and poor Walter Mondale cast Minnesota’s presidential votes for John Edwards (he was quickly corrected). It’s John Forbes Kerry, folks … and he’s the one you nominated for president last night. Tonight we’ll see if he can fill the awfully big pair of shoes you’ve placed behind the Democratic podium.