I say FAKE. There are just a few too many, heavy-handed "Ivy League school" references, not to mention "high-profile artist, athlete, investment-banker" nods.

It could just be that the author's a shitty writer--I hope so. The only other reasonable theory is: bullshit!

The more contributors Salon puts on each blog, the lower the bar. It's a shame.

Truly, a very impressive performance. I honestly can't think of a single thing I'd have changed. To cap it off with the daughters and the video feed of dad was perfect! I actually agree with something Chris Williams said re: the speech's efficacy: "...the reachable were reached." I think that's all one can ever ask for.

@lateagain--yes, WTF with Juan Williams??? I've not been able to stand a second of that man ever since he brought his exploitational style of interviewing to Ray Suarez's chair on TOTN all those years ago. But, he definitely choked up and was obviously proud and moved by Mrs. Obama's speech. (type Juan Williams Michelle Obama into the search field on YouTube--I found it right away.)

Yes, the laying pipe reference was priceless! Also loved McCain last night saying Palin, having "worked hard with her hands and "nose", knows..."

Since she's from Alaska, I had a feeling that that wasn't a real tan on her nose!

Getting around to Salon much later today than usual. I agree with those who question Dr. Parikh's use of the word hypocritical. A much more potent way to point it out was displayed by the Daily Show and Samantha Bee on last night's show!

Here's my question. My wife was convinced after the third shot of Trig in Bristol's/Husband's arms that they had given the baby something to calm it throughout the speech. I was vehemently against this theory. That is, until everyone got on stage and the INFANT was just as lethargic and quiet as it had been for the entirety of the speech.

Do DS children have lower energy and are they less likely to be restless or fussy than "normal" children? I've got two (now 10 and 7) and when they were that age chances of them sleeping and being chill for the totality of a large, energetic, social event were slim and none.

Did they drug the kid to keep him photo-op ready the whole night through? Or are DS kids just low energy?

I'd really like an informative answer on this!!!

Understanding how someone could find comfort and direction in the modern-day GOP is crazy-difficult for me.

Even more mind-bending: undecideds. What sort of person is truly unsure of who to vote for after the shit-storm we've been living in for 8 years.

Seriously, if any of you are out there can you give me a reasonable answer as to why you can't figure out who to vote for I'd love to hear it.

Your rules are changing because suddenly you have found Flatland to be utterly restrictive!

Congratulations! (I am so not being sarcastic.) Seriously.

But as if that isn’t ecstatic enough, you also voiced this in the pages of Salon!!!!:

“The role of the left in this travesty is almost too painful to contemplate just yet.”

This is exactly the sort of self-searching everyone left of Far Right must commence post-haste! Your attachment of 9-11 to the feeling of dread is right on. Should McCain/Palin win this election the long-term consequences to this nation, I believe, will be possibly more catastrophic than that horrible day.

I believe you fail to take it far enough though. You speak of the media and DNC’s role in this election cycle as the shameful act. We must understand that it goes all the way back to the advent of Identity Politics. We, the Left, created this beast! It was useful for a while, but that time is long past. Unless we learn its weaknesses, create powerful alternatives and implement them in the public square, liberal/progressive causes will continue to rot!

As fantastic as the diversity of viewpoints and populations within the progressive movement is, we must never forget that as Identity groups none of us can remotely touch the socially conservative, Christian group in political power or in numbers. Not even close! They are the definition of hegemony.

As long as we continue to identify first with our group and split off from the movement as a whole--even as Feminists, we seriously run the risk of throwing another election away.

The left will be paralyzed as leaders if we don’t quickly come to terms with and get over the role WE’VE played in allowing the travesty of the recent past. We can't continue to campaign the same way (perhaps why Clinton fell in the primaries?), nor can we govern the same way. FDR; JFK; LBJ; WJC? That’s been done. NEW leadership is called for and that doesn’t mean a “new leader” it means a new style and philosophy of leading.

The kinds of questions you raise here are the kinds of questions we should all be asking ourselves in this critical time.

Thank you.