I thought Michelle Obama was dignified, succinct, and to the point. Worshipper of Kipling’s “god of things as they are” that I am, however. I am always suspicious of people who talk about how things “ought to be.” Their idea of how things “ought to be” do not necessarily match mine, or anyone else’s.

I believe it is the job of politicians to deal with things as they are; dreamers should be more, umm, well distant from politics. (Go to YouTube, search for Duffy, and watch her “Distant Dreamer” video–the live version is especially stunning.)

Now the Senator, on the other hand, well–I almost teared up. You could see how much energy it was taking out of him just to be there, and if he was having trouble doing his old-style tub thumping, if he couldn’t keep up with the teleprompter at times. So what. His season’s about over, he’s playing out the string, it’s his last turn at bat. So, to quote and old Peter Allen lyric, “all that’s left of the singer’s all that’s left of the song. Stand for the ovation and give [him] one last celebration.”