Soon the president will be elected Survivor style.  Americans are so dramatic, in general, that it will be much easier for them to grok selecting the commander and chief by who is the last one to not get voted off the island.

IN the end, what anyone says about his theatrics will not sway many votes.  His theatrics either will sway for or will sway against.  It is what each sees in them.

The talking heads are just being dishonest (as usual) in not saying they are telling you what they want you to see, not what was seen.

I don't 'begrudge' him anything - it helped me understand what he really thinks of himself (and me).  My initial impressions were confirmed.

It seems to me that presidential elections have pretty much been popularity and beauty contests and short on issues. 

That's a bit of a tough conclusion to draw from the last 2 Presidential campaigns, the more recent one even moreso.

Issues that count, not sail gliding and national special privilege for the national guard. In 2000, it was a "uniter not a divider" and invading one's space in a debate.

  (I like that one)

Invading one's space?  Was that the Hillary campaign?

How many of those costed $5 million for the one speech?  That was above and beyond what the DNC convention cost in the first place.  I don't begrudge Obama his moment in the sun, in fact, I say he deserves to bask a bit in the warmth of beating Hillary at her own game.  But I do wonder why he couldn't give his speech and let it stand on its own merits... especially since it was a really great speech.

In the end though, More people tuned in to see McCain and Palin so the $5 million was pretty much wasted. 

As is the idea that hundreds of thousands of Europeans turning up to watch a speech by an American pretender means that European relations would be better under said pretender. Yet liberals delight in trying to push this.

Actually no, I dont.  I remember the Republican walking over to Hillary in 2k and being accused of it.  Guess I missed the al gore one.

Even in our ignorance?