Dickerson

John Dickerson is doing an excellent job on 'Face the Nation.' Questions exceptionally sharp, and virtually no self-congratulation.

Trump's Speech vs. Clinton's Speech

-Trump's speech was a single, thin-skinned, sour, bitter boiled potato, hastily served on an undistinguished restaurant supply plate made at lowest cost in Bangladesh. The potato wobbles unsteadily on the plate as it is recklessly slammed on the table before you.

-The restaurant is a lonely diner dolled up with neon signs that have been long untended, the lights of letters blinking or completely out. It is nearly empty.

-Your waiter is Scott Baio.

-Clinton's speech was a rich beef stew, not a fancy ratatouille, but remarkable for the amount of careful planned work in cutting the vegetables just right, in their intelligent, well-planned choice, comprehensiveness, and balance, all you need to have an excellent meal, prepared with experience and care.

-It is served in an exceptionally well-planned, well-designed restaurant filled with people who come regularly as they enjoy its quality, extremely diverse and well-prepared menu, and consistency over the years.

-Your waitress is Katy Perry, and she sings to herself with happiness as she walks away from the table after delivering your food--she is content, and will be for a long while.

Michelle's Speech: Convention Day 1

Michelle's speech was powerful and moving, rousing the crowd and bringing them to their feet and to tears of recognition of the important task before us. 
 
She has always been an extraordinary speaker, moving people to action from those early days in the cold small rooms of Iowa, and shone like a light of human truth last night.  
 
It was a unified, electrified, moved, inspired crowd brought to their best by her words, authenticity, passion, and true caring for our national human fate--one that we cannot leave in the hands of a reckless, destructive, narcissistic gambler.

The Making of Melania's Convention Speech

Meredith sat down at her computer. She opened a document & began to peruse it.

All Melania had said was that she wanted something that would "Talk about what I do before, you know, the modeling, is hard work. Be sure to talk about the kids. Oh, and be sure show Donald respect! Lots of respect. And don't work too hard. He want good value, you know."

Where would she find it?

"Hmmm....Matt & John seem to have done a reasonably thorough job...Praise of Donald that is sufficiently grandiose not to offend him, yet leavened with a touch of humor so that he actually seems human..." "References to her college degree...best left unchecked, I think...referring to her caviar-infused cosmetic line as "the heart of the American entrepreneur," strike that..."

Now, she bears down to work. Opens Google.

"Modeling & Hard Work".

Hmmmm...Nothing useful there.

"Respect & Donald Trump"

Hm. Those articles aren't exactly...on point.

Meredith scratches her head. Pauses. Thinks.

"Respect and Value and Children and Presidency."

This, she laughed. The last thing they'd want:

"We were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond & you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity & respect, even if you don't agree with them. We set out to build lives guided by these values, & pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams & your willingness to work for them."

Melania's head jutted through the corniced golden doorway: "Donald want to know if you are finished yet? He say 15 minutes more, pay less."

With a decisive nod, Meredith scrolled over the text, clicked 'Copy' & clicked 'Paste.'

She looked at Melania breathlessly: "It's done."

"You got all in? Even big things?"

She responded with a widespread, gleaming smile: "Melania, it's perfect."

One difference

One difference between Trump and...certain dictators of the past, is that Trump has children.

It is clear that they have experienced the Trump ride, and I have no doubt that it has led to reports of their therapy sessions, and perhaps therapy itself.

He remains a near sociopathic actor in his remorseless pursuit.

But their family sphere--a narrow bubble, has a small area of non-narcissistic humanity.

Melania's Convention Speech

Melania takes the stage.  
 
(purses lips in Zoolander-like fashion)  
 
"It like parent always say. 'Ask not what Slovenia do for you. Ask what you do for Slovenia."  
 
Smiles, turns left, eyes display deer-in-headlights like terror.  
 
"My husband want unity for everybody. House divided not fall. Four scores and seven years before his father brought great, great nation. With all the liberty and propositioned 'All men be equal.' Not Mexicans. "  
 
Eyes shift from right to left, then narrow. Appears to be remembering something.  
 
"Only thing fear is the itself fear. Mr. President Obama, tear down this wall, so we put one up (smile). Speak soft, use big, big stick. Husband always give best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remembers, others may hate you. Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. Then you destroy yourself. Henry, will you pray with me. "  
 
Bows.  
 
('We Are the Champions' plays as she exits.)