Democratic Convention Watch 2008 - Jimmy Carter

I'm watching what I can of the convention this week. That is to say that I'm not stopping the other activities in my life to watch every minute of this thing. But when I'm here, I'll be watching and writing.

The missus and I love the PBS coverage of political pep rallies. It's all a hubbub already, so who needs the screaming pundits. We like the Jim Lehrer, Gwen Ifill, and Shields and Yarnell (a.k.a. Mark Shields as the liberal voice and David Brooks as the safe conservative), and I don't mind telling you that the geek in me enjoys the hell out of those historians who put it all in a context.

The PBS coverage is not terribly slick. Lots of "uhs" and sound problems, and it makes me feel good about their focus on content over fancy graphics. Of course, they don't have budgets for all that fancy stuff.

The first bit I caught on TV was an interview with Jimmy Carter. Boy, he sure does make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Even with a popped blood vessel in his eye, he exuded goodness.

I was four years old in 1976 when Jimmy Carter ran for president against Gerald Ford. I loved Jimmy Carter. I even had a smiling peanut keychain. I wish I knew where that damned thing was today. I had it surprisingly recently, but couldn't find it when I did a search a couple of years ago.

My parents didn't understand why a four year old would love a presidential candidate so much, but I loved him. I fucking loved him, even before I knew how to say fucking.

Even today, I get all goosepimply when I see that smile on TV talking about the issues I care most about too. The man builds a shitload of houses, he hands out medicine in Africa, he has lust in his heart!

Jimmy Carter is the best damned ex-president we've got.