James Madison on Romney

I've watched only snippets of the Republican convention. Tonight is the big night, the nomination of Mannequin "Mittly" Romney, but the Mittly fellow is up against a Giants game and a 49ers game, and Mittly is a dud. He won't get much of an audience in this house.

In any case, here is my impression to date. The Republicans have sent before us a lineup of clowns. Take Mrs. Mitt Romney (please). She lectured us on Love. Wow. Take Apeneck Ryan--he delivered a string of lies. Why do the TV dudes keep saying they like and respect this dull-eyed chimp? And John McCain wants war with six different countries? That's cock-brained nuttiness.

Our fourth President, James Madison, put his finger on a basic American problem.  In a discussion of political parties he noted that one party was (and is) composed of those who "are more partial to the opulent than to the other classes of society; and having debauched themselves into a persuasion that mankind are incapable of governing themselves, it follow with them, of course, that government can be carried on only by the pageantry of rank, the influence of money and emoluments and the terror of military force."