Self-reverential

Night of the long knives at the Democratic Convention — Hillary Clinton asked her supporters, "Did you vote for me? Or did you vote for that bald headed woman?" She probably came as close as she ever will to falling on her sword for party unity.

Bill speaks tonight. Jimmy Carter's words may have been illuminating. Al Gore's message could have been a real podium pounder. Bill Clinton can be a study in contrasts. Where were we eight years ago, so close to the promised land? Where are we right now, after eight long years of wandering in the Republican wilderness? Bill's the celeb, not Barack. And as Michelle Wie noted some months ago, when she gave him that big personal check for Katrina victims, the best wood in Bill Clinton's golf bag is his pencil.

McCain does an ironic disservice to his own chances by incessantly reminding us TV rabbits what a celebrity Barack Obama is. Great things happen around the great man. Of course, then, Barack is great.

VIETNAM VET DOWN ON LUCK GOT ANY SPARE CHANGE?

And those P.O.W. pictures from the Hanoi Hilton? Makes you seem like a panhandler, John, showing off oozing wounds on your own tilted forehead for an ounce of pity.