By SARAH VOWELL
Published: September 6, 2008

FORMER Senator Fred Thompson, in his folksy and entertaining speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday night, described his party’s presidential nominee as such a rule-breaking scamp that for a minute there I thought he was nominating Tom Sawyer for president instead of John McCain. When Mr. Thompson described Senator McCain’s progression from Naval Academy cut-up to war hero, all I could think about was a ne’er-do-well West Point cadet bound for military distinction, Ulysses S. Grant.

In the 1868 presidential election, when the American people voted for Grant, the greatest war hero of the 19th century, they had no inkling they had just chosen one of our worst presidents, a largely clueless chief executive who allowed corruption to flourish in his administration and who offered pretty much zero leadership during the depression known as the Panic of 1873.

I am not merely pointing out that military fortitude does not necessarily lead to presidential wisdom — sometimes it does. The nation’s capital that the Republican Party loathes so much is named after one such gentleman. My point is way more obvious and disquieting. No matter how much we voters know about a candidate, the truth is we never can tell what kind of president he’ll be.

Despite his consistent party-line voting record, some independents and Democrats still think of Senator McCain as the most palatable, independent-minded Republican. But this is the sort of empty compliment a friend of mine once compared to being called “the coolest Osmond.”

I had a great time at DC overall, i hit a few snags driving there but once I finally got there and settled in, things were good
I was just waondering what was up with the walk of fame this year? Is it me or did the celebs seem to be chraging a lot more? Also I think it was JCB's people that were charging $20.00 just to take a picture with them and $30.00 for the auto, is it me or does that seem excessive? When I was in there they had the ;east amount of people waiting to see them. Also I know before some did not pose for photos, but you could at least take pics, I saw many with no camera signs areound and they had someone watching to make sure you did not even take your camera out. What was that about? The BG guys were all great and were taking pictures with people, but many others would not. Just wondering what others think.