Hillary Clinton at Denver convention
(Photo courtesy, i.e. stolen, from Ron Edmonds of the AP)
Used to I thought all the interesting moments in world history had happened before my time. The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II, the `60's as a whole, it had all happened in some parallel universe. Now I was born into a time when things were on a more even-but-unremarkable keel. The biggest event that would happen in my lifetime would be the release of E.T.

But as the old Jesus Jones song said, I'm watching the world wake up from history right here, right now.

Earlier this week I wrote that Barack Obama's pick of Joe Biden as a vice presidential candidate made me limp. By-and-large the Democratic convention has done the same -- except for Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Maybe it's intentional, but the opening speakers at this convention have been painfully mundane. (The Democrats truly need me, and not for stuffing fliers under windshield wipers and knocking on people's doors when they're trying to eat dinner. They're undersupplied with good orators. Maybe I need to check in at a breakfast again soon.) But maybe they're keeping it low-key so as to save the real excitement for the top of the bill, and boy have Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton delivered!

Anyone who wasn't charmed by Michelle Obama's speech on Monday night is either made of granite or my dad. She depicted her family life growing up vividly, and seeing her mother's eyes misting up in the audience was really moving. She also lobbed a few "God bless Americas" in there for those who obsess over lapel pins and wave flags maniacally.

Then tonight, the Hillster. Hillary's game plan was obviously to go up there and make us eat our hearts out for what we passed up. Mission accomplished. If she had delivered speeches like that all along she might have been accepting the nomination tonight instead of urging her supporters to vote for Obama. Also, to anyone who doubts Bill really loves Hillary, they only needed to see the tears building to overflow in his eyes as she spoke. It's a weird relationship, to be sure, but there's something there. (Michelle's face still betrayed a bit of distaste for Hillary, I thought, but they handled each other with grace and class just the same.)

Yeah...Republicans...I can hardly wait to see Grandpa McCain get up there and talk about Vietnam for the 900,000,000 time with his botoxed princess at his side. That should be...damn...exciting...damn...zzzzz.

Are you ready to be steamrolled, Republicans?