I haven't blogged anything about the Democratic Convention this week, mainly, I think, because I've been watching most of it slack-jawed in amazement: The message, it seems, is that the grown-ups are finally back in charge of the party, and I couldn't be happier. As much as I disliked the prospect of George W. Bush's election -- I managed to vote against him twice in 2000, in Virginia's open Republican primary and then in the general election -- and the circumstances under which he took office, the antics of Bush's critics for the past three and a half years have, on the whole, been downright embarassing. It seemed for all that time that liberals had ratcheted up their outrage to 11 before Bush was even nominated and proceeded to scream like Steve Carell's character in Anchorman that anything Bush did was The Worst Thing Ever Done By The Worst Person Who Ever Lived: Bush's selection of Cheney was unconstitutional because Cheney switched his residency from Texas to Wyoming! Bush is arguing over the debate schedule because he can't read! The recount made it even worse: his brother is governor of Florida and his cousin works at Fox! His father appointed the Supreme Court! (Which is true, if by "Supreme Court" one means "two Justices, one of whom voted with the majority in favor of Bush and one of whom did not.")

That fever pitch of hysteria had the unfortunate effect of making most criticism of Bush, even the more serious brand of if, seem less serious and worth bothering with. Legitimate criticisms of policy got drowned out by insanity like the assertion that Bush wears an earpiece through which he's given his "instructions."

Thankfully, little of that was on display in Boston this week; instead of Moorian lunacy, we got measured, serious, sober criticisms of Bush's record, strong declarations of the need to win the war on terror, and a willingness to reach out to undecided, everyday Americans instead of party activists and elites.

And, dear God, how ling until Barak Obama can run? That was beautiful, especially his demolition of the "red state, blue state" nonsense we've been subjected to since 2000.

I realize this is all painfully vague and rambling. William Saletan at Slate has more in the way of details and a beautiful meditation on last night's presentation of Kerry himself and his war record. Bottom line: I'm no longer embarassed to be a Democrat, and I hope I can continue to say that as this campaign continues.