You know the cliche that politics is Hollywood for ugly people, ... Political conventions are sort of showmanship for people whose idea of great entertainment is the Gridiron. If you think the Gridiron is equal to Radio City Music Hall in its heyday, then you'll probably find the conventions somewhat entertaining.

The religio-hucksterism surrounding the Schiavo case makes DeMille's Hollywood crusades look like amateur night. This circus is the latest and most egregious in a series of cultural shocks that have followed Election Day 2004, when a fateful exit poll question on 'moral values' ignited a take-no-prisoners political grab by moral zealots.

Washington is Hollywood for ugly people.

Politics is show business for ugly people.

Politics is just show business for ugly people.

She was an ugly little duckling — she wasn't ugly but she was a little duckling with terrible costumes, dirty skates, awkward and no spirals. To see her turn into a rock star in skating... and make a transformation from a duckling into a swan, that was probably the most exciting thing about her.