finally, here is the analysis of what happened last night --what Lakoff calls "Red Meat night"..*grin*....he uses the opportunity to differentiate between "spin" "framing", which are both sort of legitimate tools for a political party, and pure 'distortion', which is NOT.

Zell Miller and Dick Cheney both indulged in ALL of these last night.

There is a difference between feeling that you have the best party, the best ideas, and the best plan---and feeling that you have some sort of pre-destined 'holy mission' and MUST win. The Islamic extremists defend terrorism this way, and the Republicans are VERY close to using and defending outright lies and distortions for similar reasons. It did not take much listening to Elizibeth Dole proclaiming her faith in the same sentences as she touted the leadership of G.W. to realize that 'separation of church & state' is a weakened concept these days. Ms. Dole said "..we are guaranteed freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion." ...............I'm sorry, Ms. Dole, but if those who do not care to practice a religion cannot do so without pressure and intimidation, then freedom is an empty word.