Finally. A Leader With a Big Brain and a Voice Like Butter.

Plot and Duck sat around the TV last night, eating their supper and watching Barack Obama accept the nomination for President and give a speech that, although it will convince nobody who is not already convinced, had elements of greatness in it. It wasn't a perfect speech. He's not a perfect man. But this is the one person who has an opportunity to create a brand new kind of country. He may not pull it off. But he may. He has a chance.

What does a President do, really? He inspires people. He pulls legislators from his party into the Congress on his coat tails. He convinces overseas leaders not to try too many funny tricks. He is the emblem that we display around the world, that says: This is who we are. This is how we feel. This is how we behave.

For eight years, half the American people (and more, if you believe the stories finally emerging about the failed voting machines in the Midwest) have had to grit our teeth and say: "Sorry. I didn't vote for that numbskull. He's not my leader. That's not my America."

But here's the thing: At the same time, the other half of America has looked at George Bush and said: "Well, maybe he hasn't done a perfect job, but it's still better than a Democrat would have done."

Lee Iacocca, who was President of Chrysler in the 1980s, once wrote that the best endorsement for a new car always comes from people who have owned the car for 30 days. They can't admit they made a mistake, because the 30 day Free Return warranty has passed, so they've convinced themselves they got a steal and bought the perfect vehicle. Sell 'em a Valiant, give 'em 30 days, and they'll think they've purchased a Rolls Royce.

This is where we are right now in America, despite five amazing speeches at the Democratic Convention, by Michele Obama, Ted Kennedy, Hillary and Bill Clinton and by Obama himself. Most of the Blue half is excited about change, and most of the Red half cannot admit to themselves that they made a terrible choice, despite what they teach their own children -- that if you work hard and do well you will be rewarded and if you don't or can't do the job you deserve to let someone new try. The thirty day warranty has been expired for almost eight years, but they will vote for a Republican candidate again.

The country is in worse shape than anyone younger than 90 can remember. Still, most Republicans will not vote for Obama. John McCain just nominated a former runnerup for Miss Alaska for Vice President! Can anyone believe this? She'd be one heartbeat away from the Presidency of a man who is 72 years old. Competence? Pshaw, it's overrated. And still, most Republicans will not find it possible to pull the lever to vote for a Democrat.

So Barack and Michele and his kids may win and they may lose. That's the way it is. There will be many pundits punditing and pollsters pollstering and in the end the election will be close. At the very end, the government will announce some terror threat or a pullback of a few troops or they'll get the oil companies to lower gas prices a dime or two a gallon, and the election will get even closer.

This is all to be expected, and both parties pull the same tricks. The only thing that matters to The Great Plotnik, right now, is that in August of 2008 he feels proud of his country. He is inspired again. He is hopeful again. He sees someone running for president whose daddy doesn't run an oil company, whose parents are not Harvard bluebloods, who has not lived his entire life on the inside of privilege. He can inspire us, if we care to be inspired. He can imbue us with confidence. Above all, he has the personal experience to understand the world as it is. So he can try...at least try...to right a few of the wrongs that stain us, confuse us and ultimately divide us.

Barack Obama is not Jesus folks. He's just a man. Let's get to work. Over and out.