Imagine the clouds dripping.Dig a hole in your garden to put them in.

"...I teared up before Giffords began to form her first word. Assisted by her close friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairman of the National Democratic Committee, the former congresswoman walked across the stage with a slow and awkward yet determined gait. Her entrance illuminated her slow, agonizing and halting recovery from a lunatic's bullet to her brain in January 2011.

As she spoke, her words occasionally slurring, her face was focused yet beaming. It was the most powerful Pledge of Allegiance I've ever witnessed — made more so by her unflinching loyalty to a nation in whose service she was fatefully wounded. In an era of unabashed cynicism toward politicians and hearty skepticism toward the very notion of public service, she was a stirring reminder of the enduring power of unselfish citizenship and genuine patriotism.

And, yes, I meant "patriotism."

This is an age of showy but insubstantial affectations of love of country — of flag-waving, medal-counting and boastful, heedless pronouncements of American "exceptionalism." The most hawkish of arm-chair generals (John McCain, excepted) are those least likely to have actually served in uniform, and the binding thread of democracy — a notion of the common good — is being cut to shreds by the demented hyper-individualism of an egomaniac named Ayn Rand.

But Giffords reminded me that there are still many Americans — and that includes Duckworth and other veterans we saw last week — who reflect an uplifting and exclusive vision of democracy. They embrace the notion of a common good, of a citizenship that gives as well as receives, of public service as a moral calling."


excerpt from cynthia tucker's write-up on gabby giffords. i have a huge IP test next week...but i cant stop reading about the DNC! and now i just want to read about ayn rand...what did she do to american politics???