It's "Win It For Ted!!" Night in Denver

Michelle Obama is the featured ranter at tonight's session of the Democrat Convention, but the emotional highpoint for the party of emotions and feelings will be the "surprise" appearance of Sen. Ted Kennedy, who probably won't be looking too swell given his current battle with brain cancer. It's likely to be moving and shocking at the same time, and since the media are reporting his presence in Denver, it won't be that much of a surprise.

At some point either Kennedy or a surrogate like Tom Harkin will exhort the crowd to "WIN IT FOR TED!!", in much the same way Harkin screamed "WIN IT FOR PAUL" at the Paul Wellstone memorial political rally in 2002. Democrats can be shamelessly manipulated like that and will love it. To the rest of the country, however, it will appear profoundly creepy.

Kennedy's appearance really serves two purposes; 1. Honor a tired old warhorse of the liberal cause, and 2. Take the spotlight off of the Clintons who are threatening to dominate this event. Item #1 will be successful, #2 will not.