Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki seems to have the upper hand in the ongoing negotiations with the Bush administration. The talks continue, in an attempt to hammer out an agreement for U.S. troops to operate in Iraq after the United Nations framework expires at the end of this year. Upon reflection, it's easy to see why Maliki is getting stronger in this diplomatic tug-of-war, and Bush is getting weaker -- because the clock is running out on Bush, and because Bush's domestic popularity continues to fall while Maliki is using the international media to boost his own popularity with the voters in Iraq.

A quick review of how Bush and Maliki got to where they currently are is necessary to understand the dynamics of the diplomatic game of "chicken" they are playing. Last year, Maliki and Bush announced that they were going to enter negotiations for two agreements (for simplicity's sake, these are jointly referred to here as a "Status Of Forces Agreement" or "SOFA") which would create a legal framework for U.S. forces to remain in Iraq after the U.N. mandate expires at the end of 2008. Both sides agreed that they wanted a bilateral agreement to move beyond that point, and that continuing the U.N. status quo wasn't the best way to go.

Bush, at this time, asserted that he didn't need the Senate to vote on such an agreement, since (by his definition) it isn't a "treaty." Democrats in the Senate don't exactly agree with this assessment, but that is a side issue here. The draft SOFA was supposed to be finalized by the end of July, which would give the Iraqi Parliament time enough to debate and approve it by the end of this year.

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Sarah Palin has already singlehandedly introduced several terms into our political lexicon. "Hockey mom" is probably the most recognizable of these. "Troopergate" will become more and more known in the next few weeks. But today, I would like to personally add to this growing body of terms the Alaskan governor has spawned:

Moose poop.

The Republicans, in their "meet Sarah Palin" video, have helpfully provided the image to go along with this new term:

This image, it should be noted, has not been altered in any way, shape, or form.

So before we begin, let's define our new term:

moose poop (n.) -- (1) Synonym for "bullshit," esp. when used to describe falsehoods coming out of Sarah Palin's mouth, or indeed any Republican in the 2008 election. (2) Genteel term for the scat or feces of alces alces (North American moose). See also: moose shit. Usage: (1) I see Sarah Palin's spouting the same old moose poop. (2) Watch your step, there's some moose poop on the trail here.

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So, after our new marathon-style two weeks of conventions, you'll forgive me if I'm a little exhausted from the whole thing. I promise, postings here will return to our normal schedule next week, instead of jotting things down whenever I pry myself from the television set.

After witnessing John McCain's acceptance speech tonight, the last event in the Republican Convention, I have to wonder: that was it? Wow.

I mean, McCain gave a good speech. It was a fine speech, for McCain. Even if he did appear in front of the lime green background for the first part of it. Even if it was interrupted a few times by protestors. And even though he's a Republican, and I disagree with almost everything that comes out of his mouth. For McCain, not known for his TelePrompTer acuity, it was actually a pretty well-delivered speech.

But, seriously, that was it?

Barack Obama should immediately start hammering McCain for not addressing the needs of the middle class once in their entire convention. "McCain just doesn't get it" should become a rallying cry for Obama and Biden from now on.

Because McCain obviously doesn't get it.

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"Oh, I just think I'm gonna barf...."
-- Marge Gunderson (Francis McDormand), from Fargo

I open today with that Fargo quote for many reasons. The first of which, it's funny. As a matter of fact, it's so funny I think I'll make it the title of this piece, as well. The second of which, I think Fargo DVDs are going to be selling like hotcakes after Sarah Palin's speech tonight. Because, thirdly, this would be the perfect quote for Palin to use. Sarah Palin (I really hope Republican speechwriters aren't reading this) has a very similar accent to Margie in Fargo, and references are inevitably going to be made... so she could get out in front of it, and indeed turn such references to her advantage.

Of course, if Sarah Palin did use this quote, it would be to illustrate her feelings towards the media. And there isn't a doubt in my mind that the Republican crowd would eat it up like Minnesota pasties.

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This is going to be a disjointed column today, since political events are flying so fast and thick.

To begin with, it would have been nice in all the overwhelming hurricane coverage, and McCain coverage, and Bush coverage, and hurricane coverage, and Katrina coverage repeats, and more hurricane coverage from the television network news to have pointed out exactly where Bush and McCain were when Katrina hit three years ago. Journalists are supposed to take disparate storylines and tie them together, and this one is already tied up in a nice bow, just waiting for them to use on television. There's even a photo, direct from the White House website:

Can some news show please run this photo? This is not rocket science, folks.

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[Note: I'm not going to get into the Palin baby story, as I personally am waiting to see how it plays out. So if you're looking for that sort of thing, don't bother reading any further.]

Before I get to Sarah Palin, I just have to point something out here first. John McCain is trying to score points off his party's restraint in postponing and toning down their convention out of deference to Hurricane Gustav, but there's a big fat steaming dose of hypocrisy here that the mainstream media is refusing to point out. Here's John McCain last Sunday on Fox News -- "it wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster." Chris Wallace asked him about the convention again, and mentioned Katrina. McCain again responded: "I think, again, we don't want to appear in any way festive when you have that kind of tragedy possibly revisiting itself on the city of New Orleans and areas around it."

Now, from the White House website itself, the picture worth 10,000 words which puts this entire "we feel your pain" lie to the ultimate test. Here are George W. Bush and John McCain -- on the exact same day Katrina hit New Orleans -- celebrating what looks to me like the "festive occasion" of John McCain's birthday. Again, this was the day that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

Please, someone in the mainstream media, please point this out. It's called "journalism."

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I know that just about the entire blogosphere is talking about John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin (who?) for his running mate, but I, for one, refuse to let John McCain distract me from writing about Barack Obama's acceptance speech last night, given to a cheering throng of 84,000 in Denver's football stadium (I refuse to use corporate names for stadiums... stadia?... until they start paying me directly for doing so... hmmph).

Obama gave one humdinger of a speech. I fully expected him to, as everyone (even his opponents) acknowledges that this is his strongest point. So a humdinger of a speech was exactly what I expected, and Obama certainly delivered one.

What I did not expect, and what personally blew me away, was that this was one of the best speeches I've ever heard any Democrat give, because it shows that someone in the party has finally -- finally! -- learned from some typical (and chronic) Democratic mistakes from times past.

In other words, Obama showed with this speech that he does indeed "get it."

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As I've said, this convention is being directed by a maestro -- slow and warm at first, then a big resounding call for unity, and now, on Day 3, some red meat to the crowd. Tonight should be absolutely stunning, that's all I can say, because the "build" has gone swimmingly well.

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Continuing my scattered thoughts on the Democratic Convention. Day 2 was all about Hillary Clinton, and women, and the 88th anniversary of women achieving the right to vote, and women party leaders, and voting for women. And Hillary Clinton.

That might sound snide, but I assure you it's not. For all the breast-beating and garment-rending that took place over whether Barack Obama was "being pushed around" by the Clintons, or that they were "making unreasonable demands," I never doubted for a moment that the Clintons -- both of them -- would rise to the occasion and deliver a great speech. And I also have faith that Obama's campaign team, which so far has been exemplary at stage managing, would orchestrate a unified and supportive convention. If Obama had run a terrible campaign, I might have been worried a bit, but that was simply not the case.

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On second thought, maybe that should be "conventional thoughts." Hmm. Or "un-conventional thoughts" perhaps? Well, it's certainly not "conventional wisdom," no matter how you define the term.

Ahem.

Overdosing on convention coverage has meant the normal and clocklike schedule of posts here has been knocked somewhat awry. I apologize for that, but as an excuse I have to say that I don't have any overarching Big Idea things to say about the Democratic National Convention, just a bunch of somewhat-disjointed thoughts. So I guess I'd better revert to three-dot journalism to do them whatever justice they deserve...

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