End of Summer – midway between conventions

Today is Labor Day 2012, the unofficial end of Summer 2012. The undergrads are back here in Blacksburg in full force and VT’s first home football game is tonight, where the Hokies will be taking on (and undoubtedly defeating) the Yellow Jackets of the Georgia Institute of Technology. We are also at the fuzzy midway point between the conventions of the two major political parties.

Last week, we were treated to a theater of the absurd from the Republican side, topped off with an avant-garde performance of Gran Torino – I mean, an angry old man yelling at an empty chair. I can only hope that the Democrats have an equally absurd showing. They could get Martin Sheen and Susan Sarandon responding to Mr. Eastwood’s performance via interpretative dance. Maybe Michael Moore will be foaming at the mouth.

In any case, I’m sure it will be another joke of a…