Oscar Night in August

Was that the Republican National Convention I saw last night? Or the Oscars?

Watching Arnold awkwardly quote-drop from his own movies was painful enough. But seeing the Bush daughters giggle their way through an endless procession of inside jokes reminded me of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, three sheets to the wind, presenting the winner of the award for Best Sound Editing in a Foreign Animated Drama.

After that embarrassment--further proof that nepotism is still alive and well at Yale--it was comparatively heartwarming to see Laura Bush, everybody's Best Supporting Actress. And bless her, she has never had any aspirations to being Best Actress. Which, after all, is exactly the way the GOP likes their womenfolk.