One of the convention happenings I like best is the roll call of states. I enjoy seeing the individual delegates crowd around the ones who are going to (finally) announce the votes for the candidates from each state. For the most part, these appear to be average American citizens having a brief appearance on TV for the folks back home.

Can you imagine Vladimir Putin allowing such a show to be put on in Russia? Much less a Chinese or North Vietnamese leader. Actually trusting the election of a leader to the people?

I’m not suggesting that our politics are pure as the driven snow—but surely we’ve done something right when our system allows Jane and John Doe to play an active part in the party politics that elects the candidates.

Rough and tumble, uncertain, just pure Americana.