On explaining the vice-presidential debates to a seven year old
The New York Times > Washington > Campaign 2004 > The Scene: Rivals Dig In, Draw Blood, Cede Nothing points out that the candidates were both white American Christian male millionaires.
Because I get bored from time to time and because kids do say the darndest things, I asked my friend's seven year old daughter if she was planning on watching the debates last night. She looked at me blankly for a beat or two and said, "No... what are those?"
So I found myself explaining what a vice president does as "he's the president's main helper" and that the other guy who also wants to be the presidents helper will argue on television. She said, "that doesn't sound very good." I had to agree.
An earlier conversation involving favorite colors produced this observation: "Well, I don't like white, but then I do because it blanks out stuff."
Cheney could be the biggest blanker-outer of them all.