The Democratic convention is in full swing which, through Herculean effort, we will not use as a set up for a joke involving nooses. Oh sure, it would be funny – but (to quote Richard Nixon) “it would be wrong, that’s for sure.”

Especially since one of the opening evening’s speakers was Michelle Obama, the wife of our nation’s first half-white black president, there to give a ringing endorsement to Hillary Clinton – the wife of our nation’s first all-white black president.

Choosing, as ever, to take the high road, Michelle whined for the umpteenth time that she wakes up each day in a house built by slaves – which she apparently finds more upsetting than having her pricey wardrobe, dozens of personal “assistants,” and luxury 5-star vacations paid for by slaves.

Still, the first lady’s presence and well-toned bare arms helped take the spotlight off the previously scheduled woman who suddenly found herself in the doghouse…

Hilariously, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was booed out of her own event, taken off the speaking schedule, and forced to resign as head of the DNC after leaked emails proved that the DNC was in collusion with Hillary’s campaign to burn the Bern and rig the Democratic primaries.

As a bonus, the leaked emails also made coarse remarks about “homos,” referred to Latinos collectively as the “taco bowl,” mocked the names of black people, documented myriad dirty tricks, and showed an unbelievable level of incestuous contact with the news media.

As a result of this still-breaking scandal, the DNC has announced that they’re launching an internal investigation to determine how the emails got leaked (as opposed to apologizing for tasteless, immoral, and possibly criminal behavior), and the thoroughly disgraced and disgraceful Wasserman-Schultz has suddenly been made the honorary chair of Hillary’s presidential campaign. As the old saying goes, “no bad deed will go unrewarded.”

Meanwhile, the convention presses on, with hopes that the tension between the supporters of Sanders and Clinton can be quelled by the soothing presence of “The Great Unifier,” Joe Biden…

But of course, not all of the political news is about Democrats. So let us turn our eyes and ears elsewhere…

Yikes! How did that happen?! Sabotage by Vladimir Putin?! We’ll certainly launch an immediate internal investigation into the horrible joke above, although we’re guessing it will prove to be extreme carelessness rather than intentional wrongdoing.

Actually, we were trying to go to our Hope n’ Change field reporter, Fred Ciampi,  for his exclusive on-the-spot coverage of Donald Trump’s latest town hall meeting in Roanoke, Virginia. Take it away, Fred…

Well, I went to Trump’s town hall in Roanoke yesterday. After driving 65 miles we got to stand in the 92 degree sun for about 3 hours. Then the doors opened and we were inside in less than an hour. Thankfully, the Roanoke police and sheriff’s department did a masterful job of keeping all 20 protesters about two blocks away. The newsniks and their TV cameras took shots from about 87 different  angles of the protesters to make it look as if there were 17 million of them. They also interviewed the protesters in depth.

After we got in we sat down in nice padded chairs that were made for skinny people and waited for two more hours. Someone sang the National Anthem, then we all said the Pledge of Allegiance. Nowhere could I see anyone standing around with their arms crossed or looking at their cell phone during these activities.

A preacher gave a good spiel, some big bald guy said something, then Pence, and then Donald Trump. All the talking lasted for about an hour. Then The Donald took about five questions and left. Oh, I think I know why Pence was picked for the Veep spot; of all the choices, he has the best looking ‘executive’ hair.

With my 92% hearing loss I couldn’t understand a word anyone said but just being there was worth the trip. So, all in all, I got to witness a part of history yesterday. Then I went home and had a beer. 

Thank you, Fred. You earned that beer – and just maybe a Pulitzer for Hope n’ Change!

This article is republished with permission from our friend Stilton Jarlsberg at Hope n’Change