This has been an election season of monumental simple-mindedness, in which the candidates start each day by telling us this is the most important election in the history of the planet, then devote the rest of their waking hours to meaningless sniping.

And don't forget about the fire and brimstone.

] President Bush was absolutely right when he said it was
] impossible to win a war against terrorism - it's like
] announcing we can win a war against violence. Terrorism
] can only be minimized and controlled, and that can be
] done only with a worldwide strategy, joined by all of the
] world's sensible and peaceful nations. We hope that when
] Mr. Bush accepts his party's nomination for re-election
] tonight, he makes that argument.
]
]
] The chances of a serious dialogue about terror took a
] blow, of course, when Mr. Bush retracted his completely
] sensible statement about terrorism after the
] Kerry-Edwards campaign attacked it. So far, this has been
] an election season of monumental simple-mindedness, in
] which the candidates start each day by telling us this is
] the most important election in the history of the planet,
] then devote the rest of their waking hours to meaningless
] sniping. But it's certainly not too late to elevate the
] conversation.