As I watched the Laughing Liberally comics at YearlyKos, I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to see the funny. I missed last year’s performance by James Adomian, a seriously funny Bush impressionist. Someone recently passed along his Bush Blog on Scooter Libby, a plug for the new OpenLeft.com. This was not particularly inspired, but I followed the “video response” link and watched his State of the Union 2007 and the Democratic response. This was the belly laugh I needed so much. You have to watch all of the way to the end to get the full scream-then-big-sigh effect of a belly laugh.

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Given that he is a local guy, I feel obligated to mention that Karl Rove has resigned as of August 30. I would be happy about this if I didn’t realize it means he will work his dark magic full time.

BuzzFlash is collecting readers’ reactions to Rove’s resignation.

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Saturday at YearlyKos in Second Life has been busy. The excellent thing is that I have also managed to be busy in my first life at the same time — with a log of sitting around goggled into the metaverse, true.

First, I went to one of the Presidential Breakout sessions, a somewhat casual question and answer session with an individual candidate. Senator Clinton’s session this morning was scheduled at a different time than the rest, which meant that she was (nearly) the only game in town and had a decent crowd.

Next, a long-view of the Presidential Leadership Forum while Senator Obama was speaking. Quite a few people were sitting, listening, chatting, and flying around Netroots Stadium.

A close up at the Presidential Leadership Forum of Hillary Clinton. If she has a giant grin on her face, it could be the little verbal slip the moderator made in calling her “President Clinton.” That’s what the woman wants, no doubt about it. I kept wondering why she was slumped over, though. Hey, Hillary, sit up straight. It shows more when you are wearing a turquoise suit. Note also the cushy chairs provided in the stadium.

Waiting around for a feed or a late-starting session has not been unusual, but there are generally enough people around that you can chat about it all while waiting. The avatars always look so bored — cross-legged and kicking, leaning over head in head, or head just cocked to the side in a vague vogue.

Final image of the day is from the best session: John Edwards’ Breakout Session — the casual conversation. John Edwards took charge in a different way than Hillary Clinton did. Edwards looks extremely comfortable with a crowd. Being the populist among them all, he doesn’t get that look on his face as if he wishes he could consult before answering.

All of the Presidential Candidates did well: Gravel, Dodd, Richardson, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, and Kucinich. Dodd and Edwards really rolled out the old time preaching style. They were hot. Some called it screechy, but I thought they were just excited about what they were saying.

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The last couple of weeks, I’ve been going back over and over to one article: “Neocons on a Cruise: What Conservatives Say When They Think We Aren’t Listening,” by Johann Hari from the Independent UK (via Alternet) from July 17, 2007.

I lie on the beach with Hillary-Ann, a chatty, scatty 35-year-old Californian designer. As she explains the perils of Republican dating, my mind drifts, watching the gentle tide. When I hear her say, “Of course, we need to execute some of these people,” I wake up. Who do we need to execute? She runs her fingers through the sand lazily. “A few of these prominent liberals who are trying to demoralise the country,” she says. “Just take a couple of these anti-war people off to the gas chamber for treason to show, if you try to bring down America at a time of war, that’s what you’ll get.” She squints at the sun and smiles. “Then things’ll change.”

Wha?

Is this really how they think? I want to think these people are exceptional. I want to, but I don’t. Could they pull the trigger, or are they just spewing the same old mindless empty words?

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As I’m sitting here listening to lame stand-up comedy, I’m thinking about how much better this is than last week’s BlogHer in Second Life. Yes, I’m doing a lot of low-carbon conferences lately.

BlogHer helpers were not helpers willing to help. In the first session I heard, some woman talked about her very important blog making fun of Second Life newbies and their pathetic fashion sense. Nice.

By contrast, as I sat around in Second Life this afternoon with my head hung (happens when you are out of the virtual world), every time I came back, some extremely friendly person wanted to help me or chat. I told them I was on a conference call from Chicago, told them about Democracy for America (how could they not know?). Nice people — and animals and hybrid creatures.

This is almost as good as the police chase that just ended on my street. Which to watch? Mmm. Virtual lame comedian or real teenagers and cop in bullet-proof vest? Gotta go outside. Meet in the street. Say hi to the neighbors who are out there, too.
I’ll catch the keynote later because face to face always has to win out.

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