Appearing normal counts for a lot in Presidential politics, which may explain the growing popularity of John Edwards. The longer with live with these characters, the more grating the seemingly odd ones become and the more we find ourselves just liking the most normal-seeming one, the one you wouldn't mind sitting around watching TV with. We kind of are sitting around watching TV with them, after all, as many of the best-loved TV personalities have realized. I remember in particular, Red Skelton ending his old TV show by saying something like "Thank you for inviting me into your living room."

Click on this link if you want to hear Red Skelton explain the Pledge of Allegiance: "Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance.../UNDER GOD/Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer and that would be eliminated from schools too?"