Opinion - Susan Estrich

Creators Syndicate - My first reaction to the choice of Sarah Palin was that she is no Hillary Clinton.

Creators Syndicate - Hillary gave a great speech. Bill gave a great speech. Barack gave a really great speech. That's what everyone is saying, and who am I to disagree? Of course, I've never been to a convention, Republican or Democratic, where everybody didn't say on Thursday night that it was a really great speech. Truth is, I can barely remember most of them.

Creators Syndicate - All last week there were rumors that he would not make it to Denver at all. Then on Monday there were rumors that he was in a Denver hospital receiving oxygen, and that at best he would be in a box at Pepsi Center, watching the tribute and waving to the crowd. He'll never make it to the podium, more than one person told me. They don't know the Senator.

Creators Syndicate - Political courage is not about standing up for what's easy and popular with the people who elect you. It's about standing up for what you believe in.

Creators Syndicate - My friend Leroy Sievers died on Friday night. I considered him a friend, but the truth is I never actually met him. I read his "My Cancer" blog on npr.com every day, and although I was never one of the many to post comments there, I read those, too, and considered the regulars to be my friends.

Creators Syndicate - "The reason was for the national interest," the chief music director of the ongoing Beijing Olympics told Beijing Radio. "The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings and expression. Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects. But in the aspect of voice, Yang Peiyi is flawless."

Creators Syndicate - You can blame John Edwards for a lot of things, but the last thing anyone should be blaming him for is the nomination of Barack Obama.

Creators Syndicate - I know Hillary Clinton. She is a friend of mine. I have always respected her — and never more than during the closing days of this campaign, when she displayed a level of grit and determination I have rarely seen in any politician, male or female, Democrat or Republican.