The Democrats are shiny. But I'm not falling for it.

The Democrats have been in charge for 12 of the past 16 years. If there is dread to be felt, it should be directed straight at them.

Michelle Obama has been the star of the DNC so far. She’s an inspiring orator, that goes without challenge. Even the Fox News hosts gushed.

Her focus was on hope, a narrative flair referring back to her husband’s winning campaign in 2008. As a loyal Democrat from the first time I could vote in 1988, I felt the hope back then. And as the mother of two mixed race children, I was moved by Barack Obama’s exhortation to be audacious enough to hope. My young boys were 8 and 6 years old. It did really mean something to me that they could look at him and see themselves, and perhaps intuit their own unlimited potential.

Both Obamas are truly gifted speakers. But somehow Michelle manages to connect in a more personal way, in “being real” rather than being leader-like. She’s not untouchable. She’s smart and fun, someone you might want to spill tea with over cocktails. Even Barack, who spoke after Michelle at the DNC, said: “I am the only person stupid enough to speak after Michelle Obama.” And that well placed self-effacement is part of his charm.

But on Tuesday night I was not swept up in emotion listening to Michelle Obama. I was definitely not connecting. I am no longer a Democrat — not since Covid, when the Democratic Party tossed aside every principle that I thought they held. They censored our speech, violated our bodily integrity and ran rough shod over our most basic rights — to congregate, worship, educate our children in the public schools, mourn and mark the deaths of loved ones with funerals. I could go on.

So, listening to Michelle, I was very much aware of her skill as an orator and still, I found it was pretty easy not to gush. I won’t be bamboozled by linguistic stylings and dramatic flourishes when I know what has happened in this country during the last 4 years.

Instead of falling for the sermon, I analyzed every word.