CONVERSATION ABOUT BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: It happened tonight.

"That's your boy, Mom."

"Not anymore."

"Don't you think you're better off sticking with Bruce than sticking with Bush?"

"Bruce--Bruce don't know nothing about nothing. He didn't even go to college."

"Neither did Bush."*

Pause. "I didn't listen to Bruce once today."

*Yes, Bush went to college, but it's like he didn't, what with the family connections and the gentleman's C's and the all around general unpleasantness of a guy who coasted his way through most of his life, especially his college years. Not that I've done dramatically better, but, shoot, I'm not President.