On a day when Obama prepares to speak again, let’s all take a moment and review where we were four years ago, when a state senator for Illinois ascended the national stage for the first time.

Four years ago, when that speech first blew my mind, I had just begun working at what I like to call the Very Important Talent Agency, a place where I was sworn at, berated, objectified, and sexually harassed, and generally introduced to the “real world.” Although we peons were encouraged not to let a lunch break distract us from our ten-hour days, I would sometimes slip out for some stabilizing fresh air.

On one of those days, which coincided with the Republican National Convention’s takeover of NYC, I had the good fortune to be hit on by an aging delegate:

i was eating lunch in an outdoor plaza and a delegate (complete with cowboy hat — they seemed to come standard) started a conversation. his mother sat next to him, spilling things on her blouse and sometimes chiming in.

… him: so where are you from?
me: dc
his mother: she’s from new york, of course.
him: no, mom, she’s from washington.
his mother: ohhh. (clear implication: if there’s any place worse than new york …)
him: so what’s your name?
me: ester.
him: that’s a great name.
me: it’s a little old-fashioned.
him: i like old-fashioned women.
his mother: [spills something on herself]

And, to keep injecting sex into this political conversation, here’s Rude Pundit’s totally obscene take on the Convention so far. Enjoy.