I totally disagree with the assesment that Clarks questioning of the military record wasn't successful.

Consider this: No one had EVER even questioned it before.

Now it's a legitimate question: what about sitting in a prison cell makes you president material?

FDR wasn't tortured - not even Reagan, the right's darling.

Posted at July 3, 2008 10:33 AM in response to Is It Time For a Modified "Rope-a-Dope" Strategy for O?

Look at the TPM clip again.

There's an interesting part of the Obama speech where he seems to back off from saying "Hillary and I will be campaigning" but then says "I will be campaigning, Hillary will be campaigning, Bill will be campaigning."

Seems to be backing away from the expectation of having Hillary as his VP.

Posted at June 27, 2008 6:55 PM in response to She Rocks Alright: Hillary Knocks It Out of the Park

Not to be contentious, but Wendell Wilke was considered suave and debonair and sophisticated. Truman was the hick who was in way over his head - many democrats thought this. "To err is Truman."

Posted at June 18, 2008 2:17 PM in response to Obama's Luck: The Least Appealing Republican Nominee in 60 Years

At least we can enjoy the irony of the 'rebel' generation, who ignored the 'saner' older people, now lecturing us to be more patient.

But it's not just a 'left' thing. I think it's proving to be boomers in general.

Consider Social Security - it was created by the adults of the thirties to protect the aged of the future.

Then think of Bush's plan to gut it - remember how he kept saying boomers wouldn't get the privatization scam, but Gen Xers would?

God the temerity of saying "We'll enjoy the benefits of guaranteed income from the state - but for the next generation - hey go off to the Wall Street Vampire Money Changers and hope for the best.

Completely selfish and hypocritical. Feeds into the whole notion of "The ME Generation."

They've taken all the benefits their fathers created for them, and then denying them to their own children.

Posted at June 13, 2008 2:08 PM in response to Can we drive now? A Progressive Millennial's Lament

To be clear the 'tax increase' doesn't require any legislative action: it's automatic.

Bravo to this pushback against The Religion of Tax Cuts.

Posted at June 13, 2008 1:55 PM in response to Cult Cuts: Looking at Tax Policy from a Hysterical Perspective

I don't think he would really want it. He's expressed the idea recently that he doesn't want to go through the bizarre and ridiculous guantlet of press posing and preening.

I don't think he would add much to the ticket in terms of getting swing states. He's a guy all Dems remember got cheated in 2000, but I agree that he's not a real draw for so called 'independents' GOP people who might vote democratic this year.

Posted at June 13, 2008 1:47 PM in response to Gore for Vice President

Blather is blog snarkulation.

18 million voters matter.

Posted at June 6, 2008 10:09 AM in response to Hillary Spokesperson: "She Is Not Seeking The Vice Presidency"

What is missing in this entertaining, yet arguably 'elitist' discussion of the inside baseball of Hillary hate:

18 million voters.

You don't ignore 18 million people.

These supporters matter, even if Hillary isn't magnanimous enough for TPM's elite urban cadre of posters.

Lets face it, it was practically a tie - to send Hill packing with a swift quick in the behind will not be wise.

I also think that the maxim: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" could apply.

If Obama can't handle Billary, he shouldn't be president. But I think he will have to absolutely lay down the law with them.

I imagine a funny sketch they could in Denver with Obama as Carson and Hill as Ed McMahon where she repeadetly says, in her new gravelly voice, "Your are CORRECT sir!"

Posted at June 5, 2008 6:56 PM in response to Hillary Spokesperson: "She Is Not Seeking The Vice Presidency"

I've often thought Bill's tendency to back down derives from his early childhood when he tried to play peacemaker and go-between between his quarelling parents.

His psychology might be that of somewho smooths things over to avoid conflict.

And yet even as he tried to meet the GOP more than halfway, they just villainized him all the more.

Posted at June 5, 2008 6:47 PM in response to Hillary Spokesperson: "She Is Not Seeking The Vice Presidency"

BO has said repeatededly "This campaign isn't about me -- it's about YOU."

This is not a new rhetorical tack. Back in 2004 Dean characterized the efforts of James Carville and other "Washington Democrats" this way: "They're not trying to stop me - they're trying to stop YOU."

But I've come to realize with Obama that my pride isn't just the vulgur American idea that "Anyone can make it" but rather that Obama's success was indicative of a populace that had transcended ignorance.

It really IS about 'us.' By voting for Obama we were voting for a citizenry that was more noble and enlightened than the Limbaughs and Hannities think it is.

But the reverse can be true - in these embarrassing and ignorant racists we see the negative side of it being "about us."

Posted at May 19, 2008 10:16 AM in response to The Oppression Olympics (Again)