Does it matter who is on top?

Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota also mocked the idea (of Hilary Clinton offering a joint ticket to Barack Obama) on NBC's Meet the Press. The Money Quote:

"It may be the first time in history that the person who is running number two would offer the person running number one the number two position."



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There is only one politics, and it's not new

Two gems from David Brooks:

You can’t really win with the new style of politics. Sooner or later, you have to play by the conventional rules.

In short, a candidate should never betray the core theory of his campaign, or head down a road that leads to that betrayal.

As American As...

Charles Krauthammer in today's Washington Post calls bullshit on the Obama campaign's 8 page memo showing how the Senator has reached across the aisle in his three year tenure. The Money Quote:

Bipartisan support for apple pie is hardly a profile in courage.

He continues:

"On the difficult compromises that required the political courage to challenge one's own political constituency, Obama flinched: the "Gang of 14" compromise on judicial appointments, the immigration compromise to which Obama tried to append union-backed killer amendments and, just last month, the compromise on warrantless eavesdropping that garnered 68 votes in the Senate. But not Obama's.

Who, in fact, supported all of these bipartisan deals, was a central player in two of them and brokered the even more notorious McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform? John McCain, of course.

Yes, John McCain -- intemperate and rough-edged, of sharp elbows and even sharper tongue. Turns out that uniting is not a matter of rhetoric or manner, but of character and courage."

Popularity, Pandering, and Policy

Michael Gerson follows Obama's campaign promises through his first 100 days as Commander-in-Chief. The Money Quote:

"Obama's 100-day agenda would be designed, in part, to improve America's global image. But there is something worse than being unpopular in the world -- and that is being a pleading, panting joke. By simultaneously embracing appeasement, protectionism and retreat, President Obama would manage to make Jimmy Carter look like Teddy Roosevelt.

Which is why President Obama would probably not take these actions -- at least in the form he has pledged. Sitting behind the Resolute desk is a sobering experience that makes foolish campaign promises seem suddenly less binding.

But it is a bad sign for a candidate when the best we can hope is for him to violate his commitments. And that's a good sign for John McCain."

The Audacity of the Press

Barack "Barry Hussein" Obama was shaken enough yesterday by the traveling press corps to respond to questions like your average politician. The Money Quote:

"Obama responded with the classic phrases of a politician in trouble. "That was the information that I had at the time. . . . Those charges are completely unrelated to me. . . . I have said that that was a mistake. . . . The fact pattern remains unchanged."

When those failed, Obama tried another approach. "We're running late," the candidate said, and then he disappeared behind a curtain."