THE HERETIC HUCKABEE
The man from Hope wins, turning out the self-described faithful in droves. Huckabee is a gifted speaker, or at least one with practice. Communication makes all the difference.
[btw, continued Huck success probably puts gays back on the front burner, since the chosen GOP division issue, immigration, will be hard to float on top of a Huckabee candidacy, right?]
OPRAH BRINGS IN THE NEXT GENERATION
The message of Hope wins. Props to AS, as there does appear to be some evidence of realignment politics in the voter figures (his generational thesis about Obama). Of course, he himself cannot resist a swipe at Clinton ("She's still third"), showing that what we are seeing is possibly the veneer of a realignment, not a change in heart - perhaps as thin as was 'compassionate conservatism'. The shine will be off that apple after the first 100 days, or so.
Barack gave an impressive speech, even morseso if it was impromptu. Why can't he do that more often?
HOPE IS AS HOPE DOES
Does it make me cynical that Obama's message of "hope" sounds quasi messianic? I don't like it any more than I liked Reagan's, "It's morning again in America", although I understand why that ... "stuff" appeals to conservatives like AS and beyond (they don't want to do anything, so their politics centers on electing someone Great).
The typical progressive, I believe, puts unity in service of solving problems, not as a goal in itself (although, post-Rove, maybe we need a fair dose of both ...). Since Obama's idea of solving problems isn't to find the solutions I find convincing on a number of issues, I find his "hope" ... limited.
Reaching out to the Republicans to solve healthcare issues, ("like I did in Illinois")? Repeat after me, "On healthcare reform, no deal is better than a bad deal with the Republicans".
The dangers of double entendre, from Matt Y:
Albright's an eminence grise not someone you go to the mattresses with.
Joking aside, it did sound like Hillary was more or less withdrawing.
