The last few weeks should have mostly destroyed any vestigial optimism that Obama would somehow rise above contemporary politics and make it through the election as a unifying, broadly respected figure. For those of you still clinging to the dream, check out this site. In large part, it explains the Clinton campaign's incredulity at the Democratic electorate. Whatever else you want to say about them, they know Obama is going to get smeared up and down the nation, they viscerally understand the brutal nature of the modern campaign, and they can't believe that the very fact that he hasn't faced the attack machine yet and so has momentarily high favorables is allowing him to vault ahead of them in line. In any case, folks should still visit the link above, though not so much for the main commentary. Rather, fix your eyes on the righthand sidebar, scroll down, and start reading when you come to the "I Stand With Israel" logo. Don't miss the encomium to Pinochet or the disquisition on mining stocks that ends, in order to retain thematic coherence, with "the Left seem to have a visceral hatred of miners. I have never quite figured out why." The modern right is an amazing creature... Update: Check out Kristol today too. His column is based around a lie, but then, aren't all good smears? And so the Polarizing Express chugs out of the station...
