The story came out that Mike Dukakis was being “prepped” for his debate with Bush # 1 and was given the “Death Penalty” question. His “coaches” kept telling him to say how he would personally strangle the murderer but that government is more than an angry avenger etc.- any competent debater could pull off the macho-plus-legalistic finesse (Mario Cuomo – 1988) but arrogant Dukakis INSISTED on rejecting their coaching and came off like a stiff dummy. It takes skill to lose a debate to Bush!

Barry grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii at private schools and never meshed with the Middle American Rednecks that Clinton knew intimately, that Reagan grew up with, etc. To Barry, there are 2 types of white Americans – (1) “Progressive” mostly secular-Jewish-WASPish academics at University of Chicago, Columbia, Harvard and (2) Rampantly racist reactionary redneck Republicans (5 R’s!). The latter are, of course, the ENEMY.

Obviously, Obama’s not so stupid as to believe this consciously but if he believes it subconsciously, it will seep into his arrogant attitude no matter how much he might wish it otherwise. Nixon, Carter, and Wilson – were no dummies but they could not control their own foolish self-righteous arrogance.

For the schoolteacher in [INSERT SMALL TOWN CITY FROM FLYOVER COUNTRY] with [INSERT HEALTH PROBLEM], working as a [INSERT BLUE-COLLAR JOB AND A SECOND], struggling to pay her bills because her 8-year old child has [INSERT CONGENITAL DISEASE] and her insurance [INSERT DECISION OF A PRIVATE BUSINESS THAT MAKES THEM LOOK BAD].

Barry can do the math. 6 years of statism > 4 years.

I do believe you have hit the nail on the head once again. I have come to look forward to reading your thoughts on BAB. I may not always agree but, I repect the fact that your opinions are backed by facts and your core principles. I would have liked to have met both you and Ilana in Baltimore but, I could not make the conference.