Ooo..A Political Note

We have saved considerable carpal tunnel damage here this year by ceding most political commentary to the semi-professionals, like Talking Points Memo. The bloggery is generally good quality, covers most of the points us Well-Left-of-Tom-Friedmans would make, and saves on the endless, hope-sucking drivel that campaigns by the desperate tend to create.

But now it looks like, against all odds (I'm sorry, the limitless advantages being a black man gives you when running for president - thank you, Geraldine Ferraro), Barack Obama's is going to be the Democratic nominee.

Here's something you don't usually see on these pages these days: Huzzah!

I really hope he's not secretly evil, because while everyone's comparing elections, this one reminds me more of Clinton vs. Dole than anything. While beating McCain is far from a trivial problem, this election, like that one, will boil down to past vs. future. Right now, future is more popular, especially if it comes without a goddamn endless war in Iraq, and with flying cars.

Then there's this story. In a succinct example of the low-acid race baiting she's been doing for a while, Clinton claims that she has the support of "less educated" white people, while Obama is losing it. *Exasperated Sigh. * This comment alone might hasten the end. First, it's not true. The best comment I read on this was that the consistent tone of the Clinton campaign is that minority votes are less valuable. And that is the spirit of entitlement and condescension.

I read this and thought: not only is it awkward, it's wrong. And not only is it wrong, it's bad politics. And not only is it bad politics, it's arrogant. And not only is it arrogant, it's an interesting reflection, Ms. Clinton, that you apparently now count on the overwhelming support of white people, and you're still going to lose.