We rave about Barack’s rhetoric, his fresh approach to politics, the young voters he attracts; contrast it with Clinton’s lost voice, trouble explaining her vote for war, and controlling her husband. Truth: Obama’s message was vague, Hillary’s campaign surged, but he had understood caucuses, how the party allocates delegates. He won because of rules, and [...]

We talk about Barack’s charisma, style, and rhetoric, his new approach to politics, all the young voters he attracted. We note that Hillary took too long to find her voice, never explained her vote for the Iraq war, couldn’t keep her husband under control. The truth is, Obama’s message wasn’t better. Her campaign wasn’t weaker. [...]

Obama won primaries by attracting new voters with a campaign for change. Why embrace old Bush ideas now and become a typical politician? Funding faith-based organizations, immunizing telephone companies, and refining troop withdrawal plans, sound disturbingly McCainlike. If Barack keeps moving away from the “yes we can’t chanters there won’t be any real distinction between [...]