The Dish

Compared with McCain, Obama is a wonk’s wonk. Matt:

Strolling through John McCain’s policy proposals is a fascinating experience . . . lurking behind every link is a nearly-astounding level of vacuity.

Of course, I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. I’ve never believed that the presidency is about mastering policy minutiae.

Survey USA’s data shows both Clinton and Obama beating McCain on electoral votes, but they win in different ways. Matt doesn’t buy it:

Each of these polls has a sample size of 600, so the margin of error will come into play. What’s more, there are 100 separate polls being aggregate here, so the odds are that several of these are just bad samples. On top of that you have all the usual problems with early polling…while I think this method is clever, I don’t really see it as methodologically sound — Clinton’s not going to lose Washington, Obama’s not going to lose New Jersey, and what happens in Michigan will have more to do with whether or not McCain runs demagogic attacks on the Democrats’ global warming plans than on who the Democrats nominate.

I agree with Matt. But the map does show the benefit of the Pennsylvania primary. The more time Obama spends there – down in the nitty-gritty – the better for him. Even against Rendell, he has a chance to do well.

What teachers encounter all the time.

Conservatives forgive.

A reader writes:

I don’t find it at all silly for Obama to select a nationally well-known and popular Senator from a large state that borders Pennsylvania and New Jersey, two states Obama would lose today according to SurveyUSA.

Also, selecting Clinton fits into Obama’s whole rationale.  He is the candidate who wants to unite the country, and what better display of unity would there be than selecting his fiercest electoral rival to date?  There is nothing silly about uniting the Democratic Party in a must win election year.

Finally, Clinton brings abundant policy expertise to the table and a network of highly motivated supporters.  Also, Obama would not have to deal with the frustration of the Clintons being somewhat insubordinate during the whole general election process by refusing to campaign for and with him, and by making statements that would compromise his ability to win.

A rather cute and somewhat stupid Israeli back-packer nearly gets eaten alive.

S.V. Date at TNR hears that Michigan will announce a new caucus within the next few days.

How could I have forgotten this? The full lyrics are after the jump. Amazing for their time. And the original is on Chris Lowe’s "Back To Mine" compilation

I’m walking through life in nature’s disguise
You laugh at me and you criticize. 

‘Cause I’m happy, carefree and gay
Yes, I’m gay
Ain’t no fault – it’s a fact
I was born this way – yeah
Now I won’t judge you – don’t you judge me
We’re all the way nature meant us to be

Chorus
I’m happy, I’m carefree and I’m gay
I was born this way

You call me strange ’cause you don’t understand
God’s role for me in life’s overall plan
I’ve learned to hold my head up high
Not in scorn nor disgrace
Doin’ my thing individually
Entwined with this human race

Now I won’t judge you – don’t you judge me
We’re all the way nature meant us to be

Chorus

You laugh at me and you got the nerve to criticize
If I were you I’d sit down
And consider what you’re doin’
Love me and I love you
And together ain’t no tellin’ what we’ll do
Yeah – born I said
From a little bitty bitty boy
I was born this way

I love you, I love you
And even you – born this way – yeah
I’m tellin’ y’all one more time
I was born this way, proud to tell it
I was born this way
Gonna shout it, tell the world about it
I was born this way

Some constructive criticism from yours truly.