FOR THOSE* OF YOU who have missed my tedious, extra-sincere, non-funny imitation-political blogging of yore, I SAY THIS TO YOU:

IT IS WORTH WATCHING all three parts of Jon Stewart’s interview with Ken Blackwell, former Republican Mayor of Cincinnati, and former Ohio Secretary of State, and latest to push the idea that the President is not just a political opponent, but a socialist emperor in the making;

BUT I AM PARTICULARLY fond of this moment where Blackwell attempts to pat himself on the back for referring to the “Obama Administration,” as opposed to the Limabaugh-preferred “Obama Regime.” See about one minute, 30 seconds in.

IT’S CERTAINLY NICE OF HIM to acknowledge that the duly elected president is, well, THE DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT. But Blackwell’s fantasy that his rejection of the REGIME label is going to be a meaningful symbol of independence to anyone outside of the Limbaugh audience (never mind the Daily Show audience) reveals, I think, just how entrenched the Obama=Tyrant! idea is in conservative circles, and how rarely Blackwell steps outside of those circles.

That is all.

*BOTH

HERE IS THE WOMAN who was hounded out of the Obama campaign for calling Hillary Clinton “a monster” in an Irish newspaper.

SAMANTHA POWER, who amazed the room at the TED conference last February when she outlined what seemed, at the time, something incredibly bold and fantastic: an Obama foreign policy–clear-eyed, profoundly moral, and realistic.

FOR ALL SORTS OF REASONS, I hope she is part of Obama’s State Department. Maybe as secretary? Is that role filled yet?

That is all.