Golden Choice

Even for those of us who are consitutionally adverse to positions on the American left, Obama is an impressive guy. His opponents seem to be lining up around the idea that he is not as smart as he seems. I think this is a mistake. I think he is smarter than Bill Clinton, for example, who is way smart. And obviously, as to principle and discipline, he's in a different and far better league. A league in which John McCain also plays.

So there is some kind of hope here on my street in St. Louis. I heard the other day a comment from a German commentator, translating an expression: we have a golden choice.

Absolutely there are huge policy differences. If only the sellers of media will allow those policy choices to matter, I think these candidates can elevate the discourse. The media - mainstream and other - will either be the lift under their wings or a weight on their backs.

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