A lot of guys just can't stand Hillary, and it's the intensity of their irritation with her that disturbs me more than their devotion to Obama.

I suppose I can understand this. I've been trying to understand the intensity of my own irritation with Hillary for months now. To be perfectly honest, I think I've grumbled to myself (and others occasionally) how much I "hate that woman" about 50 times in the last few months. I realize such a reaction is over the top, especially for a Democrat such as myself. Nevertheless, I don't believe it's sexism.

I truly believe it's about her phoniness and dishonesty. She is so smart, capable, determined, etc...but I just don't see any greater truth reflected in her, any wisdom. Instead I see endless, shameless opportunism, ambition, hubris. So many lies and reversals -- the 35 years of experience, sniper attacks, Michigan and Florida. So many deeply unpleasant people working for her -- Penn, Wolfson, Bill (in his current capacity.) So many transparent ploys -- handing out "I'm not bitter" buttons is just the latest typical example. Her hunger for power is so naked, so graceless.

Forgive my subjective impressions (rather than the usual one-sided litany of bogus facts people like to marshal against politicians), but we're talking about feelings after all. If I saw one moment of wit or genuine self-deprecation from her, one moment not calculated for maximum political gain, my feelings about her might start to change. I'm not holding my breath.

Obama/Webb seems the least problematic to me -- forward and inclusive. I'm not sure it helps with white "ethnics," but it definitely helps with the military and rural vote. Obama needs to play up his white and masculine sides a little bit, and nobody else helps those as much as self-proclaimed "redneck" Webb.

Obama/McCaskill is fresh also. She's been Obama's greatest surrogate, will help carry Missouri, and will help with women (along with blacks, the other backbone of the Democratic party.) I'm not sure you can get away with a woman other than Clinton, however, unless Hillary doesn't want the job. Also, an Obama/McCaskill ticket may appear dangerously weak on national security. In addition, as with many others on the list, it wouldn't be apparent whether McCaskill is national-calibre until she's put on the big stage. (The last thing Obama needs is a Dan Quayle disaster.)

Obama/Rendell makes sense politically (secure Pennsylvania and help with Midwest working-class), but just doesn't gibe stylistically: new school/old school. Also: too urban, too swarthy, not military enough to carry the country.

Richardson, Clark, and Dodd are all national-calibre, but slightly stale and problematic at this point: Clark's Clinton loyalty and lack of political skill; Richardson's rumored personal issues; and Dodd's somewhat generic quality and lack of help in carrying a state.

I'm developing a soft spot for Obama/Clinton if she wants the job, as it's the obvious move to heal the party. There's no question she's capable, and polls seem to indicate she'd help Obama at least as much as she'd hurt...and it sure would help Obama to have Bill Clinton on his side. However, I think I speak for many Obama supporters when I say: I just hope she doesn't want the job. If she really wants to rehabilitate herself politically, she'll campaign passionately for Obama as a mere surrogate.

The first time Harlan said it, spontaneously, was on one of those trademark Shaq power slams a couple of years ago: it was a sensation, and a tag-line was born. It's a great schtick if used on the rare occasion when it's appropriate.

It had me laughing out loud this time too, as it was entirely appropriate after Lebron's earth-shaking slam. The NBA hasn't seen that much power uncoiled since Shaq was at the tail-end of his prime. Somehow, Lebron "with the facial!" wouldn't have been quite adequate this time. (I guess it's Lebron's mom that got served the facial last night. Magic had a pretty good line himself --- "It's playoff time for mama, too!")

Forgive me a little hyperbole of my own -- that dunk may have changed the whole psychology of the series. Well, that and the fact that Ben Wallace looks revived, Varajeo has found his form (underrated and, yes, underpaid), and Joe Smith and Ilgauskus are solid as usual. Nobody in the league has four bigs as formidable as Cleveland's.

Wonder's absence from radio says more about the sorry, fractured state of FM radio than it does Wonder's legacy. Wonder is one of those large artists who transcends and fuses genres -- in his case, rock, soul, R&B, jazz -- so there's simply no obvious place for him on the radio dial. Also, many of his classic songs are soaring, complex, and long (e.g., Love's In Need of Love Today, Living For the City, Higher Ground). Most don't fit well within the 4 minute, bland hooks template of contemporary popular music.

If you want to know who's enduring in popular music, don't listen to radio (that's so mid-nineties), just watch American Idol or browse an online music service. I'd venture that Stevie has inspired more covers on American Idol than anyone outside Whitney, Mariah, and Celine.

Anyone who has music in his soul will discover and revere Stevie, long after he's gone, just as they will Dylan, Gaye, Charles, Cash. Commercial radio simply doesn't have that much say in the matter.