An argument can be made that the last two "traditional" Republicans both got their hats handed to them in primaries before re-inventing themselves as "new" Republicans.

The first of those was George H.W. Bush, who had the intelligence and intellectual honesty, back in 1980, to call Reagan's "trickle-down" theory exactly what it was: "voodoo economics." He was of course forced to eat those words when Reagan put him on the ticket after whacking him in the primary, then actually tried to govern under that policy when he succeeded Ronnie in '88. Unfortunately, by that time the voodoo pigeons had come home to roost and Clinton had no problem hoisting Bush the Elder by Reagan's petard.

The second example was McCain in 2000. After being shown by Bush the Younger that being a responsible adult was no way to success in the modern GOP, he slipped into a neo-con robe and runs now on the same "us against them" platform as W.

The modern Right is clearly the personification of the classic schoolyard bully. Defiantly arrogant, and happy to throw its weight around, but screaming foul when finally challenged by someone bigger, stronger and smarter.

The Philadelphia Soul won the Arena Bowl title earlier this summer. Scoff at Arena football if you like (hell, I do), but they do have a major broadcast network TV contract, which is no small potatoes.

So in addition to a fundamental misconception of Art I/Sec 3 (and Art II), she also has no clue about the 1st Amendment.

My guess is those are just the parts of the Constitution on which we now KNOW she's utterly in the dark.

I paid $2.95 for my Bantam Classic copy of the Constitution (with the Declaration of Independence). I suggest that if there's any of the $150,000 clothing budget left, they buy a copy for Ms. Palin.

Glenn, I wouldn't feel too bad about what McCaskill is saying. Bush said all the time he was reaching across the aisle in a sense of bipartisanistshipness, but in reality he was just reaching out so as to bend the democrats over just a bit more. So it's entirely possible, I suppose, that Obama will put enough right/center members of the GOP in his cabinet to torture them, and ruin them forever with the "O" brand.

Pity sarcasm is so damn tough in print.

This is the first fight you want to pick? With everything else on our plate right now?

With all due respect to my gay and lesbian friends, this is an idiotic priority from a political standpoint.

First, we face myriad problems that impact the entire country. Solving these problems will take some incredible political cooperation. Starting by pissing off the folks whose votes you will need is not smart.

Second, there are some who believe that the culture wars are dying; that that younger citizens no longer have the biases of the old Reagan base, not the zeal to impose such biases on the rest of the country. Stirring up the embers of a dying war will not help the cause.

Third, getting judges on the Federal bench and the Supreme Court will make it more likely that Constitutional challenges to DOMA will succeed (I've never understood how this is NOT in conflict with FF&C anyway).

Fourth, achieving success in the economic area will give Obama and the Democrats the political capital to move more aggressively on a much wider array of social issues, including gay rights.

I have to disagree about Jesse being on the list of losers.

He laid a lot of the foundation that Barack used to build this house. Also, if Congressman Jackson does get Barack's old seat (he is one of three most-likely candidates, the way I see it), his son winds up in the Senate. Jesse Jackson had already lost most of his personal political power well before Obama threw his hat in the ring almost two years ago. If anything, I think Barack's election helps cement Jackson's position in the pantheon of significant African-American leaders of the 20th Century.

Apparently, Colorado voters did not want Fries with their Congressional Delegation.

It means that the AG's criminal prosecution unit can get to work on pursuing Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove and the Telnets that cooperated with Bush in the unauthorized wiretaps on millions of Americans. (Bush, sadly, could never be found mentally competent to stand trial.)

I'm getting a bit tired of the "good cop/bad cop" angle on Obama's choice of Rahm for COS. It shows either rank laziness, or an utter lack of knowledge of either Emanuel or Obama.

Frankly, Obama needs Emanuel for this job because there can be no room for mistakes. The country is in a terrible predicament which will require decisive action from the new administration. That takes discipline, and Emanuel is -- above almost everything else -- disciplined. Obama will need to hit the ground running on January 20, with all oars in the water, pulling at the same time. Rahm will make sure that happens, both with his attention to detail and his unwillingness to settle for anything but the best from his workers.

For those who think Obama is not capable of being his own "bad cop" when the situation calls for it, they clearly don't know as much as they think they know about our incoming president. And for those who think Emanuel knows only how to win by crushing the other side, they clearly underestimate his negotiating skills and ability to see the big picture.

With Emanuel at his side, Obama can rest assured that the nitty gritty is covered, and can focus his attention where it is most needed at any given moment. This is why Obama came to Emanuel with an offer he could not refuse.