chairmanship for Lieberman, over $700 billion in corporate welfare, and success in taking away the rights of gay people.

Obama did great for the republicans, um I mean democrats.

Obama has realized that "pundits" on both the left and the right are -- for the most part -- pathetic geeks who can be easily awed by a little personal attention from a celebrity. (I mean, it sounds like ol' Lar has a full-blown man-crush on the man.) So many of them are desperate to gain recognition from, and hang out with, the "cool kids" that would never have given them the time of day in high school.

This cost Obama nothing, much as the subsequent dinner with the left side of the punditocracy, and the rewards will continue to be great. To some extent, they SHOULD be in awe of Obama: he's clearly a hell of a lot smarter than any of them are!

You think that Larry Kudlow will be a pariah of the Right for saying nice things about Obama's intellect and manners? If so, the pariah group might be a big chunk of the Right -- David Brooks, Paul Gigot, George Will, Bill Kristol, Peggy Noonan, Charles Krauthammer.

No, this is simply about good manners and spirited, civil debate. Something that is little understood on the Left. Do you recall the newly-elected George W. Bush, inviting Senator Edward M. Kennedy to dinner at the White House as one of his first unofficial acts in office?

I think you've been reading the Salon comments pages too much, Alex. It sounds as though you were one of the moonbats predicting that Bush and Cheney would be declaring martial law, suspending the general elelction, engineering a terrorist attack to foil the transition, etc., etc., etc.

What have you gotten instead? Vice President Cheney, calling the Obama election “part of the normal cycle of a competitive two-party system,” and “fundamentally healthy for the nation," and declaring how wondrous it was to swear in the first black president. And George Will inviting the President-elect to dinner. Larry Kudlow dropping the veil of secrecy from that off-the-record gathering just enough to say what a good guy Obama is.

Really, some of this Republican behavior is so utterly decent that it must make you nauseous. I sure hope so.

Well, One can only go with what they know.

Looks like a class act and a cordial evening.

I can't speak for others, but this is what I am hoping to see more of. I can't see how anyone Conservative or not, couldn't fail to have a cordial evening with Obama.

Obama is a thinker, and so are lots and lots of earnest folks on the right. The problem remains that their voices get drowned out by the drool of the chattering classes.

People telling the truth in civil tones is a good start. It is an example to follow.

(singing)

...You ask me for a contribution, well you know

We're all doin' what we can

If you want money for people with minds that hate

All I can tell you is buddy, you'll have to wait..

Are you listening, Rush? Turn up the ol' Belltone, now.

-------------------

Really, some of this Republican behavior is so utterly decent that it must make you nauseous. I sure hope so.

Will Obama be hosting a dinner for sonofloud and the rest of the batshit-crazy PUMAs or will he have to visit each of their parent's basements individually?

Once again, Obama's judgment has proven sound. This was exactly the reaction he wanted, and he knew he'd get it from these people, who don't really stand on any principles so much as gravitate toward the light--like moths.

I retract my earlier sarcastic remarks regarding his motives and the wisdom of this choice. Divide and conquer, he's stripping the leading columnists and pseudo-intellectuals from the yahoos. The yahoos get to keep Hannity, Coulter and Limbaugh though so they should be ok.

But why Bill (I've never been right) Kristol and Peggy (hated the Clintons from day one because they were "tacky")Noonan? Have they ever added value to any political discussion?

Look at this piece of work give himself away. First comes the prizzy courtly opening:

"No, this is simply about good manners and spirited, civil debate. Something that is little understood on the Left."

Then having presumed to give our correspondent a lecture in good manners Elephantdung then refers to him thus:

"It sounds as though you were one of the moonbats predicting that Bush and Cheney would be declaring martial law,"

Couldn't help it could you? You were chaffing at chops to go large with the insults weren't you? And then:

"Really, some of this Republican behavior is so utterly decent that it must make you nauseous. I SURE HOPE SO."

And there we have it. A more concise an example of bad faith and despicable hypocrisy would be hard to find.

Bit of a loathsome perfumed shit bucket aren't you?

Thanks for the laugh. When the right no longer celebrates and adores bomb throwers like Coulter, O'Reilly, Limbaugh and Coulter, come back and tell us about how civil the right is.

Conservatives: self parodies, all of you.

Hey, in the interest of a little right wing "civility", let me quote Dick Cheney for you: "go fuck yourself". That was your side's line, remember? When Leahy attempted civility after a vote?

All you guys need are squeaky noses and big, floppy shoes.

I never never said this kind of rejection, if it happens, is a phenomenon peculiar to the right.

Also, FYI, Allahpundit of Hot Air talking about Kudlow and the other guests:

"Not a big deal, as everyone can relate to wanting to meet the president; I just hope it’s worth the aggravation they’ll get from parts of the grassroots who’ll question their objectivity vis-a-vis Obama going forward."

http://hotair.com/archives/2009/01/14/video-kudlow-on-dinner-with-the-messiah/

"I retract my earlier sarcastic remarks regarding his motives and the wisdom of this choice. Divide and conquer, he's stripping the leading columnists and pseudo-intellectuals from the yahoos."

Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you. Those guys have the machine behind them. They can afford to flatter and sound impressed. They are just smoother more accomplished operators than the idiot give away lackey boy that is Elephantman. They'll soon dump on him. And they'll do it with pained expressions whining about how disappointed they were in him that had so much promise when they first met him.

Obama was fool. Breaking bread with the lead Haw Haw Kristol, I ask you? A night of the long knives opportunity was missed I'd have thought.