I watched with amazement at the discussion that occurred last week in Baltimore between President Barack Obama and the House Republican Conference.

I was not amazed by the president’s performance. I knew he would rise to the occasion, because he is good at being exactly at who he is. He does not have to make this up. He does not have to try hard. He does not need to write notes on his palm. He was civil and likable. You could tell that even conservative GOP House members who strongly disagreed with him ... well, they clearly like him. And how can you not? He’s a nice guy, a good guy, a decent guy — who is as good at depersonalizing criticism and moving on, as good at not holding grudges (though he might be entitled to do so, in many instances), as any person I have seen in 40-plus years of active involvement in politics.

Remembering the absorbing details and back stories of the historic presidential campaign of 2008, one feature mentioned in passing in Heilemann and Halperin’s Game Change popped out to me. That is the role of marriage in the candidates’ campaigns.

With the exception of an early squabble over Michelle Obama’s remark about being proud of America, the Obama marriage was, and remains, a strength of that politician. Mrs. Obama was a strong spokeswoman for her husband during the campaign and remains today an extraordinarily popular and successful first lady. She had been a pleasant contrast in his early 2004 Illinois Senate campaign, which was helped by disclosure of his two main opponents’ divorce records.

President Obama seems to be trying a little bit too hard to get a gold star and a pat on the back for (finally) agreeing to meet with congressional Republicans on healthcare. Contrary to his claims, he has not made the effort before. He may even have been able to be taken at his word that he really wants to work with Republicans were it not for his insistence that he be televised talking with Republicans. Lest we forget, it was House Republicans who invited the president to meet with them at their retreat, but the president who invited the press to witness it.

Well, fun works, and maybe Dustin Haisler from Manor Labs has the right idea.

In Does gaming have a place in government? he speculates about two ways that might build on existing approaches to get people involved:
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Chris Matthews made me crack under pressure yesterday on “Hardball” when he asked the question (incessantly, I might add), “Why didn’t Republicans pass a national healthcare plan when they had control of the Congress?”

I said, simply, like a tortured prisoner, “Because we don’t support government-run healthcare.”

He really got me. The left wing blog-world noted triumphantly that I spilled the beans. Read more...

Let's be blunt. One hundred and seventy-three Toyota dealers in the United States are plainly, simply un-American. They are the members of an association that covers five Southeastern states, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina, that have decided to pull their advertising from ABC affiliates in their coverage area. Why? Because ABC news has been giving what they've determined to be "excessive stories on the Toyota issues.” As I said, un-American.

John Murtha was one of those guys whose influence didn’t really translate that well in today’s media culture.

He was a rock-ribbed former Marine who had two key objectives in his congressional career: support the troops and take care of his district.

He attracted his fair share of controversy in his time. He was implicated in the infamous Ab-Scam controversy in the late 1970s. He was caught on tape thinking very carefully about a possible bribe attempt from an FBI agent posing as a Arab sheik. He narrowly escaped prosecution in a scandal that netted several politicians.

Sarah Palin gave a great speech Saturday night in Nashville at the Tea Party convention. She is preparing to engage on a national level in a significant way, on Fox News, campaigning in primaries and possibly general-election campaigns this fall and staying on the speaking tour. According to Sunday's New York Times, Palin has created a circle of advisers who probably wrote that speech and keep her informed on the issues of the day. She is admittedly prepping herself for a new role: someone prepared to talk about policy, not just about herself.

They paid Sarah Palin $100,000 — for what?

If I were the organizers of that event — or one of the “grassroots” teabaggers who shelled out $349 for a steak-and-lobster dinner — I’d demand my money back.

For 45 minutes, all Palin did was string together a lame collection of clichés and cheap shots, without offering one idea of her own. Three times, she called for “common-sense conservative solutions to problems” — without suggesting even one of them.