It’s refreshing that Barack Obama tries not to offer simple solutions to complex issues. But as Charles Blow of the New York Times noted, Obama shows “an unsettling penchant for overly nuanced statements that meander into the cerebral. Earth to Barack: to Main Street America, nuance equals confusion. You don’t have to dumb it down, but you do have to sum it up.”
Now it’s John McCain’s turn to make his vice presidential pick. Dan Schnur, communications director for McCain’s 2000 campaign, is arguing for Sen. Joe Lieberman. His reasons include Lieberman’s foreign policy experience and his close relationship to McCain. But one of his main arguments is that Lieberman would allow McCain to be a maverick again, which he hasn’t been for most of this campaign. “There is nothing that John McCain treasures more dearly than his nonconformist reputation, the idea that he’s a different breed of politician,” Schnur wrote.
However, several of McCain’s campaign advisers said last week that McCain was unlikely to pick a running mate who wasn’t pro-life.
Beloit College’s Mindset List for the class of 2012 has some mind-blowing revelations for those of a certain age. Among its 60 points about the life experience of this fall’s college freshmen: “Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.” “Films have never been X-rated, only NC-17.” “Clarence Thomas has always sat on the Supreme Court.” “IBM has never made typewriters.” “Radio stations have never been required to present both sides of public issues.” “‘The Tonight Show’ has always been hosted by Jay Leno.” And (my favorite) “Wayne Newton (in photo) has never had a mustache.” The college in Beloit, Wis., has released these lists for professors for the past 11 years, “a reminder of the rapidly changing frame of reference for this new generation.”
If Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, is holding a grudge against Gov. Kathleen Sebelius over the coal-plant fight, he didn’t let it show in a New York Times profile of the governor last week. The article described her as “a darling of environmentalists” for blocking the Holcomb plant. “That’s the only major disagreement we’ve had since she took office,” Morris said. “She knew she would have to work with Republicans when she came in, and she’s done pretty well doing that.” He also noted that she’s “taken advantage” of the ideological split in the Kansas GOP.
