I've been away from the keyboard for a bit, trying to restore some additional order to the chaos that is life. Being away for extended periods without any commentary is bad blogging though. Sometimes a brief word or two is all it takes to keep the blog fires burning, so lets have a few.
On the GOP nomination race
Palin Predictions: Speculation is rampant once again that the Thrilla from Wasilla is going to run. Rove suggests its possible based on a seemingly ramped up schedule in September. Though I'm sure Rove would love to see anyone come into the race who throw a monkey wrench into Perry's plans, we stand by our longstanding prediction that Palin will not run. Though the comparison is not entirely fair, to our mind, Palin has become something of the Kim Kardashian of politics. She's managed to turn her 15 minutes into a 24/7 and more power to her, but you can't be a money making political celebrity and a serious candidate at the same time (just look at Herman Cain). She makes the media's hearts go pitter patter and I'd take great interest in watching her try, but its not gonna happen. 
Perry's Pursuit of the Presidency: Gov. Rick Perry has thrown his hat into the ring and become the instant favorite on Intrade and in various polls. I think he will be a bit of a litmus test for the political intelligence of the Tea Party contingent of the GOP. He talks a good game, but just the little I've read of his record thus far doesn't secure his conservative bona fides with me, and prominent voices in the conservative movement are going hard on Perry. Michelle Malkin is calling him out as a crony capitalist among other unsavory things. She essentially says he's no better than Obama. Our prediction: Perry is likely at the top of his popularity right now, but his vetting is only getting started. We think its all down here from here as the base and the establishment really give him the once over. Our money says its Romney's nomination to lose, barring the entrance of an unknown better candidate.Other Contenders: There is talk of Chris Christie or Ryan getting into the race. We'll make some more predictions there too: neither Christie nor Ryan will run.
On Leaving Obama
A significant and growing portion of people out there who regard themselves as progressives are feeling truly disaffected from Obama by the day. Calls for a primary challenger to him for the nomination have begun to sound on the left and those calls may grow even louder. Its an interesting phenomenon, but whats really blowing me away is the vociferous grass roots reaction to criticism of Obama that has been opened up on black politicians and opinion leaders by regular black folk, occasionally amplified by celebrity. Maxine Waters is finding herself in the crossfire. Nasty criticisms have shown up on line of her for criticizing the president, leveled by black folk. The pushback is hard and nasty enough that Waters even bleats about getting beat up for talking critically about the president (hear it at 4:17 in this video clip). Usual suspects Cornel West and Tavis Smiley recently got called Uncle Toms by Steve Harvey, who criticized their so called Poverty Tour, which just rolled through Columbus, Mississippi.
