AND THE PUNCHLINE IS, "UNCLE BEN'S PERVERTED RICE" (via Kevin Whited)

Matthews: Obama Speech Caused 'Thrill Going Up My Leg' (Brad Wilmouth, February 13, 2008, Newsbusters)

During MSNBC's live coverage of Tuesday's presidential primary elections, after the speeches of Barack Obama and John McCain had aired, Chris Matthews expressed his latest over the top admiration for Obama's speaking skills as the MSNBC anchor admitted that Obama's speech created a "thrill" in his leg: "It's part of reporting this case, this election, the feeling most people get when they hear Barack Obama's speech. My, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often."

Goodbye to All That: Why Obama Matters (Andrew Sullivan, February 2008, Atlantic)

The logic behind the candidacy of Barack Obama is not, in the end, about Barack Obama. It has little to do with his policy proposals, which are very close to his Democratic rivals’ and which, with a few exceptions, exist firmly within the conventions of our politics. It has little to do with Obama’s considerable skills as a conciliator, legislator, or even thinker. It has even less to do with his ideological pedigree or legal background or rhetorical skills. Yes, as the many profiles prove, he has considerable intelligence and not a little guile. But so do others, not least his formidably polished and practiced opponent Senator Hillary Clinton.

Obama, moreover, is no saint. He has flaws and tics: Often tired, sometimes crabby, intermittently solipsistic...

At the point where Andrew Sullivan calls you solipsistic you pretty
much ought to collapse in on yourself like a black hole.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 13, 2008 3:08 PM