DON'T NEED BILL AYRES TO KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND BLOWS...DAVID GERGEN WILL DO:

Is the tide turning? (David Gergen, August 18, 2008,
CNN)

Heading into the candidates’ appearances on Saturday night at Saddleback Church, the conventional wisdom in politics was Barack Obama should have a clear upper hand in any joint appearance with John McCain — one the young, eloquent, cool, charismatic dude who can charm birds from the trees, the other the meandering, sometimes bumbling, old fellow who can barely distinguish Sunnis from Shiias.

Well, kiss that myth goodbye.

McCain came roaring out of the gate from the first question and was a commanding figure throughout the night as he spoke directly and often movingly about his past and the country’s future. By contrast, Obama was often searching for words and while far more thoughtful, was also less emotionally connective with his audience.

Hardly seems like it can have only been two weeks since Mr. Gergen was claiming that such talk about the Unicorn Rider was coded racism.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 19, 2008 9:56 AM