God, Republicans are saps.

FROM the front page of the RNC website, and also now a big NYT editorial by David Brooks, this:

"God, Republicans are saps."

Of course, the RNC cut it from their press bulletin. Which is the main news item on their site.

But for the substance, it's quite wrong.
Before I start, however, I'd like to criticize the language of this piece. "Fast Eddie", "Lakefront Liberal", "Under the bus", "Speechifier". What a silly way to write an article. And insulting, too. No evidence, just name-calling.
Here's the point by point.

• THE CLAIM: "He speaks so calmly and polysyllabically that people fail to appreciate the Machiavellian ambition inside."
• Machiavellian ambition? Like Clinton, or McCain, each having been on the national stage, looking for their parties nomination for years? Who had both "thrown people under the bus" to get votes? Who both have given speeches? Maybe it's because he doesn't call his wife a cunt. That would make him monosyllabic, like another presidential candidate we all know.
• THE CLAIM: "Back when he was in the Illinois State Senate, Dr. Barack could have taken positions on politically uncomfortable issues. But Fast Eddie Obama voted “present” nearly 130 times. From time to time, he threw his voting power under the truck."
• This claim is easy to dismiss. From an op-ed by Mr. Mikva, a former Illinois state senator and legal scholar: "Unlike Congress and the legislatures of most other states, each chamber of the Illinois Legislature requires a ''constitutional majority'' to pass a bill. The state Senate has 59 members, so it takes 30 affirmative votes. This makes a ''present'' vote the same as a no. If a bill receives 29 votes, but the rest of the senators vote ''present,'' it fails." In other words, a present vote is a no vote. But why vote present instead of no? "A 'present' vote can send a signal to a bill's sponsors that the legislator might support an amended version. Voting 'present' can also be a way to exercise fiscal restraint, without opposing the subject of the bill."
• THE CLAIM: Dr. Barack said he could no more disown the Rev. Jeremiah Wright than disown his own grandmother. Then the political costs of Rev. Wright escalated and Fast Eddie Obama threw Wright under the truck.
• Aside from the name-calling, Obama never "threw Wright under the truck". He was thrown under the truck by Fox News and conservatives who were uncomfortable. These are the same people who claim that Obama didn't disown Wright fast enough.

• THE CLAIM: Dr. Barack could have changed the way presidential campaigning works. John McCain offered to have a series of extended town-hall meetings around the country. But favored candidates don’t go in for unscripted free-range conversations. Fast Eddie Obama threw the new-politics mantra under the truck."

• Town hall meetings aren't part of the "new" politics. If they were, then every politician since 1980 would be a "new" politician. New politics are about inclusion. About the internet. It's about bringing new people into the process - high information voters, not low information. It's exploring other media channels. And, in fact, Obama has agreed to a town hall style meeting with John McCain. Remember, McCain is behind in the polls. Anything that brings him press will improve his chances, especially standing next to Obama. Winners don't debate losers.
• THE CLAIM: But Thursday, at the first breath of political inconvenience, Fast Eddie Obama threw public financing under the truck. In so doing, he probably dealt a death-blow to the cause of campaign-finance reform. And the only thing that changed between Thursday and when he lauded the system is that Obama’s got more money now.
• Public financing is smart - a great way to prevent corruption in political processes. Of course, the GOP wants to tie Obama to public financing because then he wouldn't be able to use money from the millions and millions of people who have donated to his campaign. This narrative is pretty tired, though. Public financing was declared dead in 2004 when the candidates outraised the limits by far and 527s ruled the airwaves. We need reform, not promises to outdated methods.

What a silly, silly editorial, custom made for the RNC. Read todays talking points, add insults, and print.