I'm definitely of the school of thought that thinks Joe Biden definitely is the frontrunner, and perhaps the already-chosen candidate for Vice President in our party. We'll know soon enough.

But, I've also been a big proponent that former Florida Senator and Governor Bob Graham is a natural and virtually perfect fit with Obama, as well.

When I've brought this up on these progressive blogs, people have pointed to Graham's age, 71, (which makes him younger than McCain) as perhaps the primary reason why he'd never be "the one." But, Biden's 65. So, I've got to think that the Obama campaign may have, actually, taken a closer look at Graham than many may think.

Successful national campaigns for the presidency combine extremely effective media--no matter how loathsome and low road it might be--with outstanding ground efforts.  And, since the GOP is the only party I know of that's won a national election in this country in the past 11-1/2 years, I am referring to the GOP'ers penchant for putting the two major pieces of this winning strategy together more effectively than us Dems during this era, as well.

With the Rethugs, winning is the only thing. With the Dems over the last few years...not so much...'cept maybe for the Clintons.

This year, Karl Rove is screwing around with the voting public's psyche in innovative ways we won't even begin to understand until after the Election's over. Hopefully, this diary helps shed a little light on their latest Orwellian mindf**k.

I've been doing this Democratic political "media" thing--along with the advertising and p.r. and corp. communications "thing"--for a long time.  

30 years.

So, in this diary, I rant a little...no links...no quotes...just me..."just sayin'...."

WELCOME TO "THE 'CULT' OF IN YOUR FACE!"
I was just watching Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer and David Brooks. And, it was an interesting study of Brooks "talking down" to Obama supporters in a kind of lame-but-paternal manner. In short, if I could take a little license and paraphrase him, he was calling us (Obama supporters) a little cultish, a little too intense; in short he was saying: Lighten up a bit. Stop acting 'cultish.' Stop being the 'ones you've been waiting for,' since that literally/really means: 'You've been waiting for yourself.' (For a moment, I even chuckled at Brooks' comment.)

I understand that. (When you're a vociferous supporter of a cause, whatever it is, it can turn other folks off. Hell, the opposition is now exploiting this depth of support of Obama's supporters versus McCain's supporters, attempting to spin it--more like grossly contort it--into a negative via a satirical t.v. commercial, where they compare Obama with visuals of Charlton Heston in his role as Moses.)

Six days ago I posted a diary entitled: "Four very brave Americans." It was a report about a retired minister and three members of the Des Moines Catholic Workers community who were cited for trespassing as they attempted to conclude a citizen's arrest of Karl Rove while he was delivering a speech at a GOP fundraiser in Des Moines. "Des Moines Catholic Worker: Second Arrest Attempt On Karl Rove In Iowa Leads To 4 Arrests."

As indicated by the title of the story about the matter, instead of arresting Rove, those four very brave Americans were, themselves, arrested for trespassing.

After the first defendent, Mona Shaw, explained to the arraigning judge that they were "...attempting to make a citizen's arrest of Karl Rove," this is what Polk County Fifth Judicial District Associate Judge William Price had to say about the matter: "Well, it's about time."

After following the speculation on Obama's V.P. selection efforts of late, and then reading comments by Jerome (Clinton not V.P.?) and Jeralynn (Is Kaine a Smokescreen for Kathleen Sebelius?) today, I'm going to go out on a limb (wouldn't be the first time; and it won't be the first time if commenters to this diary saw it off, either) and suggest that what Jerome inferred at the very end--in an update--of his post today may be a reality:

"Jeralyn is wondering whether Kaine is a smokescreen for Sebelius. I highly doubt it, but maybe for someone else.

I believe there's a real dark horse--a downright obvious choice and perhaps even a favorite heretofore not focused upon as such--in the Democratic V.P. race...

Reports are beginning to circulate--as "pieces" of information are beginning to paint a possible picture this evening--that Barack Obama may be announcing today that he's chosen Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to join him as the V.P. candidate on the Democratic ticket.

Just in tonight: Governor Kaine has cancelled all scheduled appearances for the balance of the week, starting with the cancellation of an appearance at a rather major Party event in Baltimore Wednesday evening, due to "scheduling problems." The story, from a few hours ago, is available here: "Kaine Cancels Appearance at Baltimore Fundraiser Tomorrow."

On a day when the U.S. government predicted that the budget deficit for our next President's first year in office, 2009, will be just under a half trillion dollars, George W. Bush's former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, and former Bush SEC Commissioner William Donaldson announced that they have joined the presumptive Democratic nominee's economic advisory team.

I guess that kind of says it all right there, doesn't it?

Jake Tapper, ABC's senior national correspondent reported it first right here: "Two former Bush Advisers Now Advising Obama, Will Appear at Economic Meeting Today."