Echoes of War

"Ultimately, he's currently saying that he doesn't need people like me to win this thing, and he's right. He doesn't. If they've got polling or whatnot that says that this is his best path to victory, so much the better. I want him to win big. But when the Obama campaign makes those calculations, they have to realize that they're going to necessarily lose some intensity of support. It's not all upside. And for me, that is reflected in a lack of interest in making that contribution."

Caroline Kennedy, you may recall, is one of Obama's veep-vetters. And the New Republic's Michelle Cottle says the gig could help her:

"Critics may deride Kennedy Schlossberg as an unqualified and twitty political dilettante, but it doesn't take a strategy expert to grasp why Obama has carved out such a prominent role for her. She is a Kennedy. She is a woman. Better still, up to this point she has largely steered clear of the unseemly business of electoral politics. Instead, she has nurtured the family legacy by quietly tending the memories of others: first dad, then mom, and even brother John. In a family full of paparazzi magnets, self-promoters, and aspiring political stars, Kennedy Schlossberg has long glowed softly in the minds of many as the Great Custodian--an eternally gracious, dignified, selfless link to a purer, more buoyant political age.

"But this alliance may be an even shrewder move for Kennedy Schlossberg than for Obama. It's been 45 years since the fall of Camelot, and the family brand has begun to fade. A growing portion of the electorate was born after the deaths of John and Bobby and has a tough time relating to the Kennedy fixation of its elders. Under such conditions, what's a committed custodian of the family legacy to do? Hitch her clan's wagon to the hottest political star in decades. With a little luck, even as that old Camelot magic rubs off on Obama, the candidate's energy and relevance will help sustain the Kennedy brand for a little longer. If that means Kennedy Schlossberg must surrender her cherished privacy to suffer through unflattering media cycles and self-conscious stump speeches (memo to the campaign: urge her not to try a fist pump again--ever), then so be it. For JFK's daughter, preserving the family legacy has always come first. And, as the last few months have shown, she's pretty darn good at it--or, at least, better than her reputation as a political naif would suggest."

If talking about McCain getting shot down is touchy, what about his septuagenarian status? Myrna Blyth unloads on a NYT piece by Charles Blow:

"The Times has published Blow's seemingly acceptable op-ed, which sneers at McCain's 'joshing grandpa shtick' and compares McCain's 'wispy comb-over,' 'stilted grin,' and 'blank expressions' to those of the 'cover boy' the 'camera loves.'

"Oh, maybe there's more to this than ageism. Maybe Blow is trying to contend with Maureen Dowd for this month's New York Times Let's Make Fun of Anyone But Obama Award . . .

"So let's call the hand-wringing about McCain's age from now on exactly what it is: the ugly, uninformed prejudice of ageism that should go the way of other ill-informed prejudices. Especially at a time when economists say people will have to work longer to sustain themselves for the many years of life they will probably enjoy -- when older Americans volunteer to work longer and harder to give us the benefit of their experience, we should not criticize their inclination. Rather, we should applaud it."

The veepstakes is becoming a full-time media preoccupation. At Politico, Mike Allen has the latest:

"In a surprise to many Republican insiders, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is at the top of the vice presidential prospect list for John McCain. But lack of personal chemistry could derail the pick. 'Romney as favorite' is the hot buzz in Republican circles, and top party advisers said the case is compelling."

Top of the list? How did he get the list? Or is the list just metaphorical? But such posts feed the beast, with Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum seeing Romney as a good choice:

"Like most liberals, I think this is a great idea because it would provide lots of good material for future blog mockery. Still, that's just a personal insta-reaction, and I wouldn't be too quick to write this off as a dumb move. Yes, there's the whole Mormon/evangelical thing, and God knows McCain doesn't need even more problems with the evangelical community. But Romney helps him with conservatives, helps him with fundraising, is unlikely to make any serious gaffes, and can hold his own in a debate. Personal chemistry aside, he might be a fairly shrewd choice."