Right.

"Oh, Mitt Romney's not going to be president of the United States ," Pelosi said, rolling her eyes. "I think everybody knows that, right?"

H/T Crooks & Liars.

Good question...

...from Steve M....

Can the GOP win the Presidency with two Vice Presidential candidates on the ticket?

I'm dubious myself, to a pretty extreme degree, but it sure looks like they're gonna try.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Heather Taylor-Miesle of the NRDC Action Fund inquires...

Should Candidates Who Don’t Believe in Science Be Disqualified from Serving as President?

Since you asked, yes.

From the "Me neither" file.

John Cole...

I honestly don’t know why anyone wants Obama’s job.

Me neither. Sometimes, in fact, I think that the desire for the job should be an automatic disqualification.

As far as The Speech goes, what John said.

From the "Since you asked…" file.

Taegan Goddard inquires...

Who Benefits with Huckabee Not Running?

Since you asked, America. Heck, the whole darn world.

From the "Signs of the apocalypse" file.

The Obama SEAL doll...

What Nate Silver said…

…here, about…

…the largely irrelevant news about Haley Barbour not running for president.

It means no more than the apparently impending announcement from Ron Paul.

Neither of these men will ever be President of the United States.

That's just one reason I'm proud to be an American.

On the other hand…

…while I like the "yes we can" spirit that the mention of the response to Sputnik - big dreams and big investment around a common purpose - conjures, at least to me, the earmark veto pledge is just silly pandering to a constituency that's not going to appreciate it.

Well, it's more than that, I suppose. It's an executive branch power grab, too. The ability of Congress to write the budget pretty much any way they please is one of their Constitutional prerogatives, and one that I doubt either party in either house is eager to yield easily.

Prediction of the day.

From Steve M. ...

IN THE FUTURE, EVERY REPUBLICAN WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT FOR 15 MINUTES

What we want...

…or, apparently, don't. The former half-term governor of Alaska says she'll run for President if the American people want her to. Guess she's not running. Via Salon...

According to a new CBS poll, America really doesn't care for Sarah Palin. She is viewed favorably by 22% of Americans, and unfavorably by 48%. Those are not great numbers for a potential 2012 candidate.

Does not great = not running? Well, yeah, unless she's lying. Of course, she's a Republican, so...

From the "Time flies" file.

Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for President two years ago today.

Oliver has video. Go get inspired again.

A question…

…for the 'question time' crowd. What about the Constitution?

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for Congressional caucuses, partisan and otherwise, inviting the President, any President, to join them in any event or deliberation they deem appropriate, and I'm all for Presidents accepting those invitations when they think they'll be a productive investment of time. I just don't see any way to formalize, or particularly to require the kind of question time we see in parliamentary systems given the constitutional separation of powers that we have here in the US.

Even the State of the Union address is delivered in response to a Congressional invitation. While a report to the Congress is the President's constitutional obligation, he's not compelled to deliver it as a speech to a joint session, nor is the Congress compelled to invite him. The whole business could be, and has been, handled with a written report.

President Obama's recent Q & A with the House Republicans was good theater for those of us who enjoy seeing Republican vacuity and obstruction widely displayed, but that's not sufficient ground, I'm afraid, for a permanent policy that strikes at the heart of the balance between the three branches of our government.

Those interested in fixing what's wrong with the other Washington would be better served investing their time and attention in filibuster reform and ending the ludicrous practice of allowing individual Senators to bring the appointment process to a standstill with nonsense like blanket holds when their appetite for pork isn't sufficiently sated.

It's time for...

And now...

Ask the man who's been one.

“Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. Barack Obama is ready to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be president of the United States.”

Woof!

Truth.

From John McCain's Annapolis classmate and fellow POW Commander Phillip Butler, USN (Retired)…

John was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart for heroism and wounds in combat. This heroism has been played up in the press and in his various political campaigns. But it should be known that there were approximately 600 military POW's in Vietnam. Among all of us, decorations awarded have recently been totaled to the following: Medals of Honor - 8, Service Crosses - 42, Silver Stars - 590, Bronze Stars - 958 and Purple Hearts - 1,249. John certainly performed courageously and well. But it must be remembered that he was one hero among many - not uniquely so as his campaigns would have people believe.

He puts Wes Clark in some pretty authoritative company, too

I furthermore believe that having been a POW is no special qualification for being President of the United States. The two jobs are not the same, and POW experience is not, in my opinion, something I would look for in a presidential candidate.

The whole piece at military.com is a remarkable bit of McCain myth-busting by a source with unimpeachable credentials.

Hat tip to dday.

Yeah…

Bill Clinton...

"You could argue that no one's ever ready to be president."

...you could. And you'd probably win.

And now...

From the "Worth remembering" file.

Whenever you hear someone explain that no one has ever been elected President of the United States (without) (except) (until) (etc.), it's worth remembering that hardly anyone has ever been elected President Of the United States. Even fewer of these United States.

Bipartisanship…

…at least in a nostalgic sense, seems to be busting out all over. Diane shares a little Ike love over at Tough Donkey, sending me scrambling for the latest fundraising missive from my own personal Congressman, which leads off with these words worth repeating...

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, and the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross."

Dwight David Eisenhower
April 16, 1953

Remember respecting the office and the man, regardless of party? You must be near as old as I am...