Well said, PB.

And when McCain doesn't copy, he's got Bush to do it for him.......

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In a brilliant election year move, the most prominent GOPer has acted out a strategic move that on one hand is prudent, on another hand is looking ominously transparent, and on yet another hand is precisely what McCain needs to make up a little room on Obama in the polls.

One of Obama's strongest positions for the upcoming election has been his aversion to Bush's current policy on Iran, and for very good reason. It's overbearing and stupid, which also happen to be the principal insults slung at every American from the Persian world. Obama wants the US to actively talk with Iran, and yes, throw in some conditions, but not the "we know you won't talk with us conditions" conditions.

But wait.

Now, Bushco says they'll talk with Iran, and have started plans to do so. It's win-win (for McCain, not necessarily for America). Why? Why now? Well, Bushco gets to set the standards and expectations - and from the statements I've read, it sounds as if they're picking up some old stuff from an ex-girlfriend's apartment. Well, since she slept with every member of the media, Bushco isn't going in with flowers or meaningful discussion points, it sounds like they'll grab their photos (of unfinished, low-grade refiners) and sulk out, only to head to the bar and talk about what a bitch she was, and what a terrible idea it was to even go there. It's hardly the open-minded, goal-oriented discussions that Obama was touting.

Okay, cynicism and terrible analogies aside....well, maybe just analogies. 1) If the talks work beautifully - then Obama gains a "judgement" point and McCain gains one "GOP strategy" point. 2) If the talks stall, Obama loses a "judgement" point (even if they aren't conducted as he outlined) and McCain grabs one "judgement" and one "GOP strategy" point 3) If the talks go really poorly, we end up in ANOTHER war and McCain gets elected, ipso facto (I'm not even sure if that's the term, but face it, after a STRONG round of national propoganda, this country will, sadly, not elect Obama, no matter what). And with secret "Emergency Executive Directives" floating about, if the talks go THAT POORLY, we probably won't have an election.