Pdq never said that Newt Gingroch, Sarah Palin, Tom DeLay, Tom Ridge, Don Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft were among the best and the brightest, Amos. That was your extrapolation of what he said. What he said was that the best and the brightest among us wouldn't want to go into politics these days because they would fear being targeted in a similar fashion as has happened to many contemporary politicians, and they wouldn't feel it was worth it.

I think he's right...in general. Many fine and exceptional people who might make great leaders just don't want to face the astonishing bullshit and hostility of contemporay politics and have their lives ruined by it.

Barack Obama is one of the best and the brightest who has dared face the vicious nature of today's politics...and so far he is standing up well to it.