Now look, people. Nobody denies the importance of dealing with racism.

But those who mock the idea of Holder just saying that many Americans have not dealt with racism should consider the recent past: specifically Obama and the "bitter" remark--which as I said was a major issue for months, thanks to Hillary--and came close to derailing Obama. I'll bet you a nickel that President Obama, having learned from this, has now had a talk with Mr. Holder, pointing out that "nation of cowards" just isn't the way to win friends and influence people--and just now he has some more pressing business than trying to bring white America to the true path in matters of race.

The idea is fine, the incendiary language is not.

Further, it should be obvious to anyone who thinks about it that the best possible way for the Administration to improve race relations is for the Obama Administration to be extremely successful in grappling with the economic problems of the nation as well as dealing with a tricky international situation. This will give the lie to the fondly held canard that blacks somehow aren't up to one of the hardest jobs in the world, as well as further burnish the already excellent image and role model President Obama now presents. And be far more effective in changing minds than any jawing about race.

To that end, he realizes he will need the support of people all over the US--including in red states. The passing of his program will depend on the support of many who disagree with him on various issues.

Therefore he would be foolish to endorse the idea of alienating anybody needlessly. And that is exactly what the phrase "nation of cowards"--in any context--does.

I suspect strongly that outside Mudcat, the views of Sawsaw and Riginslinger are closer to the majority--especially in "red states".

It makes no difference if the overwhelming majority of Mudcatters think "nation of cowards" is just peachy.    Mudcat is just not an accurate reflection of the US population. And wishing, I'm sorry to say, will not in fact make it so.

President Obama has his eye on the prize: dealing with the economic and international situation. And soothing the ruffled feathers of those who don't like "nation of cowards" is a distraction from more pressing business. So the way to avoid that problem is just to avoid inflammatory speech--which I predict is now the word being sent to all Cabinet members.

It's just not productive, any more than many of the other pet Mudcat projects: removing "In God We Trust" from coinage, deleting "under God" from from the Pledge, deleting "so help me God" from the inaugural oath. These are all pointless trivia when it comes to dealing with national problems.

Certainly is fortunate that the Mudcatters pushing these and like projects are not in positions of any power in the Administration. And if they were, and tried to put these ideas into practice, they would be quickly shown the door.