Do you see it? Have you noticed?

One: The pundits said Obama must avoid making this election a referendum on race. That was exactly his plan and execution and it worked. He was about ideas and energy and change. So what are Chris Matthews and company (and even McCain himself) hawking in their homilies to the president-elect? Booker T. Washington, Racial Milestones, MLK-torch-passing, American Progress, Social feel-good. Odd. Oddly narcissistic. And way off-strategy.

Two: Last week, according to the GOP line, Obama was a Socialist Terrorist-sympathizer from Mars, bent on destroying America.

This week? GOP Chairman Mike Duncan, yesterday:

In all, with Barack Obama’s promises to cut taxes, merit pay for public school teachers, and renewed offshore drilling, I would say he simply ran the most successful moderate Republican presidential campaign since Dwight Eisenhower.

Yes, Eisenhower. Somehow, I don't see Obama making any Military Industrial Complex speeches any time soon because, hey, that was some radical stuff.



Three: Ready to lead, a heartbeat away, country first? Not according to Newsweek. McCain's organization now says she was more dangerous and politically immature than Obama ever was:



Country First!™

Four: Joe the Plumber, Crusader against Socialist redistributionist policies? Yep, Welfare-recipient as a child. Better for it too, he says. But that's okay, cuz he now pays into the system. Except when he doesn't...



[update] Forgot to add this: For me, this election proves something really simple. You can't argue with ideologues. You can only make them irrelevant or inert. But remember, Ideology is supremely powerful. Supplant their complaints with your ideas. Give your ideas "handles" in the form of structure, patterns and tasks, but always remember: Nobody ever throws themselves on a hand-grenade for a spreadsheet. Always recall that last part and you will win. You will not beat them or persuade them, you will overpower them.