After the Nixon/Ford term the nation was so fed up we elected a man who was everything but tough enough. Too decent, too aware of the issues, he was eaten up by jingoism and appeals to the lowest in us.

I'm afraid we may do that again. Obama is smart, able to think on his feet and has a good grasp of the issues. I wonder if he's tough enough, able to appeal to those who think completely of themselves and are unable to grasp the idea that the US and the world is a community.

As for Truman and Pendergrast, that was a different relationship. Truman was "sponsored" by Pendergrast early on and would not have won his first term in the Senate without the machine stuffing the ballot boxes. However, Harry broke with him and earned his second term legitimately. Truman was a loyal friend, though, and able to like the man while not approving of the machine.

Arf