Or his total lack of a sense of shame. If someone managed to satirically broadside me that effectively, and if it was a fair characterization (which this was), I would refuse to step in front of a camera for the rest of my life.

What political slanderers like Olbermann (and the right-wing Limbaugh/Coulter types he has patterned himself on) is that they change no one's mind. The ideologically convinced will cheer or ignore, depending on their persuasion, and the uncommitted will be repulsed and be more likely to support their opponent than them. Their net effect is to do their own cause more harm than good.

I know that my political emotions (not opinions) have changed dramatically during the last few years; from someone with lefty views but no particular interest or committment in politics, to someone who can't wait to see the Conservative movement dismantled and humiliated. I have a feeling a lot of other people are starting to feel this way too, on both sides of the aisle. This is not a good way to run a democracy. The single most important factor in my radicalization has been the politics of divisiveness which has now become de rigeur in our public discourse. And most of this has happened right here on the Zone.
Sometimes getting the last word only means you'll have to eat it in the end.

My election prediction, I think Obama will get it, but I think it will be close; less than 5% in the popular vote, although the electoral vote could jump all over the place depending on how the big battleground states fall into line. If I had to lay odds, I'd say 60-40 for Obama, but I wouldn't bet the farm on the outcome. As the great Yogi reminds us, "It ain't over til it's over."

I've mentioned before that whoever wins this election, his partisans will come here to gloat, and their opponents will start making excuses. Those of you who are tempted to do so, just remember one thing: a lot can happen between the election and the inauguration. It could be a whole new ball game come January.