While I don't go so far as saying it's a clear advantage for foreign affairs in general,  I happen to agree with the underlying premise of the following statement.  

A president with a Muslim grandfather will go a long way to restore trust in the Muslim world. Maybe this is unfair to all the white candidates running for president, but it’s the truth: Obama will have a clear advantage in foreign affairs by virtue of who he is.

There's a huge reaction right now to this speculation of Billy Shaheen, Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire co-chair, regarding one of Obama's potential weaknesses in the general election:

"The Republicans are not going to give up without a fight ... and one of the things they're certainly going to jump on is his drug use," said Shaheen....

Shaheen said Obama's candor on the subject would "open the door" to further questions. "It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?'" Shaheen said. "There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome."

How terrible!  How awful!  How dare he bring up something personal in the context of it possibly making Democrats a target, or as a problem of electability that needs to be discussed.  Obama would never do something like that.  Or would he?

Certainy he would.  He already has.

According to a press release this morning by Hillary Clinton, she has received another national union endorsement,  but this one has a twist.  

The Clinton Campaign today announced the endorsement of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE). IATSE represents more than 100,000 members in the motion picture, theatrical and television professions.
"Hillary Clinton’s ability to create real change for America’s working families is exactly what this country needs," said IATSE International President Thomas C. Short. "She has the strength and experience to provide quality, affordable health care for every American and rebuild our middle class."
"I am honored to have the support of the hard working men and women of IATSE," Clinton said. "I will continue to stand with them as they fight for fair wages and safe working conditions across our country."

As the primary season has heated up, there are the inevitable flurry of television ads from all the candidates.  Several of these have already been diaried here on DKos, and either praised to the heavens or picked apart by detractors.

Personally, I have always been a big fan of the truly humorous ad. It's more difficult for a campaign to do than you'd think, because there is a fine line between a gentle tongue-in-cheek reality check and something that comes across as a cynical mocking of your opponent.  It is very very hard to hit that balance, such that it will provoke even an opponent's suppporters to chuckle. It backfires easily, so many don't even try it.  

Joe Biden's team has accomplished that balancing act, in my book.  

In the past couple of days, I've seen a diary, and lots of comments, saying that Dodd is trying to disenfranchise the youth vote in Iowa.  I've also seen a diary, and comments, that Obama is using Rovian tactics.

Before we decide that it's "Off with his head!" for either Democrat, both of whom I admire, let me explain why I believe neither claim is true.

The latest attack on Democrats has come today from that bastion of pro-Liberal journalism, the Washington Post.  Within hours of this article condemning Bill Clinton's supposed lying about his war stance appearing, the left blogosphere was all over it smelling blood.  

Why is this article and by extension the diaries touting it, wrong and a hit piece extraordinaire?  Because it cherry picks in the extreme.  Because before piling on, no one bothered to find out if it was indeed the whole picture.  I can forgive doing that to Republicans, a little bit.  I cannot forgive doing it to Democrats. Yes, we should criticize our own.  But if we do, we need to make even doubly sure we are being fair. Triply sure.   Here's the larger picture of what Bill said on the Iraq war:

This is an appeal to all of those who are seeking the path of True Progressiveness (blessed be its name).   You will not find the salvation of the Democratic Party in either The Baby Jesus or The Buddha.  As a matter of fact, they both suck.  I've thought about this long and hard, and have decided that making sure you guys are acutely and constantly aware of my distaste for them is a selfless public service on my part.  No need to thank me - I live to serve.  Please follow me over the fold, while I vaguely trash them both, in the name of being helpful to you all as you make your similar decisions.

I originally posted this as a comment in another diary, but it got rather long, so it was suggested I post it as a diary.  Let me say at the outset that I do not presume to think that my feelings are universal. I don't think that every woman should feel bad or sad about having an abortion, or find it a difficult decision.  Some don't, and that's fine. We are all different, but I am specifically speaking here of those who find it difficult.

Often, in talking to pro-lifers, their stance is rooted in their own emotions, in their own feelings about pregnancy.  Statistics aren't going to change those feelings. How can they feel the way they do and not be against abortion?   I'm not speaking of the hard core loonies, but mostly women who would vote pro-choice if they could get past the thought that being pro-choice negates their personal moral feelings.  So I try to show them how you can love babies and treasure even the unborn, and still be solidly pro-choice.  I give them one concrete example.  I sit them down and tell them about who really has abortions, and it's not just the people they think.  I tell them my own story.  Sometimes I sway them, because I am very much like them.

This diary will be more of a rant than anything else. Or at least a personal anecdote that has me fuming, so don't expect lots of linky goodness.  My story involves Wellcare, one of the Medicare part D drug plans, and the scenario that has been unfolding here in my husband's medical office today.  

For those who think that these private insurer plans have any interest at all in appropriate treatment for patients, follow me over the fold to find out just how infuriatingly unconcerned they are with anything other than their own profits - and how the system is stacked in favor of protecting their profits at all costs.