A Mike Huckabee book, lashing out at conservative activists and his former opponents, appears aimed at those who have concluded the real problem in the GOP is not enough negativity and sniping. Providing more fodder for the MSM won’t exactly endear Huckabee to the base.

Many of Marty Peretz’ criticisms of  Hillary Clinton seem equally applicable to Barack Obama. This sounds like him: “a person of shifting position.  The best you can say of her, then, is that she is flexible, endlessly flexible.” So does the dig that in her youth she was a “fashionable leftie.” (Well, he wasn’t so young when he still was a leftie. ) But really, isn’t this the most damning: “But her ambitions were not just careerism or even avarice but greater and greater pretension: ‘the politics of meaning,’ ‘it takes a village.'” What, unlike the “New Politics”? How about “We are the change we have been waiting for”?

It is an interesting question whether Democrats should be celebrating John Kerry’s loss in 2004. I know we wouldn’t have had Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito or the turnaround in Iraq. Still, I suppose if every election is measured in relation to the ascendancy of Barack Obama, it was a good thing for Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell tries to warn the President Elect off unnamed divisive issues: “As I see it, we face a simple choice: we can either work together to confront the big issues of the day that neither party is willing or able to tackle on its own, or the Majority can instead focus on narrow, partisan issues that appeal to a tiny sliver of the populace but which lack the support of the American mainstream.” I will name one: card check.

The way to get Republicans to re-examine old House leadership without direction is probably better accomplished by offering new leadership with direction. Complaining there is not sufficient time for Congressmen to talk on the floor isn’t going to cut it. Is this the best alternative that Republicans can come up with?

Michael Goldfarb, back from the McCain campaign, joins the unusual chorus of those conservatives supporting Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.

Could the Senate Democrats be so irrational as to shove Sen. Joe Lieberman into the arms of Mitch McConnell and the Republicans? It looks unlikely at this point, as they search for some lesser “punishment.”

Florida Governor Charlie Crist is not the first name that pops into the minds of many conservatives for 2012. But he got an “A” in fiscal discipline and tax cutting from CATO. (h/t Ramesh Ponnuru). Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman each got a “B.” Relative newcomers, like Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, are not included in this year’s ratings.

So much feigned victimhood, so many TV spots. The two might just be related, you know.