When pundits not normally inclined to criticize Barack Obama take John McCain’s side in a tussle over McCain’s Iraq comments (and for bonus points throw in praise for McCain’s new blogger Michael Goldfarb), it is safe to say that the Obama camp has overreached.

When Joe Klein lauds military and political progress in Iraq (“Indeed, the successful operations in Basra, Sadr City and Mosul have had a completely unexpected effect on the stature of the formerly hapless Nouri Al-Maliki: At a recent cabinet meeting after the Sadr City operation, the entire room stood when Maliki entered, a sign of newfound respect for a leader who was regarded as little more than a place-holder only months ago”), it is safe to say things are looking up and the success of the surge is beyond dispute.

When Katie Couric charges the media with blatant sexism in its coverage of Hillary Clinton, it is safe to say she is not just referring to Hillary but to herself.

And when people are building 40,000-square-foot homes in Los Angeles, it is safe to say that Al Gore hasn’t made much of a dent in the environmental conscience of the rich and famous.