The 2008 Election Just Started

This Hillary/Obama "talking to our enemies" thing is getting pretty big. Obama is continuing to call Hillary's intransigence "Bush/Cheney lite" and saying that this is part of a Washington consensus that is inside-the-box thinking. Hillary struck back by trying to blur the lines of distinction, as has been her tactic the entire campaign, since she's in front:

SEN. CLINTON: "Well, this is getting kind of silly. I've been called a lot of things in my life but I've never been called George Bush or Dick Cheney certainly. We have to ask what's ever happened to the politics of hope?

"I have been saying consistently for a number of years now, we have to end the Bush era of ignoring problems, ignoring enemies and adversaries. And I have been absolutely clear that we've got to return to robust and effective diplomacy. But I don't want to see the power and prestige of the United States President put at risk by rushing into meetings with the likes of Chavez, and Castro, and Ahmadinejad."

This is really the opening salvo in this election. Until now everyone's been patient and unwilling to challenge, but Obama's team obviously feels that he sees an opening. For what it's worth, Mitt Romney came down on this on the side of Hillary... how do you think THAT will play with Democratic primary voters.

Hillary is desperate to make everyone think that all of the Democratic candidates are exactly the same, so you might as well go with Brand Clinton. If the other candidates allow her to do that, she'll be the nominee. Obama has obviously seen that this is the moment to strike. Paradoxically, if they take each other down this could actually help Edwards and the other candidates by bringing them back to the field. But really this should help Obama. In a change election, his message is absolutely on the mark.