Obama stump speech

I saw Obama speak last night to enormous crowd of supporters in Washington Square Park and by now, as we actually approach the primaries, I have to say: Why the hell is he so damn oblique? I heard him take at least three pot-shots at Hillary in tonights speech, and all of them would have required that pundits and reporters have D.C.-lingo decoder rings if they wanted to know just what he meant.

He said that "his critics" touted their ability to "play the game" and "work the system"--but that the sad truth is that "the game is rigged" and that "the system doesn't work" for Americans. He's right! But what he really wants us to hear is that "Hillary Clinton, the woman who's more likely than me to win the nomination is a well-connected deal-maker and will only perpetuate the most toxic aspects of Washington politics." I understand what he means, and so do a small percentage of primary voters, but that's not enough to allow him to rebound in national--or even Iowa--polls.

I suppose it's possible that he's biding his time because he thinks that, with Edwards now on the offensive against Hillary, the two will jointly immolate. And he obviously shouldn't use my precise language here. But his day-by-day minuet--of touting his judgment over her experience, without ever mentioning either her or himself by name--won't get him anywhere soon.