The Maverick Tribe

Senator Obama, congratulations.  Now that you've come out on top in Wisconsin and will probably take Hawaii later on tonight, I'm starting to seriously doubt my September prediction of a Clinton victory.

You are clearly the favorite at this point.  True, you're going to have to pry the Democratic nomination out of the Clintons' bloody, white-knuckled fists first, but the nod is well within your sights.  Everybody loves you.  You're a rock star.  You're hip.  You're the latest and greatest riff.  Now flip on the lights, turn off the disco ball, and shut down the bar.  Tell your hoards of Obama-heads to lose their lighters and stow their spliffs.  It's time to get serious.

Mr. Senator:

You say you're a different kind of politician.  Now is the time to show it.  Announce that you're going to take public financing for the general election against McCain like you promised, let we think you're just another unctuous weasel.

Your Wisconsin victory speech dragged on for 45 minutes.  Stop revelling in the sound of your own voice.  The self satisfaction is far from Clintonian proportions, but it's starting to grate.

You have one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate.  Start strumming a few tunes the moderates and conservatives might recognize.

Get some better spokespeople.  You put Texas state Senator Kirk Watson out against Chris Matthews, and your guy looked like a deer caught in headlights when Matthews asked him to name some of your legislative accomplishments.  He couldn't name a single one.  Besides ethics reform, what are they, anyway?

Bottom line, Barack:  Start living up to the hype, or McCain and the Republicans will put a major crimp on the lovefest.