How Low Can They Go

The Republican National Committee wants to know how dirty they can get in the general election campaign without being considered racist or sexist -- depending on who the Democratic nominee is.

So they've hired pollsters and set up focus groups to determine the boundaries of American bigotry and chauvinism.

How sweet. From Politico:

The RNC project is viewed as so sensitive that those involved in the work were reluctant to discuss the findings in detail. But one Republican strategist, who asked that his name be withheld to speak candidly, said the research shows the daunting and delicate task ahead.

At least it's "daunting and delicate." May be a sign the old Nixonian "Southern Strategy" is losing its steam to reason and tolerance. (Politico)

Tonight on FOX: "Beatdown" with Bob Beckel

Confronted on a Bethesda parking lot, Democratic consultand and talking head Bob Beckel debated a couple of Bush-backers with reason and logic. His right fist is "Reason." His left fist, "Logic."

Mr Beckel's sporting a shiner after the spirited political discussion.

He says he was sitting in his Jeep Cheerokee waiting for his kids when a couple of young guys started peeling off his anti-Bush bumper stickers (see the Washington Post photo).

He asked them to stop. They said he didn't respect the presidency. Yada yada. One of the guys went back to peeling a sticker and Mr Beckel pushed his hand away. That's when Mr Beckel says one of the fellows "sucker punched" him.

Who knows. Maybe the Bush fan thought Mr Beckel would welcome him as a liberator for the move. He certainly didn't take into account Mr Beckel's 6-foot-one, 235 pound frame and the pounding Mr Sucker Punch was about to recieve. He probably also didn't count on his buddy deciding to cut and run -- which is exactly what happened.

Mr Sucker-Punch was pounded like the GOP in the last election, before conceding defeat with an eloquent curled-up-in-the-fetal-position-on-the-asphalt speech. (WaPo)