Wow

Obama narrowly leads McCain in AP Poll

"The AP-Ipsos poll, released Monday, is an initial look at voter sentiment since the Super Tuesday contests last week. In the poll, Illinois senator Obama leads McCain 48percent to 42 percent. New York senator Clinton gets 46 percent to 45 percent for McCain.

The poll shows Obama leads Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination, 46 percent to 41 percent."

Talk about soft power. It's actually also pretty clear, if you believe in soft power, which two of the candidates are more skilled in using it. I'll give you a clue. Their names don't rhyme with hintin'.

The question is what purposes they use that soft power for. And that is why substantive debate about public policy matters, no matter how much cynicism of about that debate permeates the political classes. So we are all a part of the discussion about when, how, and for what purposes power should be used.

And that is why the quality of the discussion, and the quality of ideas, listening, engagement, decency and open-mindedness of the candidates matters. Because otherwise it doesn't mean a goddamn thing that ideology didn't stamp into the soul of the candidates long before. And what a foolish and arrogant democracy that would be.

Things are looking good for those concerned about a wiser and humbler democracy.