"Republicans are total assholes. You don't have to argue me on that one bit."

My REGISTERED REPUBLICAN NEIGHBOR said that to me the other day.

Early indications, while they still could prove wrong, seem to show that Obama has the political savvy and brilliance of Ben Franklin.

There has been much upset and denunciation of Obama's whole postpartisanship thing on DU, and I have been part of it. But to see results like that so rapidly in person is astonishing.

A little background: My neighbor is a moderate Republican and all the way on the other side from being a Hannidiot or a Savage Weiner. But he is a "regular guy" who gets his news from TV and newspapers exclusively, and thus is confined within the very narrow walls of the Bushie-Corporate M$M False Reality Bubble.

In other words, representative of perhaps the largest demographic in this country, those who are still 100% captive to the Bushie-M$M False Reality Bubble. But like so many in this demographic, he is a nice guy, a family man, and a fundamentally decent man who wants to do what's right. He is a damned fine person and neighbor.

But three months ago, before the election, he was still defending Republican policies. I think he voted for Obama, but VERY reluctantly and with disappointment that he was the "least of 2 evils" (I didn't directly ask - but from our conversations leading up to the election that was the indication)

And two months ago, he was congratulating me on "my guy winning" and still tepidly defending the Republicans.

But Obama's Rope-A-Dope strategy has yielded immediate effects. The other day we were chatting, and he was not only more impressed with Obama and how hard and sincerely he was trying to help the whole nation, but when I casually remarked that NOT ONE Republican had voted for the stimulus, this thread title was his reply.

In conclusion, so far things are looking very good. Not perfect, far from perfect, but if Obama's policies continue on this course of restoring our System of Checks and Balances and power to the American People (and if we will get up off our lazy asses and do our DUTY).

I wanted Obama to have shown the fight and fire of Tom Paine or John Adams (the revolutionary years, not the Federalist Years). But he has shown, at least so far - final judgments are a year or even years away, so this is a very preliminary assessment - shown that what may be called for now is not that kind of fire, but the brilliant political savvy of Ben Franklin.

Frankly, I can't imagine someone with more theoretical potential for making positive change. Public speaking was one of Franklin's very few weak areas.

Keeping feet on the ground. A lot can happen. Final judgements long yet to be made.

ACTIONS not words. Watch his ACTIONS, not his words.

Criticize him when he is wrong. Hold his feet to the fire. Many in this country have remembered our duty as Americans, these last 8 years.

Now is not the time to be forgetting it. NO unquestioning obedence to anyone. The skeptical eye to be aimed DOUBLY at our side as theirs. Hold their feet to the fire. That is our duty as American citizens.