Those who have followed the Republican nominee's career have two major theories regarding the gutter campaign and conservative boilerplate that has defined his campaign thus far.  Either these represent compromises with political reality, which raise question about his 'brand' and his character, or that he's never really been that different after all.  I have generally sided with the latter.  Either way, the TIME interview seems to indicate that Senator McPrickly senses the bind he's in now.  The fact that he seems to recognize it almost earns him some sympathy from me.  Almost, I said.

But this interview also raises the question of whether his age and temperament can now be employed by the Obama campaign or its surrogates.  Progressives and Democrats have long suffered from a 'decency gap' in national campaigns.  There are many places I am thrilled that we have refused to go.  There are many levels that we have proudly refused to stoop to.  And yet, when I think where the country my children are growing up in might be if we had had a different leadership over the past 8 years, I begin to wonder whether we couldn't find a better way to thread the needle with regard to decency and electoral effectiveness.  Joe Biden's assertion that we need more than a good soldier, we need a wise leader in the White House tells me that one of the points we should e pushing is that Barack Obama has more than the wisdom and judgment to lead, he has the superior temperament.  If I were addressing the convention, I would happily slip the modifier 'old' in where appropriate.  How's this for a refrain: "The choice before us is clear.  Do we need Barack Obama's leadership and change; or should we cling to the 'same old, same old' with John McCain?"

Emphasizing McCain's age is tricky.  We don't want to alienate senior voters.  First of all, because they vote.  But addressing them seriously on the issues that concern them, and articulating policies that will benefit their young grandchildren will help counter-balance that potential pitfall.  So will Joe Biden, who is only a few years McPrickly's junior.  Pairing their nominee's age with his temperament, while offering Biden's maturity and superior temperament for contrast could be the way forward.

I want our party and its nominee's campaign to aspire to the best traditions of democratic decency and respect for all of our citizens.  But I also think that McPrickly's age and temperament are legitimate issues.  It's time to make the case that the ill-tempered and slightly off kilter senior citizen the Republicans want to install in the Oval Office is not who we want to...answer the phone at 3AM.

UPDATE: ...and in a stunning discovery of my political influence, the minute I hit the 'SUBMIT' button Senator Harry Reid takes my advice. Lead on, Majority Leader. Lead on.