We will, instead, settle for Harry Reid's failureship.

Perhaps the strong-arm approach with overt threats is the only one which will accomplish the purpose on health care, but there isn't a lot of great precedent in the senate Dem camp to use as a roadmap.  And whatever Lyndon did as ML in the 50s, the result was largely some lukewarm legislation, mostly in pre-arrangement with Ike.  As president, the actual record shows, on some key legislation, that factors other than Johnson were the major difference, though he did play a role (just not always in the overbearing way some believe he did).

Now, my nominee for most effective Dem ML of the 20th C is not Lyndon but Mike Mansfield ('61-77), the guy who presided over the caucus responsible for the most progressive legislation since the New Deal.  And his approach was, famously, often to the great frustration of fellow Dems, the low-key persuasive one, appealing to the patriotism and better instincts of his reluctant colleagues.  

Of course, different era back then, and substantially different oppo party and leadership.  

Gov. Sarah Palin will resign her office in a few weeks, she said during a news conference at her home Friday morning. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the Governor's Picnic at the end of the month.

raw story

My pick for the win this year is Lance's teammate, Alberto Contador, who won the event two years ago.  His team, Astana, was banned from last year's Tour because of doping scandals in previous years by a team sponsored by the organizations from the City of Astana, Kazakhstan.  Without being allowed to defend his Tour title last year, Contador merely won the Tour of Italy and the Tour of Spain, instead.  He is only the fifth rider in history to have won all three grand tours.

I see Lance's roll as evolving into the single greatest domestique in the history of the sport.  I hope I am wrong, though, and Lance can come back in his advanced age and win it, or make the podium (top three), anyway.  In the meantime, Lance's stated goal is to bring international awareness to the fight against cancer.  It seems he's already accomplished that goal.

Carlos Sastre, last year's winner is in good form, but cycling is a team sport (strange as it seems), and he's racing with a new team, Cervelo Test Team, which isn't as strong as his previous squad.

Cadel Evans, from Australia, is a perennial favorite with his Silence Lotto team.  He's finished 2nd in the last two Tours.  Unfortunately, his top lieutenant on the team, Thomas Dekker, was just banned from the tour because of suspected doping.