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In an update from yesterday's post about the Mad Pastor syndrome on the campaign trail, Obama sent Rev. Jeremiah Wright packing. Wright, an outspoken preacher and head of Obama's church in Chicago, was on a spiritual advisory for the campaign but became radioactive (again) when videotapes of some of Wright's top hit sermons emerged in the past few days. They include references to 9/11 as retribution for decades of U.S. foreign policy hardball, a reference to Hillary Clinton as being part of the elite white male establishment and other pointed jabs at the country's racial and economic fault lines. Obama wrote "Let me repeat what I've said earlier. All of the statements that have been the subject of controversy are ones that I vehemently condemn. They in no way reflect my attitudes and directly contradict my profound love for this country." Obama also said that he didn't personally hear any of Wright's remarks -- no doubt there are those who are scrambling to find evidence to the contrary. On MSNBC last night, Obama acknowledged that Wright was likely to pop up again in the general eelction if he becomes the nominee. You can read all of Obama's thoughts on the controversy and his relationship with Wright here.

Terror logic
I'm confused but then after seven-plus years of Bush logic it's understandable. The Republicans haven't waited long to roll out the old "Here come the terrorists" wagon and it appears they really do want to have their cake and eat it too. If terrorists attack, that proves you can't trust Dems to protect you -- except when they attack to derail John McCain's path to the White House. During a campaign stop in Philadelphia Friday, McCain said he fears that al Qaeda or another extremist group might attempt spectacular attacks in Iraq to try to tilt the U.S. election against him."

According to Reuters, McCain was asked if he had concerns that anti-American militants in Iraq might ratchet up their activities in Iraq to try to increase casualties in September or October and tip the November election against him.

"Yes, I worry about it," McCain said. "And I know they pay attention because of the intercepts we have of their communications ... The hardest thing in warfare is to counter someone or a group of individuals who are willing to take their own lives in order to take others."

Perhaps McCain has noticed there has been an increase in violence in Iraq. Perhaps he's concerned that the surge has reached its efficiency point (many fingers in a cracking dike). But one would think for strategic reasons Bin Laden and the Iraq suicide bomber corps would likely love nothing more that to have a new president who envisions a lengthy, open-ended comittment, who talks of "victory." That's right out of the historical Crusader's playbook from the 11th Cnetury and a potetnial recruiting bonanza for the extremist crowd. But you never know with those pesky, murderous terrorists. Even they want to have it both ways.

March-April Madness
In the shameless self-promotion department, in my regular Sunday Out on a LImb column on seacoastonline.com, I offer tips for political/primary junkies on how to survive with your wits intact until the Pennsylvania primary.

Daily links: Hillary pro and con
Early on the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton said the was a Rorscharch test of candidates and that has proven to be a candid assessment during this wildest of campaigns.
Here are two fine persepctive of Hillary that have been making the rounds. Tina Brown in Newsweek offers the pro-Hillary perspective while Hollywood producer and blogger Lynda Obst offers the opposite perspective.

One of the oft-stated criticims of Clinton is that she is polarizing -- it took this campaign to show it's at least partially true among Democratic women.