Assorted Nuts

Now I know it's become fashionable to treat TIME's new political blog Swampland, with contempt and derision, but I urge everyone to not lump Karen Tumulty in the same rubber room with Joe Klein.

Tumulty is a seasoned, non-partisan political reporter who will have a lot of interesting things to say and report as the presidential race heats up. Don't dismiss her yet- her inside baseball reports and observations from the road will be worth reading. Take this little nugget from her recent trip to Iowa- Report from Iowa: The Republicans:

As for Romney, the former Massachusetts Governor is still very much in the getting-to-know-you phase with primary voters--telling them a lot about his biography and talking vague, optimistic themes. Things will surely get tougher when McCain's folks start pointing out Romney's (pick one) changes of heart/Massachusetts flip-flops on, for instance, abortion. But for now, Romney's approach seems to be working. I was particularly amused by a group of startstruck Young Republicans from the University of Iowa, who were squealing like they were at a rock concert. When I asked one of them what they liked about this guy, he said: "He reminds me of Reagan--he really does!" So I couldn't resist asking this young man when he was born: 1986.

(my emphasis added)

If that doesn't send chills of dismay up your spine, I don't know what will. Just what the republic needs, a mormon Ronald Reagan, complete with his very own brainwashed young republican corps., already in the throes of hero-worship.

BTW, "assorted nuts" refers to the field of republican presidential candidates. It's the kindest thing I could come up with.