The Calm Before the Storm.

"After a set of primaries that felt like they began about the time Sputnik went up, it is strange to be transported to the static battlefield of Obama versus John McCain. The fundamentals are locked in place -- and seem unlikely to be dislodged by anything less than a shift in the tectonic plates." Walter Shapiro briefly surveys the state of the race (as does the inimitable Akbar Jenkins.)

I know it's been quiet on the electoral front around here of late -- That's partly because my thoughts have been on the 20's of late and partly because I just can't muster any outrage about the New Yorker cover, or much else that's happened on the trail the past week or two. But I'm sure that'll change in due course.