Thinking Ahead

From Ben Smith:

Robert Gibbs said today that Obama will visit Elkhart, Indiana next week to push the stimulus package

"This is not designed to cajole any particular member of Congress," he said.

Indiana has another political significance, though: It was perhaps the reddest prize Obama picked up last November, and one into which Obama's aides put a great deal of effort.

So the symbolism of Indiana is, as much as anything else, about reminding the Congress of the breadth and power of Obama's electoral mandate, with an eye to 2010 and 2012.

Dem RBC Meeting Happening Now

What an awesome Saturday. The Democratic Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting to decide what to do with their bastard Michigan and Florida babies.

Obama would like to abort both, because he is a godless liberal elitist.

Hillary would like to adopt both into her hardworking non-bitter home.

Either way, this is gonna take a real long time. It's already been an excruciating day of passive-aggressive jokes and stupid stories no one wants to hear. Plus, we haven't even gotten around to cashing in Hillary's frequent flier miles, tin cans, and collection of state quarters.

Anywho, as usual, Ben Smith brings the best moment so far:

Donna Brazile -- the only RBC member who gets an ovation whenever she speaks -- says to Jim Blanchard, "you mentioned your momma." (Blanchard had mentioned it was his mother's birthday.)

“My momma always told me to play by the rules,” she says. And if you try to change the rules in the middle of the game, "it's cheating."

Brazile's nominally uncommitted, but it's pretty clear what her sentiments lie.

"Hillary Clinton played by the rules," responds Blanchard.