Planet Abell

David Brooks once again distinguishes himself in the New York Times with a brilliant assessment of both the Republican and Democratic presidential races, making note of how rare it is for an "earthquake" to hit both parties at once as expressed by the Iowa victories of Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama. I’ve been through election nights that brought a political earthquake to the country. I’ve never been through an election night that brought two. Both victors are the youngest in their respective fields (Barack, 46; Mike, 52). Both are the most outsiderly of the viable candidates (with apologies to Kucinich, Paul and Gravel). It is a clear repudiation of the establishment, period. It may not be the final word, only a warning shot to be heeded by the wisely humbled -- witness Hillary's team-player, I-get-it concession speech -- but for now it is a shot heard round the world. Brooks makes great sense in handicapping both races. Huckabee, he says, is likely not the GOP standard...

"I've never craved the job of president, but I want to do some things that only a president can do." -- Fred Thompson, on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" T op 10 things that only a president can do: 10. Get down with the First Lady 9. Call anything I'm flying "Air Force One" 8. Tell Secret Service detail "no one needs to know about this, right boys?" 7. Get my very own library -- even if I don't have a library card 6. Declare war -- on my agent! 5. Get $5,000 to pose for pictures with strangers instead of paying through the nose for head shots 4. Pardon that turkey every year 3. No waiting when I get the urge to bowl 2. Suppress giggle when I tell movers to put boxes in the corner of the Oval Office And the number one thing that only a president can do: 1. Retrieve newspaper on White House driveway in my bathrobe

(Disclosure: edited 2/26 for typos) Something has been bothering me about the field of Republican presidential hopefuls, and it isn't the absence of Fred Thompson or Newt Gingrich. This is it: Since 2000 (a political eternity) there has been no doubt about an open GOP ticket for '08. Dick Cheney made clear he was not going to run for president after a presumptive two-term Bush administration, leaving no heir presumptive. And yet there is no young, vibrant Republican in the mix or even mentioned as a dark horse. No conservative media darling whose candidacy is so audacious, so presumptuous, it just might work. There is room in the tent -- witness talk of Thompson and Gingrich, who poll better than some announced candidates in some polls, and even whispers of a third-party putsch by Michael Bloomberg and Chuck Hagel . Of the presumed leaders John McCain is a re-tread and, thanks to his support of the of Bush war strategy, a far cry from the "rebel" he was perceived of a...