Wonkette

MORE CAMPAIGN DISCOURSE: Oh look, it’s Ben Smith of the Politico and your editor doing one of these New York Magazine things. Smith says Wonkette’s commenters suck, and describes how Steve Schmidt put him in that tank! Your editor types more weird shit about Plato and Grand Moff Tarkin. [NY Mag Instant Politics]

• MICHAEL DUKAKIS IS IN THE TANK TOO: McCain strategist Steve Schmidt, who is Karl Rove’s actual bald son, spent all morning yelling at all reporters about how they’re “in the tank” for Barack Obama. And then Politico dominatrix Ben Smith asked the campaign to back up some of the claims Schmidt was making. And then McCain spokesman Brian Rogers e-mailed Smith back, “You are in the tank.” Ha. So Ben Smith naturally wrote a mean piece about the McCain campaign, because he is in the tank. [Politico]

The Politico’s Democratic blogger Ben Smith is now simply “The Politico,” if this front page is any indication. Jesus, I know I’ve linked to him twice already today. And just who the hell does this “Carrie Budoff Brown” think she is, keeping a whole byline for herself? [Politico]

Joel Ferguson, Hillary’s Michigan co-chairman, said today that “superdelegates are not second-class delegates… The real second-class delegates are the delegates that are picked in red-state caucuses that are never going to vote Democratic.” But since the reddest state the world, George W. Bush’s Texas, has a primary, they are first-class delegates that are never going to vote Democratic. Meanwhile, Barack Obama is plagiarizing more black speeches. [Ben Smith]

*THAT CHELSEA IS GOING PLACES:* Mute mercenary-child Chelsea Clinton “has been calling uncommitted superdelegates to seek their support,” according to Politico’s Ben Smith. But is it for her mom’s campaign or her own planned run in 2024? I bet she’ll have all sorts of new tax credit micro-reform ideas by then! It’s the Clinton Way(TM). [Ben Smith]

Barack Obama raised $32 million in the month of January alone. As Politico’s Ben Smith notes, “That would be more than $1 million a day.” Indeed, it is actually $750 million dollars a day. Barry also brought in 170,000 new donors, a.k.a. “Suckers for Hope.” This explains how he’s been able to buy such heavy advertising in the expensive Los Angeles market, with Change. [The Trail, Ben Smith]

Just like us, senators are always trying to sneak out of work early, so they can hit the road and get out of here. Per Al Kamen: MORE »

* Some light Friday reading from the only Kennedy that blogs. [Rolling Stone] MORE »

* Immigration as the new abortion? Interesting. Don’t know if we’d describe Emma Lazarus as a “hotty,” though; she’s no Fran Townsend. [got detroit?] MORE »