PREFACE: Former ambassador Joseph Wilson has posted his commentary, "The Real Hillary I Know -- and the Unreal Obama," at No Quarter.  It's powerful testimony, and full of examples from the foreign policy expert.

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    I know some of you have been unhappy with my posts of late -- and one of the dearest regulars over at No Quarter blog (it's Larry Johnson's blog, but he asked me a couple years ago to post there) telephoned me about it last night. I care very much what you think. You deserve a short explanation: I'm scared to death the Democrats are going to nominate a smart young guy because he's a "symbol" -- who isn't vetted sufficiently, doesn't have enough experience (yet), and doesn't get nearly the press scrutiny that Sen. Clinton gets. Joe Conason writes vividly about the scrutiny.  And the WaPo's Howie Kurtz cites examples galore in "For Clinton, A Matter of Fair Media," and it's a must-read in full:

"She's just held to a different standard in every respect," says Mark Halperin, Time's editor at large. "The press rooted for Obama to go negative, and when he did he was applauded. When she does it, it's treated as this huge violation of propriety."

Then there's that Barack Obama is Karl Rove's dream candidate. To beat. Radio show host Taylor Marsh analyzed this brilliantly in "Why are Karl Rove and the Neocons Endorsing Barack Obama?." Taylor Marsh, nobody's fool, gives example after example -- all must-reads -- of why "in Republican back rooms everywhere, the wolves see a lamb coming to slaughter and they're licking their chops."

Then there's Steve Clemon's Washington Note post this morning, "Times of London on Obama's Europe Void" ...

Steve Clemons, a serious foreign policy expert, was quoted in the UK's Times on Obama's failure to hold any hearings as chairman of the Subcommittee on European Affairs -- and his post today explains why that's cause for concern. (I'm also curious what Gen. Wes Clark thinks about no attention paid to NATO, under Obama's purview.) Clemons is disturbed that his Obama-gaga friends claim Obama's instincts make up for experience. But Steve, who knows the John Bolton saga like no one else, points out the difference in how Sens. Obama and Clinton handled his U.N. nomination.

Clemons closes with this kicker: "It still bothers me that Mike Huckabee has been to Europe and Obama hasn't."

It's flabbergasting: Not only has Obama never been to Europe, but in his two years as chair of the Senate's Foreign Relations' subcommittee on European Affairs, he's never visited the continent he's in charge of.

Taylor Marsh has more great insights and observations:

• "The Matthews-Schultz Clinton Tantrum":  

  Matthews' message: Ignore the legislative record of the "junior senator from Illinois." It is not relevant. What is important to him is that Hillary is a Clinton. That this woman must be stopped. Who has the best record on the issues and can beat back the Republican machine doesn't matter to Matthews at all. Remember his insulting interview with John Edwards recently? But today he found a buddy in Ed Schultz. Air America's Mark Green was the odd man out, as Matthews and Schultz went at Clinton, no doubt inspired by the lack of access and attention Clinton has given these men. If I had a choice I'd choose Keith Olbermann, too. Wouldn't you? [...]

  But still the double standard remains for Clinton coverage, especially on Chris Matthews' "Hardball," ...

  No one watches "Hardball" anymore. It's been one of the disappointments in this primary season for me that progressives couldn't have banded together to take Matthews down. But because he was bashing Hillary many didn't seem to care. But Matthews' desperation for relevancy, especially in the face of Keith Olbermann's brilliance and ratings power, seems all the more pathetic given the stakes. If Mr. Matthews understood the urgency of vetting the Democratic candidate, especially his legislative record, or really cared what candidate Democrats serve up against the Republicans he would do his homework before spouting off. But he doesn't care about Democrats, or that he's trying to destroy the first viable female candidate in U.S. history. [...]

  A lot has been written about Bill Clinton's rocky relationship with the military during his presidency. However, you will not hear that from the military when it comes to Hillary Clinton. Simply put, she gets it. I've heard many say just that, including Wesley Clark and Joe Sestak, among others, most of which is based on her tireless efforts for our soldiers and veterans. I don't doubt for a second that Mr. Obama supports our veterans and troops, but the record on action is worrisome, especially as this all adds up. ... Read all.

• "Obama's 'Present' Vote Ignored Dangers of Sex Shops Near Schools":

  I'm getting quite a lot of heat these days for my posts on Mr. Obama. Frankly, I don't care because when a man running for office hasn't been vetted by the media or our own party, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. I talked about the "live birth abortion" and Obama's "present" vote, over which no doubt the wingnuts are salivating. For some reason, people seem to think that Mr. Obama's legislative career doesn't matter; that he deserves a pass on it. Do you think Republicans will give him a pass? There are a lot of Obama fans that just don't seem to get how this works. Ask John Edwards, he knows. Hillary's been through this for fifteen years. It's going to be a meat grinder next year, no matter who our nominee is, but when you serve up beauties with "present" votes it makes it an even bigger target.

  Besides, Obama is continually talking about Clinton being a "triangulator," as do many of the Hillary haters. People talking about her calculations. I don't agree with all of her votes, especially on some foreign policy matters, particularly her Iraq war vote, but also Kyl-Lieberman. But when she's pushed she votes and puts herself on the line. She never votes "present" when it matters. When pushed at YearlyKos on lobbyists she could have pandered. She didn't. She also took the heat, including boos. She didn't back down over Kyl-Lieberman either, even though it cost her in grumbling. It's what she believes, with Wesley Clark and Joseph Wilson backing her. Larry Johnson told me on the radio the argument was a silly one.

  Obama got a pass when going after her on Kyl-Lieberman, even though he voted for similar legislation earlier in the year, but more importantly, skipped the vote that would have put him on the record. He also has the exact same votes as Clinton on Iraq, and when Senators Kerry and Feingold offered legislation on the floor to redeploy, Mr. Obama made a speech against it. Not to mention that he never held a hearing on his own foreign relations subcommittee. He also skipped the MoveOn.org vote too. How convenient it is just not to show up and be counted. ... Read all.

Taylor Marsh adds, "The piece in the New York Times today has many troubling moments in it highlighting Obama's legislative record, which the press is finally, at long last, after months and months and months getting to, but the closer is a shocker":

Mr. Obama was also the sole present vote on a bill that easily passed the Senate that would require teaching respect for others in schools. He also voted present on a measure to prohibit sex-related shops from opening near schools or places of worship. It passed the Senate.

In both of those cases, his campaign said, he was trying to avoid mandates on local authorities.

In my book, you vote yea or nay.  Voting "present" is a cop-out.  An Obama supporter defended Obama's "present" votes on live-birth abortion by telling me that that was the strategy the Planned Parenthood laid out.  Well, okay. But that tells me that Obama took his marching orders from a lobbying group, instead of doing what good common sense would have told him would appear, for the rest of his life, like an attempt to avoid a tough decision. He's just not ready for prime-time, or for the brutality of a general election race.  

I'll take my lumps for these posts. But please know -- please know -- that in my heart and mind I am terribly worried about the besotted Democrats who are projecting their dreams onto Obama who's not ready -- just yet -- to be president, or to survive a general election race against the extremely effective GOP attack machine.

And here's wishing you and all of yours the very best, and safest, holidays ... I remain your friend, Susan