There's no question it's a new strategy. Coming to Charlotte, as well as going to Cleveland, is not what used to be known as a 'Rose Garden strategy.' It's not to jolly people up. It's an attempt to ... keep Americans behind him -- and patient.

No White House aide is indispensable.

Without question I think he is, no knock against Julian Vaughn, but I think Warren Edney is the district player of the year. They threw it up to him and I remember thinking to myself, 'There's no way he's going to get that' and he went up and did this reverse tomahawk [dunk], and after that we just had nothing. We just folded.

Even in this context, I am not going to get too uptight about it. When (officials such as Griffin) make statements that can be interpreted as political statements, the government should not be underwriting it. You just caught the fellow with a little egg on his vest, looking untidy.

In a strange way, the issue is not as salient, as important or resonates on Main Street as much as politicians or legislators think it does. The reason is simple ? Main Street already thinks politicians are taking favors from lobbyists.

No question about it. I'm not sure I could find someone much quieter.