we'll start with david brooks in the "new york times." the president believes the press corps imposes a false equivalency on american politics. we assign equal blame to both parties for the dysfunctional politics when in reality the republicans are more rigid and extreme. there is a lot of truth to that but at least republicans respect americans enough to tell us what they really think. the white house gives moderates little morse els of hope then rips them from our mouths. to be an obama admirer is to toggle from being uplifted to feeling used. the white house has decided to wage the campaign as fighting liberals. i guess i understand the choice but i still believe in the governing style obama talked about in 2008. i may be the last one. >> i think i'm in the bull pen. not going to say a word. go ahead, howard. >> i disagree completely. >> tell me why. >> i don't think obama is a liberal. i don't think there is any such thing as a liberal anymore in america. >> aren't you a liberal? >> i am pretty much.