This is for starters in Nicholas von Hoffman’s case for Condoleezza Rice as John McCain’s running mate:

McCain’s troubles with the religious wing of his party could well evaporate with the churchgoing Rice at his side. She solidifies that part of his base overnight.

Republicans love her.  (Who says they love McCain?)  She’s a killer debater.  She’s a “superstar” and “a fancy dresser.”  She trumps Dems on diversity.  As pro-war, she goes well with McCain.  She’s cover for sexist and racist accusations when going after either O. or H.C.  Her experience went beyond being someone’s wife.

They can challenge [H.C.’s] boast that she is a strong, independent woman and paint her as a weak, hopelessly-in-love woman under the spell of a man subject not only to “bimbo eruptions” but also eruptions of smarmy deals with shady business figures.

Wait.  They wouldn’t do that, would they?

Lastly, Rice is a notorious sports fan with excruciatingly detailed knowledge of much of its arcana. She’s often said that her dream job is commissioner of the National Football League; however, in a pinch she would probably settle for Vice President of the United States.

Now that’s the Nick von Hoffman who once hit non-softball home runs for the Chicago Daily News.

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Update: Reader D. is having none of it:

The guy who wrote that article was a real nimrod. What’s the next worst entity in our country after sleeper cells and liberals? The State Department! Condoleezza has NOT changed State, she’s blended right in. She’s horrible. No self-respecting [citizen] would ever vote for her. She has the ear of Bush and she whispers sweet nothings that aren’t sweet. Plus I don’t like her voice. She always sounds like she’s ready to break down and cry. I thought we had put this pipe dream to sleep.

Chi Trib is at it again, 2^nd day in a row, surrendering top-billed op-ed space (hard-copy: it’s buried on the web site) to a politician blowing his own horn:

Property tax bills went out across Chicago last week, and homeowners are rightly concerned. They’re seeing the evidence that our property tax assessment system is broken and needs to be reformed.

The increases in property tax bills are due largely to higher assessments determined by the Cook County assessor, not a tax increase by the City of Chicago.

That’s the mayor speaking or writing, but who thinks he wrote it?  And why, if he can be so calm and lucid, doesn’t he talk that way?

Again, we have perhaps a standing practice, in its best light encouraging op-ed dueling.  But if that’s it, then give equal space, equally billed, to that highly suspect Cook County assessor.  He is mentioned, yes:

I am asking Cook County Assessor James Houlihan to correct the assessed values of homes in Chicago’s hardest-hit neighborhoods. These are neighborhoods where home values increased the most as a result of the 2006 assessment and have decreased in the current economic downturn.

But of course, this being commentary not news — that Daley’s saying this about a political enemy — no reporter seeks rebuttal.  This is political infighting, but without opposition. 

And Houlihan would write his own, I’ll bet.  Speaking to a small group in Oak Park a few years back, he was calm and lucid.  Wouldn’t it be nice to see him cheek by jowl with the mayor on the Trib’s op-ed page?