On Wed, 9 Sep 2009 13:54:53 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
wrote:

In the area of political ideas, reportership, statesmanship, results,
whatever you choose... ok, some are a bit wacko, but still....

I pick (in no particular order):

Bill Clinton (N. Korea thing esp., plus he was a great president)
Hillary Clinton (class act, esp. lately)
Robert Gates (a patriot)
David Petraeus (an intellectual, a warrior, a patriot, one tough guy)
Pat Buchanan (wacko, but he's been around a long time and is pretty smart)
Dana Priest (amazing reporter)
Tom Cruise (wacko, but works hard, pretty cute too)
Stephen Colbert (funny, funny)
Jon Stewart (I'm not your trained monkey seriously funny)
Bill Maher (wacko funny)
Thomas Ricks (author, Fiasco)
Jeremy Scahill (author, Blackwater)
Patrick Fitzgerald (US attorney, one of the good guys)
Al Franken (comedian who is just too funny, seriously smart Senator)

Don't forget Robert Novak who did us all a favor by dying recently.