Mike Dorning and Christi Parsons of the Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau, write a fascinating account of the inside workings of the Barack Obama political machine since the Senator took office. This is first rate journalism, honest and unbiased as can be. Obama with no blinkers on.A picture emerges of Barack Obama as an intelligent and strategic aspirant for the presidency, in it for the long haul, not wanting lightning to strike too soon. Dorning and Parsons begin with an account of a strategy meeting held in February 2005, with Obama staff and advisors. Frankly recognizing that his resume is too thin, Obama worked out the steps to assemble the career building blocks that would make him a contender for the nomination in 2012 or 2016. The plan called for a methodical rise building needed credibility at each step. This meant avoiding the limelight at first..And Obama started off following the strategy, turning down media opportunities and laboring in the political vineyard, raising...(Read Full Post)