◼ Big, blocky, black, with painted-out windows, it looks more like a police mortuary van than a symbol of hope arriving on your street. - BBC
The president's strategy is to hold his opponents' party up to the light and cast them as the wreckers, the partisans, the obstructionists preventing American recovery.
It is a fair strategy, delivered without much verve. Mr Obama is good only when he has to be, and today felt more like a practice run than anything else.
Neither inspirational nor angry enough, he needs something fresher - and to find another mode of transport than the battle bus from Mordor.
◼ Obama's 1.1 Million Dollar Green Magical Misery Tour Bus Powered by Wind & Batteries (Not) - Bread Upon The Waters
◼ The Greyhound To Nowhere - RedState
◼ If Obama’s Not Campaigning, Why is He Campaigning? - White House Dossier
White House officials have been insisting for a couple of weeks that Obama’s bus tour through the Midwest has nothing to do with campaigning. It’s just a way to get the president among the people, especially, um, the people in presidential battleground swing states. This is an official trip, paid for by taxpayers, while the DNC sits on its wallets, so he can’t be campaigning, right?
Well, Obama was in Minnesota yesterday and in Iowa today, two must-win states for him in 2012. And he’ll go to two places in Illinois tomorrow for cover – since Illinois is an easy win for him – but both towns are within shouting distance of Davenport, Iowa and should pick up some coverage from the swing state too.... But the best way to see if he’s campaigning is to see if he’s campaigning. read the rest
