After all, outside of the Carvilles and Stephadiculouses of the world -- who are obviously not in this mix -- most of these folks were not in Bill and Hillary's inner circle but Dems devoted to public service. Presumably, they do recognize the opportunity in the Obama administration to achieve policy changes that go far, far beyond what Clinton could have imagined.

What? Where's Joe the Lying Schmuck?

From Obama's perspective, I'm guessing the appeal would be in forming a Cabinet along Lincoln's lines. Though I wonder what problems would be posed by Bill's foundation work and various financial dealings.

Or maybe this is just a flirtation -- a way to flatter Hillary and reduce any lingering bruised feelings -- that won't actually lead to anything.

Get it down now, any way, any how.

In fact, EFCA is a linchpin issue for both policy and political reasons:

1) Policy -- union members make 30 percent more than non-union workers, they're 59 percent more likely to have health benefits and they're 80 percent more likely to have pension benefits. Increasing the percentage of workers who belong to unions will do more than any other conceivable action to swiftly raise living standards, increase purchasing power and grow the economy from the bottom up, which is what Obama wants to do.

2) Political -- As labor increases in size, its political impact increases also and progressives will be much better positioned to win elections and maintain control of Congress and the White House.

Big business recognizes this as a linchpin issue from the other side. I'd like to see all of the folks on our side -- not just labor -- recognize this as well.

So long as they truly understand this, then great, I have no problem. So long as they are not stuck in a '90s mindset. And, as DW noted, most of the Clinton administration's failures were due to Bill's, rather than his staff's.

Still, why not Kevin Spacey? From what I hear, he did a better job of playing Ron Klain than Ron Klain does in real life.

By the way, and I mean this with all due respect, no offense intended, nothing personal: Cowboys suck.

"I'm special! So special! I've gotta have some of your attention, give it to me!"

"Yessiree. Because as we all know, Obama can't win because he's too liberal, he'll never get the votes of Hillary supporters, Hispanic voters hate him and don't even get us started on those racist white working class voters.

"And of course we can't have health care reform in an economic crisis because the last thing you can do in tough times is expand the social safety net. Too bad FDR didn't follow this thinking during the Great Depression because then we'd never have had Social Security."

If the pundit class says it can't happen, bet the house it will.

After all, if a cautious, spineless wimp like Max Baucus is ready to move, then you know there will be action.

Another point is that representation elections in their current form are rigged. Management is free to hold captive audience meetings to spread their anti-union propaganda, while unions have no comparable access to employees. Management also routinely fires workers illegally for union activity, treating the minor and long-delayed slap on the wrist they might get as a trivial cost of doing business. In fact, 30 percent of employers do this and 46 percent of workers report management coercion in union elections. So the notion that the card check option is less democratic than current law is ludicrous; actually card check is majority rule, democracy in action.

A final point that I think should be labor's #1 message in the current environment: EFCA will raise workers' living standards and help America get out of the recession. Union members earn 30 percent higher wages than non-union workers. They're also 59 percent more likely to have employer-provided health coverage and are 80 percent more likely to have pensions. Since EFCA will make it simpler for workers to organize unions, it is the single most efficient way to get the middle class growing again. That's also why FDR made it easier for workers to join unions as a central component of fighting the Great Depression.

What labor needs to do is #1: Make sure Congress acts on EFCA early next year; and #2: Fight to get the 60 votes needed in the Senate to overcome the filibuster. In 2007, Specter was the only Republican to vote for cloture. Depending on the outcome of the three undecided races, they may need to find one or two others. That's also one reason why we need to back Martin in Georgia.

Interesting question. I think one way to finesse it would be for labor to focus on the need for Congress to act swiftly, especially on EFCA. Keep the pressure there while praising Obama. Don't put the heat on him until or less there's any evidence of backtracking.

Someone forgot to tell the American people we live in a center-right nation. The MSM has decreed it!