What an unusually honest and balanced piece of editorial writing.

CNN, of all folks, has an opinion piece on its website by Ed Rollins, a GOP strategist, on whether President Obama can be beaten in 2012. You can read it if you want, but do not expect much.

The piece says nothing—and that’s the great thing about it. Within, Mr. Rollins spells out that 2012 is a very long time away, and that nobody can honestly say anything of value this early. Are there Republican candidates? Sure, he says, but none are guaranteed to survive to 2012. Are there Republican hopefuls? Sure, he adds, but these are more the hope of Republican primary voters than actual financially backed probabilities.

And he adds, just because the GOP doesn’t have a strong front-runner does not mean Obama is easily re-electable. Indeed, Mr. Rollins hints, there is reason for would-be candidates to stay quiet at this point.

The Czar would add another thought in here: you cannot stay quiet too long. In 2008, the GOP waited too long to field their best candidates. There was too much speculation over whether Hillary Clinton would surpass Howard Dean, and whether this new Obama fellow from Illinois had any capacity for running. By the time the dust settled, and Obama was touting himself as a hybrid between Abe Lincoln and John Kennedy, the GOP was way behind in the race. Hoping to peel off moderate votes away from the Democrats, the ran John McCain. This, they realized was a mistake: and to uncenter their candidate, they produce relatively far right Sarah Palin as the conservative voice. Interestingly, for all the guff she received during the run, the GOP closed the gap fast. Although the popular story tries to paint the Obama victory as a landslide, the numbers are far different: he won all right, but by very slim numbers nationally.

That said, Mr. Rollins is right: jumping forward now gives the media too much ammunition to hurt you. Michele Bachman expressed interest in the presidency, and while she would be a great candidate, the press has already turned on her and will continue to exaggerate everything she says to ridicule her. Too soon, Rep. Bachman. Any other GOP hopeful needs to stay quiet, rather than pop his or her head up above the protective trench of obscurity.

And as long as you stay quiet, building up your assets and financial lines, you stay invisible (and therefore invincible) to the lefty media. Look around and see who and what they are attacking; learn their current tactics and prepare your bulwark against them. Only when the time is right do you announce your intent.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.