As soon as I got home this evening, I went down to the Obama Reno headquarters to listen to prominent supporter Tom Daschle, former senator and U.S. Senate leader from South Dakota, speak of why people should vote for him for president. Obama, that is, not Daschle.

I always pegged Daschle as being tall and lanky, but he is actually of only average height, about 5'8". In addition to talking about how Obama is inspiring much in the way JFK was when he was younger, Daschle said he has a new book coming out about health care, which he said is a mess.

Daschle, who had a lot to deal with during his tenure in the Senate, was unfairly maligned by the so-called "progressive left," who trashed him as a "pink tutu" Democrat. When people resort to that kind of shit, they reveal their ignorance about the political process. When you don't have the numbers, there's not a lot you can do. It's mostly reactive. One should also remember many Democrats, like Daschle and current Majority Leader Harry Reid, are from red states, and they can't take chances like Barbara Boxer or Dennis Kucinich can.

Daschle was scheduled to speak tonight, along with former ambassador Joseph Wilson, at the Grand Sierra Resort. This was for the annual Virginia Demmler Memorial Dinner, held every year at this time. I was going to go, but I changed my mind. I didn't get to see Wilson, who was there on behalf of Hillary Clinton.

I had my camera with me, and I snapped close to 20 pictures of the former senator. I shook hands with him after his speech, complimenting him on his remarks.

More is here.