I have noted my superstition about blogging VP advice for 'the enemy,' and became nervous when Cory Booker appeared with Debbie Wasserman Schultz and was added to the short lists last week.  The reason: my last paragraph in my post-primary column, which didn't mention Sen. Booker: "Hillary defeated Sanders not only with extraordinarily unpopular favoritism by the DNC and cases of voter suppression, but by opposing the ‘pwogressive’ with a single candidate backed by Wall Street, the media, and party leaders, and with the electoral support of minorities.  It indeed would prove difficult to duplicate the feat against a progressive challenger in 2020 and thereafter if Trump wins."  Booker is a rare person who can hold together the establishment- minority coalition Hillary had in the 2016 primaries, but like many 'new Dems' doesn't inspire many, so his ability to win would require no competition in the 'establishment lane,' which could only be engineered if he was VP.  He has little to offer the ticket for 2016 General, makes lightweight arguments and criticizes Obama for criticizing Wall Street (even while Obama is writing legislation surrounded by their lobbyists).  Even if you had a Cory Booker - Tulsi Gabbard race with no one siphoning votes from either, Gabbard (pictured) might take enough of the woman vote to tip the balance, plus a lot of Hillary's voters will have discussed their votes at the pearly gates by then.  The only uncertain matter is whether Tulsi or Alice Coltrane will be the first Hindu woman on the currency.

Hillary and Bill did nothing about global warming in the 1990s (nor did Al) and, after defying Sandernistas by picking Tim Kaine, are getting an assist from the unrelenting sun that awaits the activists that have carpooled to Philly from across the country and camped out for this week's protests, with the region's worst heat wave in several years forecasted.  I was sitting outside at 8:15 just now and it was getting uncomfortably humid. The AC/ no AC divide will define the greater institutional divide being contested.

A point I neglected to make in that column is that despite Sanders' fear tactics about Trump's opposition to Obamacare, political insiders see no possibility of its positive aspects being overturned. That is, guaranteed insurance for pre-existing conditions at competitive rates and the expansion of Medicaid are here to stay.  While the system can and will be improved, even a Republican president and congress with all their rhetoric and fist pumping are not going to get a filibuster-proof majority for overturning those benefits, which constituents of all creeds and opinions have come to demand.