I don't recall it being in the moderator handbook that a mod has to stop expressing his personal opinions on politics.
Badger is as combative as I am. I don't think elevating someone like myself as moderator would be a very popular decision. Do you?
Phil, Badger is well respected. I respect him. He will be totally fair as a moderator, trust me. Plus as a lawyer, I don't think he will get too uptight over the parry and thrust as long as it does not get too personal.
As to the Toomey thing, yes he has some talent, and is a pleasant and articulate chap, but he will have to be very persuasive indeed, or the environment right when he runs for re-election, since it appears he is substantially more conservative in his views than PA is overall. To get it done, he may have to establish himself as having some "plus factor" so he holds votes that might stray due to his ideology. Or PA needs to lose its somewhat small but clearly present, Dem tinged PVI. That is going to be tough, unless the Philly metro area stops trending Dem.
