gandalf: I would argue the point that Obama has not held these positions for a couple of years, rather you are seeing the influence of people like Tony Lake in Obama’s campaign.

Obama is strongly pushing his original opposition to the war in Iraq, but the latest (fairly nuanced) foreign policy positions are new and the result of advice received from experienced policy hands like Lake.

I would still hold what Joe Biden said at the outset of the campaign, and that was that Obama was a foreign policy dilettante. Yes, this was simply a result of his being a newbie and lacking the requisite time and experience.

The Zakaria article went to great lengths and even greater pains to establish Obama’s “conservative” and “realistic” chops, but the fact remains that there is no body of evidence to support it.

You mention the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and it is a plum posting, especially for a junior Senator like Obama. However, what did he do there? I’m actually asking because I don’t know. It is worth looking at and looking up and would prove edifying to say the least.

As I said earlier, I could care less about his resume. I’m less interested in the shiny paint job and more interested in what’s under the hood.

I am also finding some of his latest policy shifts (NAFTA, FISA, gun control) of particular interest. This tacking back to center is going to create a little agida amongst the Dem true believers, no?