KCRW's Left, Right and Center blogger Michael Shaw

Guest host Lawrence O'Donnell nicely aligned the subtitle of Robert Scheer's book with pornography so we would remember it (or at least a keyword; hint:  Scheer and pornography).

And here's how Tony Blankley got things going:

re: the surge's success:  "That's why Obama scrubbed his website- because we're winning..."

and:

"It's certainly vindication for Bush and McCain - certainly those of us who support the surge."

He also said that we need 10,000 more troops in Afghanistan.  And that Admiral Mullen said we couldn't find an extra 5-10,000 more troops in Afghanistan..."I don't think he speaks on  all the info. he has."

Tony went on to speak about the "political view on the left:"

"The Iraq war is bad; the war in Afghanistan is good.  Now the Iraq war is good, the Afghan war bad...the antiwar left is never prepared to accept a war...they were only saying [Afghanistan] was good so they could contrast it with Iraq."

Bob has a few choice words about Tony’s assertions…

While Arianna decries the false left-right political divide (“the pathetic, obsolete way of looking at American politics” and calling the name of our program “archaic”), she says Tony’s declaration that we’ve won in Iraq is “surrealistic and absurd.” Bob says he’s not embarrassed to be on the left and takes issue with Arianna, reminding her he supported Clinton’s decision to launch cruise missiles to get at Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. But getting involved in a civil war between the Taliban and their opponents isn’t what we should be doing there. “We should be vigorous but rational in pursuing terrorists.”

Lawrence served up what he called 'the softest of softballs' to Tony re: Al Gore's call to the Presidential candidates to set a goal of going carbon-free in terms of electricity generation in 10 years...and Tony swung:  "he showed a sense of humor; the New Yorker cover inspired him to satire...to lunacy."  He went on:

"His plan is virtually impossible...we couldn't build enough nuclear plants in 10 years..."

Lawrence mentioned that Obama had recently done three workouts in one day, and there was speculation that 2 of those 'workouts' were clandestine meetings with VP candidates.

Tony said Romney would not be able to buy his way into the VP slot, and that "McCain will make a quirky decision based on his personality.  Romney's not attractive as a VP just as he wasn't as a presidential candidate."

Lawrence then threw a shout out to visitor to our blog- YoDaveG- who asked about the transition period as Bush ends and the incumbent begins, and that we'll be vulnerable in the Middle East during this time, and this troubles him...