But doesn’t he realize that every extraneous issue he brings up (“equal pay for women!” “amnesty for illegals!”), every time he attacks TV pundits, etc., all these side issues take focus away from his core message?

What was tonight’s speech about — other than President Obama, of course? It wasn’t a jobs speech, wasn’t a “let’s learn a lesson from Massachusetts” or “let’s stay the course.” It was a rhetorical buffet that let us all take what we wanted instead of unifying us behind one or two vital issues.

That unifying, that making the most important case, that willingness to put skin in the game for your priorities — that’s called “leadership.”

It’s been a long, long hour.

I’m still waiting.