Just stop it.

Perhaps the most annoying consequence of the (generally positive) rise of reformist conservative bloggers is that, given their heterodox cred, they tend to think that when they pronounce Obama (or another liberal politician) disappointing or underwhelming or unimpressive, it actually means something outside of the usual partisan bickering. "I'm heterodox! I'm open-minded! Therefore my thoughts that Obama's speech was lame is really saying something." But it's bogus. Do you want to know why so many heterodox conservative bloggers are dissing Obama's speech? Because they are conservatives and don't agree with Obama's politics, and for no other reason. This is pure rhetoric: I am standing outside of my partisan shell to analyze my opponent's speech, so when I criticize it, it makes my criticism cut deeper. Bogus. You don't agree with Barack Obama's policy, you aren't a Democrat, and you don't want Barack Obama to win. Own up to that, and stop putting on these post-partisan airs.

Note, of course, that this is a courtesy that will not be extended in kind to liberal bloggers. When they enjoy Obama's speech, or denounce McCain's convention speech, they won't be "stepping outside of ideology". They'll just be typical liberals, bashing McCain.

Also immensely annoying: do you remember during the Olympics how the commentators would constantly say that an American victory in a particular event would be unthinkable, simply to make the inevitable upset more dramatic? It's just as annoying now that conservative bloggers and pundits are doing it regarding John McCain. Nothing was ever certain; I don't know of anyone who ever said that there was no chance for a McCain win. A black guy getting elected over a rich white old man was always going to be a monumental task, no matter how conservative bloggers played it. Indeed, it's always been conservatives who have been most certain of an Obama victory. And I find this setting up for the huuuuuuuge upset to be straightforwardly and transparently cynical, a way to make punishing liberals and Democrats in the event of a McCain victory that much more cold and stinging. (Remember when it was classless and foolish for Democrats to feel assured of victory? Remember that, guys? What's bad for the goose....)

I can see Wolf Blitzer now... "This is a crushing defeat for Democrats and liberalism!", the snide language, the sneer on every talking head's face, the absolute glee that will grow among the Washington media elite....