We keep having to go over this, don't we? Jeffrey Lord loves to trot out the old trope about how Democrats made slaves and Republicans freed them, as if the two parties look exactly the same today as they did 150 years ago.

Now, just as he did in June when he made the same call but named President Obama by name, he thinks this plays with the wider electorate. It doesn't.

As if the Southern strategy never happened, and as if Republicans weren't playing the race cards up their sleeves and under their hats.

Don't be ridiculous.

*Pictured on the front page: The author caught Mr. Lord standing up trying to look cool outside the arena this afternoon. It is hot here. He failed.