Suppose that in August 2009, Obama had called up Senator Kennedy on his deathbed to talk about the next presidential election.
Look, Ted. I know this is the last thing you want to worry about right now. But chances are, the Republicans are going to nominate Romney in 2012. At the convention, we might want to use video of your debates. Are you cool with that?
What would the response have been? I find it difficult to imagine anything other than:
You do whatever you want. Just beat that son of a bitch.