"Yes, we know what's coming. I'm not naive," Obama said in the North Carolina speech. "We've already seen it . . . pouncing on every gaffe and association and fake controversy, in the hopes that the media will play along."

That's the message: Attack me; attack my pastor; attack my wife; bring it on. I'm ready.

The quote is from a piece entitled, as is this diary, Mr. Cool's Intensity by David Ignatius, whose Washington Post columns are often about international affairs.  The column is interesting in what it has to say about Obama.  I will explore it a bit, and per usual, offer a few thoughts of my own.