re: #2 reine.de.tout

That article doesn’t make any sense. Quoting a couple of paragraphs:

I don’t see that Obama chose “a side” on this at all. There really isn’t a “side” on the mosque issue, except the one invented by some idiots.

Another portion of the article:

ehhh, what?
IIRC, lotsa folks were upset with Clinton for over-reliance on “the polls”.

Lotsa those same folks were pleased as punch with Bush for what they saw as NOT relying on the polls.

Now, when it’s convenient for this particular bunch, they say the President should be relying on the polls?

I’m not quite getting the point.

I think you are missing the point that the piece was being sarcastic and a slap at selling out the intellectually honest for the expedient. I think the point was that Obama spoke out for the right position even though it was unpopular.