By Steve Clemons

Just back from Japan — thanks to Sameer Lalwani and Scott Paul for keeping the wheels rolling while I was in air.

It’s about 3 am EST and I’m getting on a plane in 9 minutes here at Narita Airport in Japan. . .finally. But I’m very pleased that the Philadelphia Inquirer ran my Cuba reactions as an oped today.

Joshua Micah Marshall and his Talking Points Memo franchise have just won a prestigious Polk Award. This is a key development in recognition of blogging. The judges sited specifically Josh and his team’s work in connecting the dots in the patterned firing of US attorneys. Josh is a co-parent of The Washington Note.

In his speech tonight, John McCain referenced a “holiday from history” to deride his opponents — well, really, mostly Barack Obama. Guess what — STOLEN WORDS! There’s an epidemic. Charles Krauthammer seems to be the proprietor of this cliche — although lots of others have used the term.

Toles (c) 2008 The Washington Post. Used by permission of Universal Press Syndicate. All rights reserved. This so completely captures where we as a nation are. Forget about Cuba.

Joe Cirincione is one of the great, high energy intellectuals in Washington who knows that the stakes are big in Washington — and that the policy battles we engage in really matter. They do.

There is no doubt that Obama is a juggernaut now. CNN just called the Wisconsin race for him — his 9th win in a row.

But John McCain acknowledges that he admires Governor Huckabee very much. . . I don’t buy the rumors that McCain promised Florida Governor Charlie Crist the Vice Presidential slot. If he did, Dems should rejoice. It’s not as much of a utility-maximizing move as taking Huckabee on board. But who knows. . .

Paul Squassoni took this amazing shot during his recent trip to Sydney, Australia. I just had to get it up here. I like that folks are sending pics in that move “us” one way or another. I totally stole this “view from your window” concept from Andrew Sullivan (with his blessing).

I’m a big fan of Alexander Hamilton — though there is an article on the top of my reading pile that takes on some of us Hamilton-huggers. I was amazed by how prolific, articulate, pragmatic and sensible Hamilton was. Indeed, there is an old adage: “Washington Reigned. Hamilton Ruled. And Jefferson complained.