Gray's Anatomy

D.C. mayor-elect Vincent Gray is beginning his transition. I think outgoing mayor Adrian Fenty did excellent work for the city, but what can you do -- its residents didn't like his style (and there were definitely stylistic missteps along the way that could have been averted). It never seemed clear to me what, if any, substantive differences Gray had from Fenty, so the best we can hope for is that Gray will largely continue down the same path -- but in a more friendly, deliberate fashion.

Also, as a citizen of the United States, I am personally humiliated by this sentence:

Gray said he plans to meet with GOP congressional leaders soon to urge them to allow the city to manage itself.

It is flatly embarrassing in this day and age that the mayor of our nation's capital has to walk up to Capitol Hill and beg Congress for the right to self-rule.

D.C. Mayor for Obama

In what has to be the highest profile endorsement to have absolutely no significance whatsoever, DC mayor Adrian Fenty has announced his endorsement of Barack Obama for President. Along with Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, Fenty is the most visible face of D.C. politics today. Of course, the D.C. primary is not considered to be particularly important, and it's fair to say that its three electoral votes will not exactly be up for grabs in 2008, so his true influence is somewhat limited. Maybe it will shore up Obama's support in the Black community?

Fenty is a good guy, and I think he has a lot of potential to continue the District in the revival started by former mayor Anthony Williams. He also holds the distinction of having won all 142 DC precincts in his race to become mayor, which is pretty incredible no matter how liberal the city is.