Washington media still haven't a clue about Villaraigosa

For years the guy has gotten a free ride, first in L.A. and more recently in Washington. As reported by Politico, there's the inevitable talk about a cabinet position for the mayor - a head-shaker given the job he's done in Los Angeles. That he might be considered at all reflects how gullible Washington can be when it comes to first impressions - or perhaps it shows what the administration thinks of most cabinet positions. From the Weekly's Gene Maddaus:

Perhaps this remains an interesting story for the national media because Villaraigosa seems like a charismatic, exciting figure when you first encounter him. We remember his 2001 campaign -- the hope, the change, the threads of L.A. weaving together into an uplifting poly-ethnic tapestry. But trust us, Politico, that stuff wears off fast. Pretty soon, you wind up with a thin-skinned opportunist who can barely remember his bromide-and-jargon-laden talking points whenever he's forced to give an extemporaneous talk.