"And as he weighs a presidential run, Vilsack's read of the national temperament apparently suggests the best hope for a Democratic candidate is on the conservative side.

He almost could have been George Bush as he praised National Guard troops for making us safer and from the podium introduced a Guard member injured in Iraq and his wife.

But at least Vilsack did more than just praise their sacrifice. He introduced a plan to pay $10,000 to veterans seriously injured in combat."