The Romney Dilemma
The Exceptionalism Myth Goes Mainstream
Why The Debt Ceiling Crisis Will Happen Again
In a nutshell, because it worked: Asked about the S&P assessment, 71 percent of Americans called it a fair one. On the blame front, 36 percent say the GOP is culpable for the downgrade, 31 percent blame Obama and his fellow Democrats and 22 percent say it’s both sides equally. READ MORE >>
Don't Fear The Supercommittee
"Mass Resistance" To Education Reform
The Obama administration is pursuing a second round of its education reform agenda. The first round was "Race to the Top," which created a competition among states for extra federal grants that would be won by states with the most impressive reforms. This time around, instead of dollars -- there is no new money to hand out -- the Department of Education is using regulatory relief. The 2001 No Child Left Behind law imposed fairly rigid requirements and standards. Everybody agrees it needs updating, but Congress is too dysfunctional to update it, and has been for several years running. READ MORE >>
&c
-- A short history of iceberg towing schemes. -- Stimulus from Fannie and Freddy. -- Al Franken reminds everyone about his proposal to reform the rating agencies. READ MORE >>
Leave Tim Pawlenty Alooooone!
The campaign press seems to have decided that Tim Pawlenty has to win the Iowa straw poll: READ MORE >>
In Defense Of The Recalls
Simon van Zuylen-Wood, in a guest post below, persuasively complicates the liberal narrative about the Wisconsin recall elections by pointing out that the themes of the elections bore little resemblance to the Scott Walker agenda, which motivated the recall. But I think he takes a couple conclusions a bit too far. READ MORE >>
The Two Crises And The Triumph Of Magical Thinking
This morning, listening to Diane Rehm, I heard the host ask her guest what President Obama should do to fix the ailing economy. Her guest expert tried to answer, but did not point out that any proposal to address the economy would require passage by the House and Senate. It struck me, again, that our political discourse is consumed by magical thinking. READ MORE >>
Jeb Bush's Economic Grand Strategery
Like most people, I've always believed that Jeb Bush is the smart Bush brother. And yet his Wall Street Journal op-ed today shakes that assumption to its core. The entire thing has to be read in its full, I-can't-believe-this-isn't-parody context. But I will helpfully summarize, and Ihope the readers will read it to see that I am not making this up. READ MORE >>
