The New Republic

George Will and I have something in common: We were both trained in the close reading of political texts. Will recently applied his interpretive skills to a statement by Elizabeth Warren, who is running for the Democratic senatorial nomination in Massachusetts. Here is what Warren said:  READ MORE >>

“I want to see some history!” So went Johnny Rotten’s desperate plea in 1977. But the front man for the Sex Pistols, cursed in so many ways, was not cursed with living in especially interesting times. We are. And, yes, it’s all been very adrenalizing, to the point of downright exhilaration and even mass delirium. But, for all the cheap speechifying about civic vigor and American cohesion, September 11 was a curse. Nothing more. READ MORE >>

-- The People's Daily says that the U.S. has merely "pushed off" its sovereign debt problems. -- Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 READ MORE >>

One of the arguments for skepticism of the Michelle Bachmann campaign is that the party establishment opposes her. That isn't totally wrong, but I don't think that frames the issue quite right, either. It certainly doesn't help Bachmann if Washington Republicans fervently hope for her defeat in the primaries. But if that worrying is confined to quiet hand-wringing, that doesn't doom her. What matters is the message conveyed to Republican voters. READ MORE >>

[Guest post by James Downie] Gather round, everyone! George Will has a history lesson for us! READ MORE >>

Not long ago, Kevin Carey laid out the depressing possibility that Republicans would revert to their "local control" view of education, thus strangling reform. Today George Will reports, encouragingly, that John Kline -- the House Republican who chairs the education committee --  is trying to change the minds of Republicans in the House: READ MORE >>

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I've always had a lot of respect for the Republican elite, by which I mean respect for their ability to evaluate candidates and pick the best one available. I really don't understand what they're thinking right now, though, and I raise the issue in a column for the New York Times magazine: READ MORE >>

-- Jon Cohn introduces the GOP's health care apostates. -- Paul Krugman spots train-hater George Will on the train. -- Bill Turque misunderstands the meaning of "naive." READ MORE >>

With few declared candidates and no clear frontrunner, the Republican presidential primary appears to be as muddled as ever. But I actually think things are shaking out in a way as to clear the path for Tim Pawlenty. READ MORE >>