Visual source: Newseum
William Galston:
So—to repeat—those of us who reject conservative assaults on government do so for forward-looking, practical reasons, not out of obsolete ideological commitments. We believe that without appropriate government activity, our country will be less efficient and productive as well as less secure and humane. That doesn’t mean that we should resist all proposed reforms, even when they involve long-cherished programs. But we must defend the need for government, staunchly and unapologetically, against the narrow and blinkered attacks that have come to dominate our public discourse.
Excellent piece.
Sam Stein:
The biggest political story over the past week didn't involve a bus tour, sordid tweets sent from a congressman's account or even the posturing over whether to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
Instead, it was the no-thrills release of a 16-page report by the Census bureau, which underscored a massive paradigm shift in how politics is conducted.
On May 26, the Census released what an official at the bureau described as "the latest, most up to date data on the Hispanic population in the United States." The numbers, culled from its 2010 survey, tell a remarkable -- albeit anticipated -- story: The Hispanic population is growing at a rate much faster than any other demographic.
Dan Balz:
Sarah Palin spent the holiday weekend breaking the rules again. Everything about her “One Nation” bus tour, except the bus, is the antithesis of how most politicians would do what she’s doing. The question is whether she could ever run for president this way.
The experts — those who have had experience in campaigns — say no. One Republican with considerable campaign experience, who wouldn’t agree to be identified in order to be as candid as possible, called the “One Nation” bus tour that Palin and her family are on “a joke.” Another called it “an ill-conceived” venture as a precursor to a campaign.
Why is the political press bothering to cover a nutjob? Turn the coverage over to the Hollywood gossip columnists until she declares.
Michael Gerson:
The political lore of the 1964 presidential campaign has a reporter asking an elderly woman why she was supporting Lyndon Johnson over Barry Goldwater. Goldwater, she answered, wants to abolish TV. Actually, the reporter corrected, Goldwater wants to abolish the TVA. To which the woman responded: “Well, I’m not taking any chances.”
Great anecdote. And the highlight of the column, which is advice to the GOP on ameliorating Ryan's Curse.
Nate Silver:
Republicans May Need ‘Exit Strategy’ From Medicare Plan
The numbers support the gut on this one.
Greg Sargent:
Conservatives and some political observers are making a big deal out of the fact that the Dem candidate in the closely watched state Supreme Court race in Wisconsin finally conceded defeat today, as had long been expected.
But surely it’s also a big deal that we now know for certain that six Wisconsin Republican state senators will officially face recall elections, while a grand total of zero Democrats may face the same?
David Leonhardt:
Two economists, Brian Knight and Nathan Schiff, set out a few years ago to determine how much Iowa, New Hampshire and other early-voting states affected presidential nominations.
Mr. Knight and Mr. Schiff analyzed daily polls in other states before and after an early state had held a contest. The polls tended to change immediately after the contest, and the changes tended to last, which suggested that the early states were even more important than many people realized. The economists estimated that an Iowa or New Hampshire voter had the same impact as five Super Tuesday voters put together.
This system, the two men drily noted in a Journal of Political Economy paper, “represents a deviation from the democratic ideal of ‘one person, one vote.’ ”
WSJ:
As GOP Eyes Turn to Texas, Perry Hits Snag
Texas Gov. Perry was expected to begin weighing a Republican presidential bid this week but instead found himself enmeshed again in the battle over the state budget.