What Republicans can learn from the Democrats' revival
What to make of the 28-year-old columnist's contempt for the GOP—and its would-be reformers
They can—but mainly by doing things other than what we want and expect from them.
Though vastly different, both think more highly of their own judgment than any law.
Reuters
The whole Congress should debate and vote on significant policies.
AP
Despite worries that their focus on abortion and gay marriage is a liability for Republicans, they're as well-organized, vigilant, and powerful as ever.
Reuters
How we answer may say more about us than it does about either of them.
Reuters
The culture of secrecy in Washington has become absurd.
Reuters
No Republican on the Homeland Security Subcommittee was willing to speak against Steve King's "poison-pill" amendment.
Reuters
The president's decision to arm the rebels in Syria is yet another betrayal of the anti-war liberals who helped elect him.
Reuters
Wisconsin voters replaced the civil-liberties champion with an ostensibly Tea Party senator -- who doesn't seem to care about government snooping.
Reuters
The president and his underlings, "given a chance to paralyze opposition by practicing secrecy and deception, will use that power."
Reuters
There really are checks and balances in our national-security system, but apathy prevents them from exercising rigorous oversight.
Reuters
Just exposing classified information doesn't always lead to prosecution. Just ask high-ranking Obama and Bush Administration officials.
Derek Gavey/Flickr
The distinctive malice of al-Qaeda and its allies doesn't change the fact that we need to make rational choices in a world of limited resources.
America's Voice/Latino Decisions
A new poll shows that the way senators talk about immigration reform doesn't just alter their standing -- it changes how Latinos look at their entire party.
AP
Senators like Rand Paul are demanding a tougher immigration bill. Reform advocates must decide if they're being sincere -- or trying to kill the bill.
Reuters
It's not enough to pay a political price or be shamed into silence. You have to come to believe sincerity is not the same as accuracy.
Rep. Trent Franks
Was Arizona's Trent Franks not paying attention when Todd Akin made similar comments last year and paid the price?
Reuters
The practice of handing over cash to turn out votes used to be an urban Democratic specialty. Are rural Republicans getting in on the fun?
Reuters
If you think of them as people, rather than abstractions, you're more likely to conclude, "no one."
Malaki Hillel/Flickr
Some secrets cannot be kept from the people if our system of government is to remain legitimate.
Reuters
One year later, the Supreme Court's Obamacare decision on Medicaid expansion looks more like a Pyrrhic victory for the president.
Getty Images
Progressives aren't going to give the president a pass on civil liberties anymore.
Chet Susslin/National Journal
If you think Capitol Hill is polarized, overcompetitive, and obsessed with winning, wait until you see the Congressional Baseball Game.
Adam Mirowski/Flickr
The pervasive surveillance state isn't inevitable unless we give up on opposing it.
Eflon/Flickr
The 29-year-old's law-breaking undermines the American system far less than what Barack Obama and Congress have done.
Reuters
Given how little we know about the NSA leaker, committing to any clear position on his actions doesn't make sense yet.
Yoichi Okamoto
Pundits longingly cite the 36th president's persuasive power. But his intimidation of the press shows the darker side of that arm-twisting.
"The tech visionaries who predicted that the internet would be revolutionary were correct, but not in the way that they expected."
Reuters
U.S. troops will soon leave Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda is in shambles. What reason is there for Congress to abdicate responsibility for declaring war?
Alaettin YILDIRIM / Shutterstock
Yes, America has done lots of wonderful things. No, that doesn't mean it is incapable of doing very bad things.
Public domain
The phrase is used by people who want to justify a policy without having to prove that it's legal and prudent.
Reuters
When confronted by far deadlier threats, Americans are much less willing to cede freedom and privacy.
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