President Obama went from the triumph of passing his national health plan to the tragedy of the BP oil spill in just two months. It was only March 28 when Obama pronounced that getting Congress to pass a bill strenuously disliked by the American people was proof that government could "still do big things." By May 28, Americans were watching oil belch up from the briny deep and wondering whether government could do anything at all. Read More

How interested is Barack Obama in discussing Rep. Joe Sestak's allegation that the White House offered him a big government job if he would not challenge Sen. Arlen Specter, the White House's favored candidate in the Pennsylvania Senate primary? Well, when the president was asked about it at his news conference Thursday -- the question didn't come up until the very last reporter was called on -- the normally long-winded Obama spoke for a total of 32 seconds. Read More

It's gut check time for America's casual libertarians. After watching Rand Paul get pilloried for engaging in a politically foolish theoretical discussion about the constitutionality of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, it's obvious that the days when liberals tolerated libertarians are over. For decades, conservatives who didn't want to be associated with the more controversial precincts of the Right have had an easy dodge: "I'm really more of a libertarian. ... " Read More

Is there a flavor to this year's anti-incumbency wave, or is it just about hating Washington? Right now, both parties are purging themselves of ideological infidels. This week's primaries were the best evidence yet that purity is preferable to pragmatism in 2010. Read More