Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell doesn’t actually need to oppose Democrats’ proposals. He can simply declare that he opposes the Democrats’ plan thereby instantly making the issue a “controversy” for the media. By merely labeling any proposal “controversial” he can often succeed in making it less popular.

It appears even an “Obama official” is talking about how marijuana ballot measures might be the Democratic equivalent of gay marriage ban initiatives for Republicans. In 2004, ballot initiatives to ban gay marriage likely increased the conservative vote, helping to elect Republicans.

At long last, Rep. David Obey has called the question: which is more important to America – saving teachers’ jobs, or pointless killing in Afghanistan? This could be the beginning of the end of the Washington consensus that wars and other military spending exist on their own fiscal planet. But where are the big Democratic constituency groups? It isn’t just a question of missing an opportunity: there is a freight train coming called “deficit reduction,” and if cuts in military spending aren’t on board the train, the train’s cargo will be cuts in Social Security and Medicare benefits.