Analogy of the day.

John Cole...

Romney’s style of politics is that of his dressage horse in the London competition, an elite ballet set to classical music during which the hoi polloi are not supposed to talk.

From the "Since you asked..." file.

Jonathan Golub wonders, in a slightly less than family friendly - and hence slightly bowdlerized - fashion...

Are State politics in Washington really this f***ed up—where ire against Seattle overrides basic public safety?

Since you asked, yeah, pretty much.

Heh™.

Darryl, liveblogging the debacle du jour...

6:41: Santorum, “Politics is a team sport, folks.” Newt’s thinking, “marriage, too!”

From the "Me too" file.

John Aravosis...

I do think it's interesting that Mormons are supposed to be given a "get out of politics free card" when they inject themselves into politics to a massive degree in an effort to impose their religious beliefs on the rest of us.

Me too.

From the groves of academe…

...notes from a couple members of my unofficial academic advisory committee...

Neil Sinhababu...

If you take the people who claim to want bipartisanship at face value, they stand out in our politics as a class of especially confused and ineffective people.

...and PZ Meyers...

Candidates who stick their fingers in their ears and reject reality simply don't deserve to hold office.

And yes, this material may be in the final.

The problem…

…isn't the relative quality of the Democratic spine, or President Obama's facility at negotiation, or who or what is right or wrong. Here, via Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), is the problem...

"It has always been a straight up or down vote. The new leadership in the House has decided that they want to add some budget cuts or other considerations to this vote, because that is their preference, and they are the leadership, so we are in this quagmire."

As far as the debt ceiling is concerned, we have a problem because the Republicans decided they wanted a problem. You might ask why, but the important question is what, as in what is "the single most important thing" they want to achieve. That's the lens to view every Republican action and statement through.

They call it politics. Some, to coin a phrase, call it treason.

From the "Me too" file.

Jonathan Bernstein...

My prejudices when it comes to campaign regulations are pretty simple: more politics is good, less is bad.

Me too.

Politics 101

Professor Bernstein gets first things first...

One of the very first things to know about politics in the United States is how unfathomably big the nation is, and how having enough people agree with you to pack a room doesn't actually mean much, as far as political impact is concerned.

As a veteran of innumerable packed rooms of little or no ultimate consequence, I can confirm this insight empirically.

Quote of the day.

Willie Nelson...

"The more I get into politics the more I realize that I am a guitar player.”

Nice pretext for a tip of the Stetson to the Eldest Son of Upper Left, who's on the road working Willie's stage on the Country Throwdown tour. He's been lots of places with lots of tours over the years, but I've never been this jealous of one of my kids.

Chart of the day.

Via Graphjam...

Words to live by.

Goldy…

Politics is an adversarial process. Deal with it.

The truth…

…and nothing but from DougJ...

There is no question, at this point, that the defining feature of today’s politics is the complete craziness of the Republican party.

From the "Me too" file.

Atrios...

I have mixed feelings about mandate-as-policy, but as politics it's going to be horrible. I find it weird that no one seems to get this.

It seems self-evident that any policy that invites mixed feelings while requiring a universal mandate is going to be politically problematic. At least someone else, though, seems to get this. I suppose that's reassuring, but somehow I'm not feeling particularly reassured.

Oh well, at least misery loves company.

Worth repeating.

LowerManhattanite...

While politics isn't “beanbag”, it shouldn't be the ear scene in “Reservoir Dogs” either.