Republicans define freedom as an absence of restraints imposed by government. Democrats define freedom as an absence of necessity, which government exists to reduce. America has not moved as far as it thinks it has beyond the argument about the New Deal, when FDR insisted, "Necessitous men are not free men."

Arizona's law makes what is already a federal offense - being in the country illegally - a state offense. Some critics seem not to understand Arizona's right to assert concurrent jurisdiction.

The almost erotic pleasure of spending money that others have earned and saved is one reason people put up with the tiresome aspects of political life.

Voters don't decide issues, they decide who will decide issues.

Football combines the two worst things about America: it is violence punctuated by committee meetings.

The pursuit of perfection often impedes improvement.

Americans complain a lot about the government and they voice a generalized suspicion of the government, but they constantly clammer for more of it.