Americans don't want leadership. They want alchemy.

The definition of a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.

Anything that keeps a politician humble is healthy for democracy.

He's nice enough not to want to be associated with a nasty remark but not nice enough not to make it. Lacking the courage of one's nastiness does not make one nice.

One answer is that the towns elected officials thought that the project served a public purpose and that the various subsidies and favors were worth the price. But they may or may not have thought this.

What could be more absurd than the idea that genuine anti-Christian prejudice is a major force in American politics.

So the danger of conservative judicial activism has been averted for another year. Stay tuned.