Most of the things that need to be said about the President are things he can't say himself.

I think we need one recognized, respected public figure to make a tough, blunt statement on just what Reagan's record is and what he might do to the country, let alone the Republican Party before Christmas.

People feel that decisions about their jobs, the way their children are educated, how their church functions, and products they buy are made by someone and some place so distant that they can't find anybody to talk to that has any influence over them.

The President's political travel is going to get blamed (and probably rightly) for a share of this downturn.

As the society has gotten larger and more complex, individuals have lost their ability to influence any of the institutions that affect their lives.

Look at the declining television coverage. Look at the declining voting rate. Economics and economic news is what moves the country now, not politics.

Every person has only so much attention to give, and politics and government takes up only a fraction of what it did 25 years ago.