A dose of humility goes a long way in life and in politics.

The failure of the White House and Congress to seriously address the nation's fiscal situation is certain to broaden the belief among many voters that the U.S. political system is broken.

In times of tumult, voters are likely to forgive a president, if not reward him, for compromises made in service of solutions.

Once a popular Alaska governor with a modest record of accomplishment, Palin could conceivably revive her reputation in this era of short memories. But it's hard to imagine her name atop the GOP ballot in 2016, when a cast of heavyweights who sat out 2012 will be vying for the nomination.

Historians will likely give Obama credit for steering the country away from the brink of economic collapse in 2009.

Like a cowboy saddling a bucking stallion, Republican leaders tried to tame the Tea Party while riding it to victories.

A concrete agenda and landslide victory might not even guarantee a president his mandate in a capital as polarized as Washington.