With the parties at virtual parity and the ideological gulf between them never greater, the stakes of majority control of Congress are extremely high.

In addition to the decline in competition, American politics today is characterized by a growing ideological polarization between the two major political parties.

Responsibility for overseeing the implementation of election law typically resides with partisan officials, many with public stakes in the election outcome.

Beer soothes the upset soul.

The writer's joy is the thought that can become emotion, the emotion that can wholly become a thought.

I will keep faith with death in my heart... For the sake of goodness, for the sake of love, Let no man's heart be ruled by death... The only religious way to think of death is as part and parcel of life; to regard it, with the understanding and the .emotions, as the inviolable condition of life.

The increase in straight-ticket party voting in recent years means that competitive congressional races can tip one way or the other depending on the showing of the candidates at the top of the ticket.