From the latest issue of Policy Review, Andrew Stark on Conservative Humility, Liberal Irony: Getting to the bottom of two temperaments. How will President Obama and his party justify the spending cuts in the debt deal? Ezra Kelin on winners and losers, policy edition. Did the president surrender, or did he do the best he could? Paul Krugman says the president surrendered — Democrats should kill the bill. Brian Beutler on the four big problems with — and four silver linings around — the debt limit deal. Jay Newton-Small on five things for liberals to like in the debt ceiling deal. What exactly is wrong with this deal? If Democrats read the fine print on the debt deal struck by President Obama and Congressional leaders, Nate Silver says, they’ll find that it’s a little better than it appears at first glance. Jonathan Chait says the deal isn't so bad, but the rationale for it is. Jared Bernstein says lousy negotiating skills are not the problem — in fact, public opinion is everything, and liberals haven't persuaded the public to support their vision of government. A lot of what's hitting liberals over the last couple of weeks is a delayed reaction to the severity of the Republican landslide of 2010. Democrats will lose now — but they can win later. Andrew Sullivan on Obama's Pyrrhic defeat. What we’ve arrived at is a thinly veiled Grand Bargain (judging by the numbers, the triggers, and the political positioning) — and that adds up to a victory for the President and Democrats. The mindless hysteria of right-wing sheep: Hey, Dittoheads — you're being played for suckers! Polls show the importance of the Tea Party to the GOP base. The GOP Feedback Loop: How presidential candidates and Congressmen are moving each other to the right. Stanley Greenberg on why voters tune out Democrats. Worst Congress Ever: Americans have complained for years that their government is broken — this time they're right.
