JOY TO THE WORLD: an election year without Keith Olbermann.

"PERHAPS A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM can survive having chosen fools as its leaders. But, history shows time and again that a nation of fools is surely doomed."

AN ODE TO THE WELFARE STATE.

ESTABLISHMENT SENATE REPUBLICAN: sets himself up for defeat.

VIDEO OF COMET LOVEJOY as it approaches the sun. Apparently the comet survived it's close approach, although much diminished.

FACT CHECK: Unicorns do exist!

MICHAEL BARONE: Obama succeeds abroad when he follows Bush and Clinton. Reality has a way of 'pushing back'. Obama may control the ship of state, but he can't control the seas in which it floats.

JEFF JACOBY: Hurray for gridlock.

PROBLEMS AND THE PROBLEM: an incoherent view of the economy. It's from the Left, naturally.