Few want to face the truth -- most Americans resent that they have to undergo the third degree when boarding airplanes, even though they don't remotely resemble the profile of successful modern-day terrorists. That, while those who do fit the profile seem to get waived past security. This is not my opinion, but a well-researched fact that also is underreported.
4) As for offshore drilling, proponents of more drilling can expect to wait at least six months before this is politically feasible. The first wave of media photos depicting oil-drenched wildlife or unemployed fishermen will see to that.
5) For all the hysteria about Arizona's new immigration law, public opinion continues to harden in favor of enforcement of such laws, and of the repatriation of illegals. Again, this is not my opinion, but the scientifically documented opinion of the American public.
Now for some bad news for conservatives. While it has become common on radio talk shows and in the more conservative press to refer to President Obama as a "socialist," most Americans aren't buying it. Moreover, my research shows that such labeling of the president only tends to close the minds of Americans who might otherwise be receptive to changing their views to conservative ones.
At the same time, most Americans have come to genuinely dislike Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Will it occur to Republican message-makers to copy the Democrats' successful tying together of Bob Dole and the then-unpopular Newt Gingrich in 1996?
The GOP could similarly demonize the Democratic agenda this fall by attributing it to Pelosi. (By the way, while I now view Mitt Romney as the strongest candidate for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, my former colleague Gingrich topped a recent national poll of Republicans who were asked whom they might support in two years.)
6) Finally, to whatever genius let Paula Abdul leave "American Idol," thank you! I'm tired of the show -- and apparently most of America is, too. With Simon out of the picture, maybe the show should be renamed "American Disaster" if it runs next year.