Good analysis at a practical level. The foundational principle is missed: The excessive spending and over taxation has been caused by the complete evisceration of the Constitution and concomitant end to limitations on the federal government over the last 7 decades. If our politicians (both parties) and judges adhered to the Constitution none of this happens.

If you believe in rational self interest, including the right to self defense, the best description of the Shedlock/McCain position is irrational self immolation.

The reason for the spineless, mealy-mouthed stances of the Republicans (with few exceptions) should not be an enduring mystery. They do not believe in what they purport to be selling--limited government, fiscal responsibility, individual freedom. They are in most essential respects just a different shade of the same leftist color.

Oh how I pine for a critic with intellect. Between Messrs. Gerson and Andrews all the blather has been covered. To summarize Andrews’ position: greatness is not achievable and defeating Obama in 2012 is the answer. Now that is profound. Lest we be duped into believing that our country’s fundamental problems will be solved by the next election, let us not forget that Obama in most essential respects (government growth, spending, bailouts, stimulus, effective nationalization, etc.) is simply Bush on steroids. The long-term survival of our republic depends on a return to the protections of a constitutionally limited government. Achieving this (yes, achieving greatness) requires a foundation provided by moral defenses of...

Mr. Gerson proffers only intellectually devoid and inane disparagements of Ayn Rand and her work, which are intended to elicit witless emotional responses in readers. In this he is aping the Left’s tactics. I summarize: Critique: The movie, book and mind behind it are mediocre. Response: Could a 50-year-old book sell at the astounding rates it has for decades and still be #17 on Amazon if it were mediocre? Critique: Comparison of Dagny’s high-speed rail to Obama’s State of the Union address. Response: Can Gerson seriously be equating the human triumph expressed by Dagny’s success with the statist power lust of Obama? It appears he can, absurd as it is. Critique: None of the characters express a hint of sympathetic human...