New Yorkers chose wisely Tuesday. They elected a Democratic representative to replace the Republican who resigned. I hope they’re fed up with the GOP’s refusal to tax big corporations or the wealthy. Perhaps they hate Ryan’s Medicare plan. Unfortunately, voters in the 26th district may just think a brunet congresswoman would be more conservative than [...]

Congress negotiates like kids make up rules on the playground. Whatever one wants, another says, “no fair!’ We can’t cut entitlements, change anyone’s taxes, or live with the status quo, so the game goes on until, like kids, someone cries.

If Senate Democrats pass a clean bill raising the debt ceiling, they leave Boehner and House Republicans in charge of the nation’s credit. Since default will hurt major GOP campaign contributors more than anyone, let them make the Tea Party a Godfather offer it can’t refuse.

Republicans seem to be winning. By killing jobs to fight the deficit, they slowed the recovery and may be pushing us toward economic disaster. That’s the first thing they need to do to defeat the president. It’s too bad so many people have to suffer, because they’ll never accomplish the second. For a real victory [...]