It will pass in Texas by a vote of 2-to-1,

is going to plague him not only in his second term but in history — even in Texas.

Since the late 1920s Texas has almost consistently had a member of the high leadership in either the House or Senate or both. We simply don't have that anymore.

It makes you wonder, when they have so many problems, why they would let this fester the way they have.

It's hard for the White House to regain momentum if the Congress is in disarray. It ties up the Republicans in Congress and limits their ability to execute any White House agenda.

I think of 2002 as the last gasp of the old order. The first gasp of the new order might well be 2010.