Krauthammer reminds us: “In the latter days of the Carter presidency, it became fashionable to say that the office had become unmanageable and was simply too big for one man. Some suggested a single, six-year presidential term. The president’s own White House counsel suggested abolishing the separation of powers.” Redux.

Barone: “In five decades of closely following American politics, I have never seen the Democratic Party in worse shape. Democrats trail in polls in 11 of the 18 Democratic-held Senate seats up this fall and lead in polls in none of the 18 Republican-held seats.” But will it mean anything?

Out with the old, in with the tea partiers: “A jolt of anti-Obama populist energy has upended the movement’s traditional hierarchy, lifting some new or previously low profile groups to unprecedented heights while leaving traditional powers struggling to adapt.”

“Republican leaders are spending too much time on a “start over” message. I would instead talk about why you oppose the House-passed and Senate-passed bills, and how you are open to any legislative process and solution that addresses those problems. Since the policy problems are core to the bill, you achieve the same effect.”

The “era of high joblessness… will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults. It will leave an indelible imprint on many blue-collar men. It could cripple marriage as an institution in many communities. It may already be plunging many inner cities into a despair not seen for decades.”

“Running for the sake of winning an election, just to remain in public office, is not good enough,” Bayh said. “And it has never been what motivates me. At this time I simply believe I can best contribute to society in another way.” Major fallout for health care, fiscal policy, and other major debates.

Investigations called for at the highest levels in wake of scandals: “[Former climate chief Robert Watson] said that if the errors had just been innocent mistakes, as has been claimed by the current chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, some would probably have understated the impact of climate change.”

“Demonstrations filled the streets yesterday, accompanied by the clear sound of a political crackdown as the regime’s supporters and opponents squared up. But for all the sound and fury the two sides were like boxers circling in the ring. It was not a decisive moment. The political clock is still ticking.”

“Since 1968, Democratic nomination contests have frequently pitted a candidate who draws support primarily from college-educated wine-track voters (think Gary Hart and Barack Obama) against one who relies mostly on less-educated, economically populist beer-track supporters (such as Walter Mondale and Hillary Rodham Clinton).”

As Ahmadinejad pronounces the nation a nuclear power, “Iranian authorities deployed in force across Tehran Wednesday to conduct last-minute security sweeps and warn residents to refrain from joining antigovernment protests planned for Thursday.”