Inside the Beltway

But now public media have a reason to be really sad: President Obama’s bipartisan fiscal commission has proposed cutting off taxpayer funds to the genre as a cost-saving tactic - and at least one of them is responding with a flourish:

“Americans. Public radio is the last remaining source of independent, non-commercial and thought-provoking broadcast media in the country,” NPR says in an official statement. “It’s imperative for funding to continue to ensure that this essential tool of democracy survives and thrives well into the future.

THE REAGAN TOUCH

“Ronnie would be thrilled that the road to the White House will begin at his presidential library.”

— Nancy Reagan, on announcing that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., will host the first debate for 2012 presidential hopefuls next spring. It’s already a comfortable place for White House types: Former President George W. Bush speaks there on Thursday, potential Republican contender Mike Huckabee on Nov. 29. Incidentally, multiple celebrations for what would have been Mr. Reagan’s 100th birthday begin there on Feb. 6 with an F-18 flyover and a 21-gun Howitzer salute.

POLL DU JOUR

• 77 percent of voters say the 2010 midterms had more mudslinging than previous elections.

• 62 percent say President Obama should “work with Republican leaders”; 89 percent of Republicans and 46 percent of Democrats agree.

• 55 percent of voters overall say Republican leaders should work with Mr. Obama; 25 percent of Republicans and 77 percent of Democrats agree.

• 38 percent of voters overall say Republicans should “stand up to Obama”; 71 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of Democrats agree.

• 56 percent of Republicans say their party leaders should be “more conservative,” 38 percent say they should be moderate.

• 34 percent of Democrats say their party leaders should be “more liberal,” 54 percent say they should be moderate.

Source: A Pew Research Center poll of 1,061 registered voters conducted Nov. 4-7.

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