Inside the Beltway: True North

“Democracy isn’t always pretty,” the publication insists.

“I am one of the hottest women in the world,” Mr. Colbert screamed at his audience Tuesday night. “This is historic, folks.”

FAREWELL DEMOCRATS

“My personal library is still full of books on John and Robert Kennedy, and I have rarely talked about politics without trying to capture the noble things they stood for. I have also not forgotten that in my early 30s, the Democratic Party managed to engineer the last run of robust growth and expanded social mobility that we have enjoyed; and when the party was doing that work, it felt inclusive, vibrant and open-minded. But parties change. As I told a reporter last week, this is not Bill Clinton’s Democratic Party (and he knows that even if he can’t say it).”

(From former four-term Alabama representative Artur Davis’ rationale, explaining why he left the Democratic Party, published as a “Response to Political Rumors” at his personal website: www.officialarturdavis.com)

POLL DU JOUR

• 71 percent of U.S. small business owners think the economy is still in recession.

• 61 percent say health care/Medicare is the “business issue” that will have the greatest influence on their presidential election vote.

• 57 percent cite jobs and unemployment; 47 percent cite the federal debt.

• 60 percent say health care reform will “negatively impact” their businesses.

• 27 percent say economic uncertainty is the most significant challenge they have faced in the past two years.

• 20 percent would lower taxes if they were “U.S. president for one day”; 17 percent would reduce regulations; 15 percent would solve health insurance issues.

Source: A U.S. Bank “Small Business Annual Survey” of 3,220 small business owners in 25 states conducted March 1 to April 1 and released Wednesday.

• Memories, speculation, polite applause to jharper@washingtontimes.com.

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