Articles by David Roberts

If so, what?

Greg Anrig Jr.'s advice to Bush: Be more like Arnold.

Just one year after California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's political humiliation, with all four of his favored ballot initiatives crushed at the polls, the Terminator won reelection yesterday by 17 points. How did he accomplish such a dramatic turnaround? According to the Los Angeles Times, he 1) apologized for his missteps, which were attributable largely to rigidly adhering to right-wing ideology, 2) realized that his job was about "governing," 3) poured billions of dollars into popular programs, 4) cut bipartisan deals to fight global warming, boost the minimum wage, and reduce the cost of pharmaceutical drugs, and 5) made infrastructure the center of his legislative focus, underscoring his new brass-tacks approach to governance.

My advice to pigs: fly, little oinkers, fly!

Are the two connected?

Matt Yglesias questions the liberal-hawk "we have to stay in Iraq because of the oil" talking point -- which Bush himself has been deploying lately -- using the standard "oil is fungible" response. Any geopolitical experts out there have thoughts on this perennial debate?

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In Montana

AP has called the Montana Senate election for Tester. The worst case scenario for Dems now is a deadlocked Senate -- with Dick Cheney waddling down periodically to shoot them in the face cast tie-breaking votes.