Dick Morris says that John McCain is now the man to beat for the GOP nomination, and may be the man to win it all.

Mitt Romney is making it a contest in Michigan, according to the latest polls. He and McCain are neck-and-neck. Romney MUST win in Michigan if he wants to keep his candidacy alive.

George Will is pessimistic about the GOP's chances in November.

Jonah Goldberg is pessimistic about the future of American Conservatism in general.

I hate to agree with their pessimism, but I do. Ironically, it is all being driven by our increasing prosperity. As we grow richer (as a society in general), we are less concerned about the increasing burden of taxation, and more concerned about other dangers, real or imagined. We acquiesce to a larger government role as our protector against threats as diverse as international terrorists, global warming, and the perils of smoking. As more people look for that protection, naturally they gravitate toward those politicians who offer it. Some call themselves Democrats, offering protection against global warming, environmental degradation, the vicissitudes of capitalism, or the ravages of smoking. Others call themselves Republicans, offering protection against terrorists, rogue regimes, or criminals. All require a larger government, especially on the Federal level, to achieve their goals.