Are we on the cusp of a fundamental political and social change here in the United States, perhaps a Fourth American Republic? The author of the piece posits the existence of three American Republics since the founding, although all are based on the original Constitution first written in 1787. The first was a loose alliance of states, with one section's economy based on slave labor and agriculture, the other on free labor and manufacturing. The second followed the Civil War, a dynamic, capitalistic society of expanding population and territory. The present Republic is the one put in place since the New Deal in 1933, a special interest state of expanding government and competing special interests. An interesting analysis.

Former New Hampshire Congressman Jeb Bradley wins a special election for a State Senate seat. Could the tide be turning here in the Granite State? Perhaps, but it should be understood that the district is a solid one for the GOP, and Bradley had the benefit of name recognition as a long-time representative from the area, as a State Representative as well as a U.S. Representative (Bradley lost his Congressional seat in 2006, and then tried and failed to win it back in 2008). Still, good news, and a good first election for the new Republican leadership here, headed up by former Governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu.

Tom Friedman laments the declining state of education here in the United States.

The owners of the Yankees and Mets lament the timing of opening billion-dollar stadiums in the middle of a deep recession.

The New York Times Co. refuses to open negotiations with the unions representing workers at The Boston Globe to the public, while also announcing more big losses, with those losses being blamed to a large extent on the collapse of revenue at the Globe. The trend continues, as one would expect, since the business model for newspapers no longer works. I just don't see how the Globe, or the Times, or any newspaper will continue much longer in their current form.

The Sun remains quiet...too quiet.