Daniel Henninger writes about new poll data that shows the Democrats at the edge of a cliff. These numbers reflect the core truth of what is happening across the country. Ordinary Americans have become alarmed by the enormous size of government, and the reach of government into our lives at every level. It started to reach critical mass with the bank bailouts, then came the automakers, the stimulus bill (which no one can detect in their own lives) and now health care. Middle-of-the-road voters who went for the Democrats in 2006 and 2008 are, I think, now mostly in the anti-government camp. They may not like the GOP much, which is one reason why these Tea Party rallies are doing so well, but they certainly are not going to support the pro-big government party in November. The President hopes he can rally African-Americans and Hispanics to turn out in the Fall, but even if he succeeds in pushing turnout for those groups close to 2008 levels, I suspect the loss of centrist, white, working and middle class voters will be so great as to make minority turnout irrelevant (not even considering the fact that gerrymandering of districts has concentrated those voters into fewer districts as it is).

Pat Buchanan believes China is following the same path that led the United States to the top of the global heap. Buchanan has always believed that a protectionist trade policy, aggressive guardianship of a coherent ethnic and cultural identity, and a firm commitment to a strong defense without imperial entanglements is the way to achieve greatness as a nation. Agree or disagree, he remains pretty consistent along these lines, and I think he is right to believe that the Chinese leadership is following his prescription.