News from Around the World

Back during the 2004 campaign, John Kerry stepped right into the gaping polling literalism void by going on and on about how important it was to be "respected in the world" because he had polls showing this was popular. Well, it was popular. But not granting "permission slips" was popular, too. And so was not flip-flopping. It was hard to say "respected in the world" without sounding like you meant "permission slip" or else falling into a French-sounding, flip-floppy nuanced explanation of what you meant. The dynamics of a campaign aren't like the...