Markos Moulitsas

It’s ironic that Republicans, usually so eager to emulate their idol Ronald Reagan, today lack the faintest traces of the late president’s sunny optimism. They’ve abandoned “Morning in America” for “The Decline and Fall of the American Empire.” 

In a political season full of stunning twists and turns, last week’s self-immolation by Republicans over the issue of birth control trumps all others.

Looking livelier than he has all campaign, an exuberant Mitt Romney took the stage after his victory in the Nevada caucuses to proclaim: “Tonight, I want to thank the people of Nevada. Once again, you have given me your vote of confidence.” He also tweeted, “Thank you NV! Our message of restoring America’s greatness continues to resonate through the west & across the country.”

Talking with top Barack Obama adviser David Axelrod this past Sunday on his show, host David Gregory pushed back against arguments that the wealthy should pay their fair share of taxes.

Just one week ago, I used this column to concede that the GOP establishment had prevailed in its primary process, and that Mitt Romney was likely headed to the nomination. 

In early 2011, conventional wisdom dictated that Mitt Romney would win the GOP presidential nomination, as Republicans have always chosen the establishment candidate — the “next guy in line.”

What seemed like the latest practical joke from Republican primary voters now appears increasingly likely — are Republicans really going to make Newt Gingrich their nominee?

Justifying their unfair first-in-the-nation status in the presidential nominating process, an Iowa Republican offered the typical rationalization: “You really need a population that takes this event seriously and does their due diligence and their homework. Iowans have shown themselves to be up to that task.”

The advent of the Internet has unleashed a sea change upon Hollywood and the music industry. From Napster to YouTube to Torrent, new technologies that empower the free flow of information have also enabled copyright piracy. But over the last decade, the influential RIAA and MPAA have adapted, and have secured powerful tools to police their copyrights in the online world, such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. 

Not-Mitt-Romney has had a difficult time of late.