Understanding Rubio and why he clings to the immigration reform escape hatch.
Let’s take another look at the immigration reform paradox I wrote about yesterday. I think these ultimately amount to different ways of explaining the same thing, but that this analysis might be better for heuristic purposes.
In a polarized two-party political system, it makes sense that big national policy reform ideas are often partisan. There are exceptions, obviously. But since only one party can ultimately reap a net electoral benefit from any single reform, it stands to reason that the other party would broadly oppose it. Immigration reform in 2013 violates this rule of thumb. Or at least it appears to. But when you put the emerging consensus in context it doesn’t seem quite so irrational. Read More
TPM Reader CC shares thoughts on the happenings out of Rome …
First, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your respectful coverage of the historic events of the past month, which has seen the first papal abdication in six centuries, the election of the first Jesuit Pope, and all of the other firsts. I know that religion is not part of TPM’s normal beat, except where it intersects with the world of politics, but I am glad that you are recognizing the historic nature of the news out of Rome.