No Good Excuses | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary

No Good Excuses | Michael D. Tanner | Cato Institute: Commentary: "No president had won reelection with unemployment above 7 percent since Franklin Roosevelt; it is now 7.9 percent. Three-quarters of voters thought the economy's performance is poor or just fair. Throw in a health-care law that voters opposed 49 percent to 43, turmoil overseas, and assorted scandals, and an observer from Mars would have said that there was no way Romney could lose."

"Tea-party voters would do well to realize that simply being anti-establishment is not enough for a candidate. Supporting a candidate with the charisma and talents of a Ted Cruz or a Jeff Flake makes sense. Supporting a Richard Mourdock simply because he shares similar political views doesn't work as well."

"nearly all Republicans who voted for the Ryan budget were reelected"

"It's not just that Republicans oppose abortion or gay marriage, but that they often sound intolerant and self-righteous in doing so."