




Forty-eight statements in seven days, and the week's real event is a surrender by his own side. The Senate leader hands the Democrats the debt-ceiling fight for nothing, and the exile — who wanted it used as a weapon — can only put the word out on letterhead and watch. Against that, the halls: the history tour plays Florida to full houses, he thanks the crowd leaving Orlando and names Texas for the following weekend, and a four-word message to Missouri goes out to people who never left. The crowd is the one part of the machine that still answers on its own. The other verdict of the week is aimed at the man who took the office — the world looked at the surrender in Kabul, then looked at him, and stopped worrying.
Readers' Corner
Letters from the readership on Week 339. Pick a pen name — no account needed.
Opening the mailbag…