"Watching Palin gleefully take on Bush, who made a dumb comment about needing immigration reform because immigrants are “more fertile” than native-born Americans, I realized that Palin’s star really is rising again, at a time of heightened racial insecurity on the white far-right. They need a hero, and here she is again."

One sign of his serious problem in trust: A new CNN poll shows the president's job approval rating at 45 percent, down 8 percentage points in a month.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has tried to curb soda consumption, ban smoking in parks and encourage bike riding, is taking on a new cause: requiring New Yorkers to separate their food scraps for composting.

"It’s a fascinating moment, akin to the dawn of Social Security or Medicare."

Dana Milbank writes: "With some exceptions, progressive lawmakers and the liberal commentariat have been passive and acquiescent toward the secret spying programs, which would have infuriated the left had they been the work of a Republican administration."

"The end of human confidence in a zone of individual privacy from the government, plus the very real presence of a system that can harm, harass or invade the everyday liberties of Americans. This is a recipe for democratic disaster."

"This is backward. It’s the institutions that need to demonstrate respect for the public they allegedly serve. If Snowden or any other American is skeptical of institutional power, it is not due to any personal failing on their part. The lack of respect is a direct outgrowth of the bad behavior of the nation’s institutions, behavior that has undermined Americans’ trust in them."

"While she has said she just wants to “sleep and exercise and travel for fun” after leaving the State Department, her appearance on Thursday was clearly intended to ensure that she does not drift too far from public attention. Her aides alerted journalists days before that her appearance would be a significant event."

Editorial: "The restraint in Sacramento is welcome, considering the state's recent history of boom-and-bust budgeting".

W. finally gets more approval than disapproval; meanwhile, Obama is fading in popular acclaim.