I have found that popular political analysis usually falls into one of two categories. It is inoffensive but boring, parroting the conventional wisdom, indulging in idle speculation, or passing off self-evident truths as deep insight. Or, it is interesting but partisan, delighting one half of its readers and infuriating the other half.

Only a few writers are able to be inoffensive and interesting. That's my goal. I try to do this by taking what I have learned in my years of studying academic political science, and applying it to the public debate.

I don't have a secret agenda. I'm not trying to pass off my political beliefs as objective fact. There's no hidden angle.

As Richard Manuel once said, "I'm just trying to break even."