Americans Get Smart Generally I never feel more alienated than when I see the results of public opinion polls. Now there are three of them in the news that show surprising consensus about tough issues in the country—and, weirdly, I find myself in the majority. I could get used to this! Americans are showing considerably more wisdom than their leaders—their Republican ones, anyway.

Over three-quarters of the public say that the war in Iraq is going badly.

Seventy-two percent of Americans say the country is on the wrong track.

Even as Republican presidential candidates like the increasingly vulgar Rudy Giuliani go postal on immigration, two-thirds of Americans think that allowing illegal immigrants to get work visas and apply for citizenship is a good thing.

As, of course, it is.

If I were a Republican in Congress, I would be very, very worried.  ¶ 6:18 AM