Is our president Barack Obama insane?

Morning Bell quick hits:

While White House Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Austan Goolsbee may have called a vote against raising the debt ceiling a sign of “insanity,” his boss, President Barack Obama, voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2006.

Helping The One see sweet reason this year: Rules for smaller government. And banning lobbyists from the showers. You could call it the Rahmbo rule--but would it keep him out?

Among the new rules are those that speak directly to the "tea party" activists who helped fuel the GOP's rise, including one that requires that all bills be posted online for 72 hours prior to votes.

Rules also will establish limited terms for members serving as committee chairmen, a GOP practice from the 1990s. Another rule will ban former members who have become lobbyists from using the House gym.

Looking at the two parties: Yuval Levin: "I think left and right mean more in American life today than they ever have before" The interview begins this way:

RS: You're a University of Chicago Ph.D. who did his research on Edmund Burke, that legend of conservatism whose thought was central to some of the 20th century's leading conservative thinkers. Now you're sitting in Washington as Editor of National Affairs. How did your study of Burke inform what you're doing?

Conservatives. Not insane.

More. RCP: Freshman class of the new Congress. New Illinois Reps. all GOP.

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