All this talk about “KennedyCare” triggered a memory — a memory from many years ago. The question arose why Reagan’s economic agenda passed in 1981. Nelson Polsby, the late, once-famous political scientist, said there was only one reason — and then he made a motion of firing a pistol. The assassination attempt (3/30/81). I’m afraid this is right. It is crude, and probably unmentionable. But right.

P.S. Nancy Reagan could never really speak of the assassination attempt. She referred to it, when she had to refer to it, as “March 30th.”