Jonah, one of your correspondents seemed to be suggesting (if I’m reading him right) that George Will, you, and me are making any final deal worse by talking about tax increases of any size in a Social Security bill. An interesting point. I think it’s reasonable to suggest that Senator Graham came out too early for this idea–Will sort of implies that he agrees with this criticism–but surely journalists of conservative disposition ought to be able to give assessments of various legislative compromises without facing the same political responsibilities as the people who will ultimately strike them. And in any case, our comments are far less important that those of Tom DeLay and Denny Hastert flatly rejecting any tax increase. I said earlier that I’m glad Will said what he did; I’m also glad DeLay and Hastert said what they did.