Longtime readers may recall, I’m not a big fan of the slippery-slope metaphor. I think this week is a pretty good example of how things don’t always trend in one — bad — direction. As others have noted, just this week, “Ted Kennedy’s seat” is now held by a Republican who will vote against Obamacare. Air America, which was supposed to supplant right-wing radio, is now planted six feet under. And the Supreme Court has reversed a century-old line of decisions that helped fuel the rise of Big Government.

At least it’s more like a rollercoaster than a slippery slope.