GOP shouldn't start crowing about victories just yet: Generic Republicans may beat generic Democrats in a poll, but candidates run against real opponents, not generic ones. | Susan Estrich/Rasmussen Reports

My name is Glenn Beck, and I need help: Beck is right about many things, but he also is messianic and betrays the grandiosity of the addict. | Kathleen Parker/Washington Post

Spotlighting ineffective teachers, scarlet letter style, breaks their morale: if the purpose is to help teachers improve, then the strategy is totally counterproductive. | Walt Gardner/Education Week

Playing the race card is the last refuge of a liberal: The Democrats are going to get beaten badly in November because a comeuppance is due such arrogant elites. | Charles Krauthammer/Washington Post

No ringing endorsement for robocalls : Political calls are not banned under the No-Call law, but the primary showed many a good reason for rejecting them. | editorial, Jefferson City News Tribune

Special election's a suitable end to Senate saga :  Illinois voters will select a senator for a two-month term and a regular term. The oddity is a fitting conclusion to the muck that led to a governor being removed from office. | editorial, Bloomington Pantagraph

Lessons from Blago's trial : The verdict for or against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich has to wait, but lessons about synchopants and elections can be learned now. | editorial, Chicago Tribune

Veto pen's the wrong way to open primaries : Removing the requirement that voters declare a party to vote in a primary election might be a good idea. But the case should be made in the legislature, not written in by Gov. Pat Quinn to a bill to set up an internet voters guide. | editorial, Bloomington Pantagraph

The battle in Bangkok : The immediate crisis in Thailand seems to have cooled, but the danger of a civil war is far from other. | editorial, The Economist

Lonely times for German chancellor : Other EU leaders are no longer cheering Angela Merkel on and popularity within Germany is declining. What happened? | Philipp Wittrock and Severin Weiland, Der Spiegel

 British election has lessons for American political parties:  Heavy government spending is not a political winner when the private sector economy is ailing, and flashy political newcomers better have some substance. | Michael Barone/Rasmussen Reports

What future for the Lib-Dems : Will an alliance consume the party? Would letting the conservatives govern as a minority party give the upstarts more leverage? |  Anne Perkins, The Guardian