Describing Democracy‘s panel discussion at the National Press Club, Times columnist Maureen Dowd writes:

As he launched a progressive journal to ponder big ideas that might help the wretched Democrats stop driving on Ambien and snatch back a little power, Andrei Cherny sought advice from a conservative pundit.

“Who’s on your tie?” the pundit asked, explaining that Reaganites had been able to sum up their philosophy in the 80’s by wearing Adam Smith and Edmund Burke ties.

Mr. Cherny did not say. (John Stuart Mill?)

So far, Democrats have been more famous for who gave the tie–Monica draped Bill with a Zegna–than who gazed from it.

Read the rest here (sorry; Times Select registration required).