The Weekly Five for Sunday, May 23rd

1) Plotting a Democratic Comeback

Pennsylvania’s governor says the tea parties will throw up flawed GOP candidates like Rand Paul and that his party should run on the success of the stimulus.

By Matthew Kaminsky, Wall Street Journal

“Here’s how the 66-year-old Pennsylvania governor would run his campaign in Rep. Sestak’s shoes: “Joe called me to touch base and asked what are the things he should be doing right now. I said, ‘Nothing different.’ Go out, hit those train stations and bus stations, just thank people. Don’t talk about the fall elections, just thank people. You won this because the people wanted you. Stay away from guys like me for a while. You’re the populist. You’re the guy who beat the establishment.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704852004575258261059419530.html

2) A Progressive Agenda to Remake Washington

By David Leonhardt, New York Times

“With the Senate’s passage of financial regulation, Congress and the White House have completed 16 months of activity that rival any other since the New Deal in scope or ambition. Like the Reagan Revolution or Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, the new progressive period has the makings of a generational shift in how Washington operates.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/22/business/economy/22leonhardt.html?ref=politics

3) Rand Paul Cancels “Meet The Press” Appearance

By Ian Schwartz, Real Clear Politics

“The campaign says Paul’s appearance on “Good Morning America” this morning is the last interview he will give on the Civil Rights controversy.”

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/mediawatch/2010/05/rand_paul_cancels_meet_the_pre.html#mce_temp_url#

4) Three Climate Change Reports: Set Prices on Carbon Emisions

By Dan Vergano, USA Today

“The reports reinforce that we know enough, now, to take sensible actions to address climate change,” says James Connaughton, former environment council chief for the Bush administration.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/environment/2010-05-20-climate20_ST_N.htm

5) Focus on This: Merkley-Levin Did Not Get A Vote

By Simon Johnson, The Huffington Post

The amendment had picked up a great deal of support in recent weeks, partly because of unflagging support from Paul Volcker and partly because of the broader debate around the Brown-Kaufman amendment (which would have forced the biggest 6 banks to become smaller).Brown-Kaufman failed, 33-61, but it demonstrated that a growing number of senators were willing to confront the power of our biggest and worst banks.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/simon-johnson/focus-on-this-merkley-lev_b_584674.html