Whether by design or necessity, the decision by House Republican leaders to kick off their Commitment to America in this river town on the edge of Allegheny County was quite apt.

For Republicans to take control of the United States Senate after the midterm elections, they need to gain a net of just one seat. Yet several election modelers give the Democrats at least a two-thirds chance to keep control.

One of the core components of a populist’s view is that things are the way they are—bad, unfair, and getting worse—because they won’t let us have the good things and live the good life.