It is increasingly easy for political observers to maintain constant forward movement, scarcely looking back, rarely pausing to process--much less thoroughly analyze--the meaning and significance of past events. Faced with ever more abbreviated news cycles, most of us can barely keep up, much less secure the temporal or substantive means...

"He's got to hit back," experts implore. "He's losing!" cry observers. Punishment is delivered over and over by a tough opponent, virtually unopposed by the brash and formerly confident competitor. Having survived bruising contests to get to the main event, concerns rise that he's lost his toughness, that an inability...