Quick Hit: Birther-busting

"Birthers" took a one-two punch last week from surprising sources. Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona, where anti-immigrant passions burn hot, vetoed a bill that would have required presidential candidates to prove they were born in the United States. "Requiring candidates for President . . . to submit their 'early baptismal or circumcision certificates' " in order to get on the ballot in Arizona "is a bridge too far," she said.

Tea party darling Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) also distanced herself from the controversy. Shown a copy of Obama's certificate of live birth on ABC-TV Wednesday, Bachmann said simply, "That should settle it."

Could these be signs that, despite Donald Trump, more Republicans see birther-mania as a political loser? It's about time. There's no shortage of consequential issues, like deficits and Medicare, to fight about.