The Question, from our December issue: What is the leading indicator for you that the recession is over?

“When the astroturfers can afford to say ‘no’ when someone offers to pay them to scream at a health-care town hall.” — Lee Camp, Laughing Liberally

“Ben Bernanke shaves his recession beard.” — Amanda Terkel, ThinkProgress

“We can finally buy new clothes to replace our ‘Hope’ T-shirts.” — Justin Krebs, Living Liberally

The Editors