The following articles reflect on public opinion in American government:
Kenney, Charles. "They've Got Your Number"
This article looks at the development of polls in American politics and the growth of the polling industry. It also discusses some of the criticisms of polling, how polls are conducted and how to judge their worth. (You can find a basic summary of this by visiting the "What makes a good Opinion Poll?" section of this website)
Mayer, William G. "The Shifting of Political Sands: Is Liberalism Back?"
The cyclical feature of public opinion in the last three decades is discussed in this article. It says that opinion has shifted approximately three times discussing each shift in-depth.