Outside the Beltway

Ross Douthat’s latest New York Times column demonstrates an appalling misunderstanding of history in the context of immigration.

As many American soldiers have died in Afghanistan under Obama as under Bush.

On January 3, 2008 Mike Huckabee celebrated a victory in the Iowa Caucuses, will be able to repeat that in 2012 ?

Yet another sign that the America of my youth is dead: whole wheat bread is outselling white bread.

General Stanley McChrystal has been hired to teach leadership at Yale.

Robert Gates says he wants to retire next year, but will the call of duty cause him to stay longer ?

You heard it here first, the GOP will not gain control of Congress in 2010.

Free parking is a very inefficient use of land resources that wouldn’t exist without government mandates and subsidies. Is it time to end the practice?

Time for the Monday OTB Caption Contest^TM

A major part of the problem with the seeming growing wave of anti-Muslim sentiment in some quarters of US politics is that it seems to equate Islam as “the enemy.” If that’s the case, then US foreign policy has some ‘splainin’ to do.

The GOP is playing a dangerous game with the anti-Islamic rhetoric that it seems to be courting these days.

Again, despite the rhetoric of some, the US does continue to enforce laws relevant to the border and, indeed, enforcement has been on the rise.

When John McCain is the voice of reason in the GOP, things are really screwy.

An essay claiming that the TED talks are “the new Harvard” is gaining some traction from a lot of people who ought know better.

A year ago, President Obama was emphatically against raising taxes during the recession — even on the rich.

Barack Obama has significantly widened his predecessor’s global war on terrorism, even if he’s no longer calling it that.

We’ve moved OTB to a new server. Let me know if you see anything unusual.

President Obama’s decision to speak out on the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” has turned what was a hot-button cable news item into a political issue that even his fellow Democrats don’t want to deal with.

If it was called the “Burlington Coat Factory community center” would anyone care about Cordoba House?

Harry Reid has spent the summer trying to portray is opponent as a kook. So far, it’s working.

President Obama waded into the “Ground Zero” mosque controversy at a Ramadan dinner last night.

Steve Slater, the JetBlue sky waiter whose recent meltdown became a viral sensation, wants his old job back.

If you think Jimmy Carter is the Worst Figure in American History, you really need to read more.

The secret to getting big traffic on the Internet is to target bored office workers and crazy people.

The poll numbers look grim for the President, but it’s still far too early to be making predictions about the 2012 elections.

A helpful guide to the pleasures of navigating our nation’s capital by car, bike, or foot.

Under pressure from the Feds, the NCAA is cracking down on colleges who put women’s games ahead of men’s games, which some say relegates them to “warm-up act” status.

Bill Kristol and friends are trying to make it politically toxic to criticize Israel.

Mutated bacteria spreading in India could mark the end of effective antibiotic drugs. The medical repercussions would be enormous.

The Sturgis or Bust Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Judge Walker lifted the stay on his Order declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional, but the big news may be the procedural defect that could doom any appeal.

Republicans should hammer big themes — the loss of jobs, the poor health of the economy, reckless spending, increasing the size/scope of government, and tax increases — and avoid getting bogged down in policy details this campaign season.