You Want to Talk about Something Broken in our Politics?

I got your broken right here: the presidential nomination process.

Tim Pawlenty Pulls Ames Ads, Shifts to GOTV

Tim Pawlenty is rethinking his campaign strategy.

White House Pressuring Geithner To Stay At Treasury

Rumors of Timothy Geithner’s departure from the Treasury Department may have been exaggerated.

OTB Caption Contest

Time for the Thursday OTB Caption ContestTM

OTB Caption Contest Winners

The Straw Boss Edition OTB Caption ContestTM is now over.

Syrian Crackdown Continues, International Options Limited

International options with respect to Syria are limited and likely to have little impact on the governments treatment of civilians.

The Second Great Contraction

Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff says we’re undergoing much more than a mere recession.

The Closing Of The CPAC Mind

After years of becoming more inclusive, the Conservative Political Action Conference is closing itself off to opposing points of view.

Fear of a Black Spider-Man

Marvel has created an alternate universe in which Spiderman is a half-black, half-Latino teenager. Some people are angry.

What Recovery?

Following on Doug’s cheery post about the weak state of the economy here are some more things to consider.

Pat Buchanan Calls Obama ‘Your Boy’ To Al Sharpton

Pat Buchanan referred to President Obama as “your boy” in conversation with Al Sharpton.

What’s Good For The Partisan Goose Is Good For The Partisan Gander

House Republicans are being criticized for utilizing a tactic they learned from Senate Democrats.

Mubarak On Trial

Will the trial of Hosni Mubarak actually change anything?

One Year Ago Today: “Welcome To The Recovery”

One year ago, Timothy Geithner said them things about the economy he probably wishes he could take back right now.

A New Normal For Debt Ceiling Increases?

Has a precedent been set for future requests by the President to increase the debt ceiling?

Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories

Kurt Vonnegut on teaching a computer to write a story.

Ridiculous, Disgusting, and Stupid: The Public Weighs In On The Debt Negotiations

The reviews are in on the debt negotiations, and the public isn’t happy.

Honoré: Send Congress to Boot Camp

The general made famous by his leadership of the Katrina effort has some harsh words for our political leadership.

Rick Perry Is A Tenth Amendment Hypocrite

First it was same-sex marriage, now it’s a abortion. Rick Perry hasn’t met a Constitutional Amendment usurping state power he doesn’t like.

Syrian Troops Continue Crackdown Amid International Pressure

The world is starting to denounce the crackdown in Syria, but the reaction seems unlikely to go much beyond strongly worded statements.

Debt Deal Reveals GOP Split On Defense Spending

The cuts to Pentagon spending in the new debt deal are further revealing a split in the GOP over foreign policy and military spending.

Tired Tropes: Kickin’ that Can

The problem with the ever popular complaint about kickin’ the can down the road.

Death of Politics is Greatly Exaggerated

Michael Cohen argues that our system is broken because Republicans will no longer compromise.

Milton Friedman v. Michael Moore on Pinto

Fascinating exchange from the late 1970s.

Former Congressman’s Defamation Suit Against Pro-Life Group To Proceed

A somewhat surprising First Amendment decision arising out of the 2010 Elections.

Air Force Cancels ‘Jesus Loves Nukes’ Training

The Air Force has suspended a course that teaches nuclear officers that Christian ethics permit them to do their job.

The Next Capitol Hill Battle: The Gas Tax

You thought you’d seen the worst of Congress in July? Oh, you silly American you.

A Russian Looks at the War in Libya

A take on the conflict that’s probably different from the one you’ve been reading.

Newt Gingrich’s Twitter Followers Mostly Fake?

An amusing claim–but probably not true.

Biden: Tea Party ‘Terrorists’

Vice President Biden has called Congressional Republicans and their Tea Party backers “terrorists.”

Obama And The Debt Deal: A Failure Of Leadership?

Once again, the debt ceiling deal is raising questions about the President’s leadership.

Can Jon Huntsman Revive the Party of Reagan?

Condi Rice’s speechwriter thinks Huntsman can appeal to the Tea Party.

Manufacturing Slows In July, Stoking Slowdown Fears

Another round of economic statistics raises questions about the health of the economy.

Is the System Broken?

Did the debt ceiling debate reveal dysfunctional government?

Debt Deal Winners and Losers

Now that America’s political leadership have probably averted a self-inflicted global economic calamity, it’s time to assess the winners and losers.

OTB Caption Contest

Time for the Monday OTB Caption ContestTM