Outside the Beltway

Republicans are learning that their hard line on immigration comes with a political price.

The House GOP doesn’t seem to have any idea what it’s doing right now.

Newt Gingirch ups the ante in his rhetorical assault on judicial independence.

The Santa’s Christmas Slay Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Newt Gingrich last night declared that he would abolish the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Time for the Monday OTB Caption Contest^TM

The memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor is, inevitably, fading into history.

We held Kim’s services this morning. These were my prepared remarks.

We won’t have Herman Cain to kick around anymore.

Can we credibly blame the CRA, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, and the like for the mortgage crisis?

With the Super Committee dead, 2012 is likely to see a fight over the defense cuts set to take place starting in 2013.

After all, securing the border is easy and the forces driving cross-border illicit activities can be curtailed with enough force and security.

A dwindling proportion of students are majoring in STEM fields. They’re likely making the wise choice.

One would like to think that if a governor seeks the impeachment of the head of an independent commission that said governor could, well, explain why. One would be mistaken, however.

Governor Brewer (R-AZ) called a special session of the Senate to remove the chair of the independent redistricting commission. She didn’t like the districting map that was produced.

Does “Occupy Wall Street” really represent the people they claim to be speaking for?

Herman Cain’s foreign policy consists of little more than deliberate ignorance.

Another case of the law of unintended consequences.

Another entry in the ongoing follies of US border and immigration policy.

Yet again, a state seeks to buck the primary calendar (and yet again it provides a chance to wonder why we have the nomination system we have).

The latest revelations about Operation Fast And Furious raise more questions than they answer.

Economists are beginning to wonder if this very slow economic recovery isn’t permanently altering the landscape.

Should it matter if a teacher has an accent?

Some pundits on the right can’t seem to quit Chris Christie.

We’re getting close to the point where only two people on this stage will matter.

The President’s jobs push isn’t doing much to help his job approval numbers so far.

A record 46 million Americans are living in poverty.

Governor Jan Brewer says Arizona will hold its primary February 28, per state law. This violates Republican primary rules and will almost certainly set off a chain reaction.

51.5 percent of Americans disapprove of President Obama’s job performance. It’s still his race to lose.

Why was the ATF allowing thousands of weapons to be smuggled to Mexican drug gangs?

Rick Perry’s position on immigration-related issues could be a problem for the same conservatives who have been getting behind him.

Raw Story tweeted “Republicans in Rep. Giffords’ district plan to raffle off the same type of gun Jared Loughner used. ” This links to their own story demonstrating that they’re doing no such thing.

The Romney campaign may be finally starting to pay attention to Rick Perry.

Will 2012 be the Republican version of the 2008 race between President Obama and Hillary Clinton?

Many of the clergy in Alabama are not happy with the state’s new immigration law.

Prosecutors as asking a Judge to dismiss all charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn, because that’s their only option.