Outside the Beltway

Yesterday’s change to the filibuster rule is likely to have little impact outside the beltway and the political chattering class.

Accusations of blame are already being tossed around about why Republicans lost in Virginia, and they mirror a broader debate in the Republican Party nationally.

Looking at Chris Christie as he interacts with voters in New Jersey offers a glimpse of just how he could succeed in a 2016 GOP nomination fight.

It’s no wonder there’s no compromise in Congress.

There’s no sign that the government shutdown will end any time soon.

As expected, President Obama’s latest “pivot” to the economy is less than meets the eye.

Once again, the threat of the “nuclear option” appears to have had less megatonnage than some expected and others hoped.

The Obama Administration’s response to the Benghazi attack is approaching critical mass. It’s not going away any time soon.

The Senate’s rejection of the Manchin/Toomey background checks bill isn’t particularly outraging the general public, according to a new poll.

The odds that any of the Senators who voted no on Manchin/Toomey will pay a political price for doing so is low.

The politics of gun control is not nearly as easy as its supporters believe it to be.

The political antics surrounding the sequestration cuts is a prime example of what’s wrong with Washington.

The Tea Party guys had a bad year.

The NRA’s response to the Sandy Hook shootings was bizarre to say the least.

Democrats are approaching an “Electoral College lock.” Republicans are trying to pick it.

Was Rick Perry the worst candidate to run in the 2012 cycle? It certainly appears so.

Mitt Romney has an advantage among self-identified Independents that makes writing him off at this point inadvisable.

Too many people ignore (and incorrectly define) the “independents” in a given sample.

Many on the right are heavily invested in the argument that current polling is intentionally biased against Mitt Romney. Their argument is not very plausible.

It’s still possible for Mitt Romney to win this election, but is it probable?

It may not be the one thing that costs him election, but Mitt Romney’s remarks about the “47 percent” are still a problem for his campaign.

The recent call by many on the right for Mitt Romney to select Paul Ryan as his running mate is puzzling.

Don’t look for an effort to enact new gun laws in the wake of the Aurora shootings.

Once again, the usual suspects are exploiting tragedy for political purposes.

The debate over whether the PPACA’s individual mandate is a “penalty” or a “tax”seems rather pointless.

Congress has found Eric Holder to be in contempt. I am not entirely sure what that accomplishes.

The President’s comment that the private sector is “doing fine” continues to be a topic of discussion.

The biggest argument against Romney winning in November is the fact that there aren’t many ways for him to get to those pesky 270 Electoral Votes.

When will Santorum bow to the inevitable?

The Etch A Sketch meme isn’t nearly as powerful as those pushing it believe it to be.

Republicans continue to harp on the fact that the President uses a TelePrompter.

American politics is as polarized as ever, and it shows no signs of changing regardless of who wins in November.

Mitt Romney’s campaign seems have Newt Gingrich targeted.

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

Despite the seeming odds against him, the Electoral College map is very favorable for President Obama.

On the day his campaign is set to make a major economic roll out, Rick Perry went the birther route again.

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

In a move sure to make conservative heads explode, Chris Christie is set to endorse Mitt Romney for president.

Neither political party is resonating with the public right now, and neither is acting in the manner the public would like.

The Texas Governor was taking it from all sides at last night’s Tea Party Debate.

How hard is it to schedule one measly jobs speech?