Outside the Beltway

The battle lines are being drawn for another showdown over the debt ceiling.

Another example of Republican foreign policy taking precedence over fiscal conservatism.

In reality, it probably doesn’t,

We may have to deal with the debt ceiling again before the November elections.

Not surprisingly, Republicans are trying to reverse the automatic cuts to defense spending agreed to in August.

The latest projections from Congressional Budget Office are sobering to say the least.

The first year of the 112th Congress has set a new record for futility.

Conservatives are rejecting Andrew Sullivan’s Newsweek essay out of hand, but they ought to pay attention to what he’s saying.

After having so much influence in 2010, the Tea Party is finding itself adrift in the search for a Republican nominee in 2012.

Senator Jim DeMint demonstrated clearly today what is wrong with Washington.

Executive summary: She’s a kook unfit to serve as dog catcher, much less leader of the free world.

Thanks to their own ineptitude, House Republicans suffered a big defeat this week. They totally deserved it.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has set the House GOP adrift.

Once again, Americans hate Congress but seem to love their Congressperson.

Barack Obama now looks to the Rough Rider himself for inspiration. Can’t he find it himself?

Grover Norquist has become the target of blame for problems that are far more deep than just one man.

Are Republicans mostly to blame for the supercommittee failure?

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

How did Republicans get in this mess?

Treating entertainment as entertainment is one thing. Treating it as news and education is another.

Not surprisingly, the Supercommittee is a Super Failure.

Is public dissatisfaction with Obama also a cry for a conservative revolution?

The Greek referendum could be a disaster for the global economy. And might be the right thing to do.

For the most part, all those plans the candidates release are barely worth the paper they’re written on.

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

Not surprisingly, the “Super Committee” to deal with the deficit isn’t making much progress.

Where should we look to understand the failings of the government?

When the old rules don’t apply anymore, the system breaks down.

Why talk to boring experts when you can, instead, air some more bickering?

The second half of the President’s political strategy is in place. Don’t mistake it for a serious legislative effort.

Public disapproval of Congress continues to fall.

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

Whether it’s a “Ponzi Scheme” or not, Social Security has serious systemic problems that must be addressed.

Not surprisingly, there was very little about the President’s jobs speech to write home about.

No matter how weak he becomes, no President will ever be completely irrelevant to the political process.

How a six hour long dispute over scheduling demonstrates yet again that Barack Obama isn’t up for the fight.

The debt ceiling debate may turn out to be Obama’s Katrina.

Ricky Perry is running on “hope and change” (but what else is new?)

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

Is America’s political system to blame for our current problems?

It’s a shame that Duverger’s Law doesn’t come with criminal penalties.

Jon Huntsman is not going to be the Republican nominee in 2012, but he seems ready to carve out a niche for himself.

The signs are not good.