Outside the Beltway

Apparent tragedy at a Connecticut Elementary School.

The Hamster Dance Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Security at the Republican Convention in Tampa looks more like a war zone than a political convention in a democratic republic.

Nicholas Kristoff figures that, if we can’t ban guns, we can at least make them safer.

Babies who grow up with dogs and cats in the home are healthier, a new study finds.

Does talent spawn growth? Or does growth attract talent?

Sometimes, the law can be an ass.

Phony wars on Stay At Home Moms, dogs, and Osama bin Laden. The Obama campaign is pointing at the shiny object, and the right is falling for it.

Last week, an absurd campaign became even more absurd.

The Have Another? Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

The Chicago Style Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

At the very least, nominating Santorum would let the GOP test a hypothesis that’s been debated for years.

Maggie Gallagher’s anti-gay marriage argument is an example of pure conservative thinking.

This year’s Iowa Caucuses stand as Exhibit A for an argument against Iowa being first in the nation.

The Ames Straw Poll isn’t going away any time soon.

Twitter is abuzz with news that Congress has declared pizza to be a vegetable. It’s actually not news at all.

The I WON Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Measuring our progress a decade after the 9/11 attacks

The Four Dogs Playing Poker Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Should kids be required to buy their lunch at school rather than bring whatever their parents might pack for them to eat?

It’s institutions of government – not its size – that matter when it comes to how good a job the government does.

It’s not the size of your government that counts — it’s what you do with it that matters.

Oddly, the Democratic Party seems to be responding to the 2010 midterms by moving further left.

Washington D.C.’s 34 year-old Metro system is about to become the latest stage for Security Theater.

There are grumblings from within the Democratic caucus in the House that Nancy Pelosi may not be the best choice for Minority Leader. Unfortunately for Democrats, though, they don’t seem to have a viable alternative at the moment.

The New York Times has joined the mostly muted chorus calling on Democrats to select someone other than Nancy Pelosi as their new Minority Leader. In all likelihood, their call will go unheeded.

Nancy Pelosi is strongly considering staying in Congress as Minority Leader. It’s her job if she wants it.

The GOP looks likely to win substantial victories next Tuesday, and may even take control of both Houses of Congress, but they’ve already made their own failure inevitable.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars has endorsed Ron Klein, who never served a day in uniform, over retired LTC Allen West, a decorated veteran of several foreign wars. Is this an outrage?

While Republicans will likely take over some key governorships and state legislature after November’s midterms, America’s changing demographics will limit their ability to gerrymander safe districts.

Everyone from David Petraeus to Sarah Palin is speaking out against a nutbag pastor’s Koran burning event. While they’re right, they’re emphasizing the wrong message.

The webmaster of a local Republican chapter linked a YouTube video that implies Democratic women are ugly.