Outside the Beltway

Ben Bernanke didn’t offer many clues in his speech today, but one wonders if he really has any tricks left up his sleeve.

Does Bachmann think the USSR is on the rise? I expect not, but her defense and fiscal policy skills still need some work.

Denying the Tea Party’s role in the downgrade of U.S. debt is to deny reality.

Michele Bachmann is claiming that the debt downgrade proves she was right about not raising the debt ceiling.

If we cannot adequately diagnose our problems it will be even harder to fix them.

The immediate reaction among the political class to the debt downgrade was the play the same old stupid games.

While it’s hard to argue with S&P’s political analysis, its economic judgment is a head-scratcher.

The main issue driving the downgrade appears to be lack of faith in the political parties to act responsibly and compromise over entitlements and revenues.

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

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

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

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

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

Charles Krauthammer claims we are in the midst of a great debate. I am not so sure.

If a crisis over the national debt is averted, Oklahoma’s Tom Coburn may be the unlikely hero.

Let’s look at the actual proposal.

Rick Perry makes a valid point about bringing the economy back to Biblical principles.

Is it possible to address the U.S. fiscal situation?

What are the options regarding the debt ceiling?

In all honesty, much of what is coming out of the mouths of self-described conservatives is actually pretty darn radical.

Shailagh Murray becomes the latest reporter to join the Obama White House.

It is always easier to compromise on more spending and less taxes.

We won’t be able to solve our fiscal problems until the American people grow up. So far, there are no signs of that happening.

The current approach of the GOP to health care is not dissimilar to its approach to fiscal policy: not a lot of substance.

When determining the effects on the deficit of a certain legislative action, both revenues and spending have to be accounted for. Indeed, you can’t determine whether there is a deficit, surplus or balanced budget without both variables.

Is it possible to govern and not engage in some amount of redistribution?

Ok, what strategy should Speaker Boehner pursue?

Instead of decades-old retreads like talking about abolishing the Department of Education, it would be nice if we had a real debate about the fiscal circumstances in the country.

Twenty-five years after retiring as President Reagan’s Budget Director, David Stockman is back with a scathing indictment of Republican fiscal policies over the past four decades.

Congress and the White House are starting to stake out sides in the upcoming battle over extending the Bush tax cuts.

President Obama’s powers of persuasion were severely lacking at the G-20 Summit this weekend.