Outside the Beltway

Some recent political science on the subject.

Republicans have some good ideas about overhauling how they pick a nominee. Unfortunately, it’s hard to see how most of them can be enforced.

A budget deal has been reached, now it has to get through both Chambers of Congress.

The Obama-Castro handshake at Mandela’s funeral has caused a bit of an uproar.

Congressman Steve Stockman’s primary challenge of Senator John Cornyn could be a big deal, or, more likely, it could be a dud.

Much like the guy who’s afraid to talk to girls in High School, Republicans don’t seem to know how to talk to women. But their problems are actually bigger than that.

Chris Christie has had a very good month, and it’s ending with him with a strong lead among potential Republican candidates for 2016.

A State Department announcement about consolidation of diplomatic posts in Rome has led to the latest round of Obama Derangement Syndrome.

Republican hardliners are pushing a position on immigration that is completely out of sync with the nation as a whole.

The GOP seems to be shifting strategy on the Affordable Care Act.

Ken Cuccinelli still hasn’t called to congratulate Terry McAuliffe. Why does this odd custom continue?

Chris Christie did as well as expected last night, but that’s just the beginning.

87.18% of the caucus is elected from safe to very safe districts and, therefore, the only real fear that they might have for their jobs would be at the primary stage.

Charlie Crist, and his tan, want the Governor’s Mansion back.

Fifty years after the Stand in the Schoolhouse door, there’s another standoff with recalcitrant states on civil rights.

Could Congress actually pass some form of immigration reform before the midterms? Don’t bet on it just yet.

Chris Christie’s decision to take a tactical retreat on the issue of same-sex marriage raises some interesting questions for 2016.

Nick Brown spelled bullshit and managed to debunk an entire academic subfield.

The House wasted a day yesterday, now it’s crunch time.

They’re back…….

The one Republican currently polling anywhere close to Hillary Clinton is, unfortunately for the GOP base, Chris Christie.

Starbucks is kindly asking customers not to bring guns to their stores.

Opposing interventionism and unnecessary and unwise military engagements is not isolationism.

Some thoughts on reform.

Alex Rodriguez and 12 other Major League Baseball players were suspended today for PED use. Rodriguez is the only one vowing to fight the suspension.

Juror B29 says George Zimmerman “got away with murder” but concedes he wasn’t guilty of murder.

University of Florida linebacker Antonio Morrison has been suspended after barking at a police dog.

New Jersey’s highest court gets it right.

Forbes wins the day with “Phil Mickelson Wins British Open—And California Taxes It.”

President Obama has once again weighed in on the Trayvon Martin case in a personal manner.

Until the presiding Judge in the case rules otherwise, the identities of the members of the jury in the Zimmerman is secret. Should that be the case?

If Stevie Wonder were still touring, he wouldn’t be making stops in states with “Stand Your Ground” laws.

Evidence that George Zimmerman acted out of racial bias is completely lacking, which means the Federal Government should stay out of this case entirely.

The president says we should honor Trayvon Martin by preventing similar tragedies in the future.

The 10th anniversary of McCain-Feingold teaches a lesson we should already have learned.

Thoughts on the Zimmerman verdict (or, more accurately, to reactions to the verdict).