Outside the Beltway

The deal emerging out of the talks between Senator Reid and Senator McConnell is about what you’d expect, but it’s probably the best we can expect right now.

As long as we’re tacking on unrelated measures in order to secure a deal to end the government shutdown-debt ceiling standoff, why not some related measures?

The presence of politicians like Sarah Palin at yesterday’s “Million Veteran March” was not appreciated by the people who organized the protest.

Are these four men our last, best hope for a deal that will end the shutdown and avoid breaching the debt ceiling?

Conservatives gathered on the National Mall today to protest the closure of memorials, but their message seems really intended for Republicans in Congress to not back down.

Talks between the two Senate leaders haven’t exactly gone so well.

A little noticed rule change in the House is arguably one of the main reasons we’re in a government shutdown crisis.

Harry and Mitch to the rescue?

Divided government is the worst political system ever, except for all the others.

With the House’s proposed deal reaching an impasse, the Senate is now taking center stage.

The Whack-A-Pol Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

The GOP’s approval numbers have fallen like a stone, but it’s unclear whether this will matter in 2014.

There seems to be at least some hope for a temporary deal in Washington to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling, but don’t count your chickens just yet.

Republicans appear to be uniting behind a short-term plan to deal with the debt ceiling, but seem okay with keeping the government shutdown going forward.

There’s no denying it now. The GOP is being harmed by the events in Washington far more than the President and Democrats in general.

Paul Ryan is back, and he has a plan his party ought to be paying attention to.

The real world impact of what’s happening in Washington is becoming apparent.

The Finding Nemo Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

Signs that investors are starting to get nervous about the lack of action coming out of Washington.

If one considers oneself to be conservative, ask if the the actions of the GOP at the moment conform to that term..

Contrary to the White House’s arguments, negotiating over the debt ceiling is not at all historically unprecedented.

The government shutdown seems to be having an impact on the one competitive statewide race in country this year.

They’re back…….

63% are angry at Republicans, 57% are angry at Democrats, and 53% are angry at President Obama.

There’s a way for President Obama and Speaker Boehner to talk out a deal to resolve the current crisis, but they have to want to do it.

One cannot support the shutdown tactic and then be outraged that part of the government is shutdown.

To borrow a phrase from Stephen Colbert, if you want to understand how Congress works, you better know a District.

Speaker Boehner sends a signal that there won’t be a quick resolution to the government shutdown crisis.

The outlines of a possible new GOP proposal are emerging. Can it go anywhere?

One of the dumber aspects of the current shutdown repeats itself.

The Pentagon is recalling up to 300,000 furloughed civilian employees on the same day that Congress voted to pay all furloughed employees when the government reopens.

The government shutdown is starting to have effects in the “real world.”

The Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia wants a quick end to the Government Shutdown.

Democrats in the House will attempt to use an obscure House procedure to force an end to the government shutdown. It’s success is by no means guaranteed.

The “Hastert Rule” isn’t the reason Speaker Boehner isn’t bringing a “clean” CR up for a vote, political survival is.

Speaker Boehner told his caucus members that he will not allow a default over the debt ceiling but don’t look for a change in strategy.