Outside the Beltway

Why we shouldn’t be surprised that police are using tools of violence against protestors.

A dwindling proportion of students are majoring in STEM fields. They’re likely making the wise choice.

Herman Cain’s initial response to the allegations made yesterday leaves much to be desired.

If Republicans keep looking for the next Ronald Reagan, they’re going to be disappointed for many reasons.

Last night’s speech at the Reagan Library did nothing to stop people from speculating about Chris Christie’s Presidential plans.

Republicans have a plan to wrest half of the Keystone State’s electors from Obama.

Both Virginia lawsuits challenging the Affordable Care Act have been dismissed by a Federal Appeals Court.

51.5 percent of Americans disapprove of President Obama’s job performance. It’s still his race to lose.

Is the GOP race really down to just two men at this point?

Will 2012 be the Republican version of the 2008 race between President Obama and Hillary Clinton?

Looking at the state-by-state map way too early.

Once again, the debt ceiling deal is raising questions about the President’s leadership.

A legendary American soldier, General John Shalikashvili, has died.

A Federal Appeals Court says the full body image scanners showing up in airports are Constitutional.

Barack Obama’s leadership style may be his undoing.

Yet another study shows that people who drink diet soda actually gain weight. But it probably doesn’t matter, since that’s not why people drink them.

Dennis Kucinich and nine other Members of Congress are suing the President. They won’t get very far.

Tammy Duckworth has resigned as Veterans Affairs assistant secretary and may make another bid for Congress.

While Gerrymandering Congressional districts to benefit incumbents and the dominant party in the state legislature is an old game, they play it with especial intensity in Illinois.

Elias Isquith proclaims my Atlantic essay “How Perpetual War Became U.S. Ideology” to be “a total disaster.”

The Supreme Court will decide whether states may jail parents who fail to make child support payments without providing them an attorney.

Status report on the damage in Japan.

Wisconsin Republicans stripped state employees of collective bargaining rights without the Democratic senators who fled the state to prevent a quorum.

Illinois became the 16th state to abolish capital punishment today. That’s far too few.

The Supreme Court rules that “offensiveness” does not trump the First Amendment. And they’re right.

Scott Walker’s attempt to crush the Wisconsin public employee unions may be the first wave in a fight to elect Republican governors in 2012.

A new set of polls from Gallup show that President Obama is still looking good for re-election.

Does Russia really spend more on roads than we do?

The Illinois Supreme Court has issued a partial stay, keeping Rahm Emanuel on the ballot for Chicago mayor.

The Illinois Appellate Court has tossed mayoral frontrunner Rahm Emanuel off the ballot, saying he didn’t meet residency requirements.

As the night of the State Of The Union Address approaches, the silliness in Washington has been taken up a notch.

Faced with mounting debt, the lame duck Illinois legislature rushed through a massive tax hike in the wee hours this morning.

President Obama’s selection of Bill Daley as Chief of Staff is being seen as a sign that the White House is moving to the center and gearing up for 2012.

Red States should gain 10 seats while Blue States should lose eight.