Outside the Beltway

More importantly, comments on challenges to incumbent presidents.

The trend toward hard-right parties continues.

Matthew Shugart on the Downballot.

A real example of American exceptionalism.

Because sometimes the comment box is just too small.

Added historical context to ongoing conversations about American democracy.

Canada has more parties than the US, but still suffers representation problems due to FPTP elections.

The system is not defensible.

For anyone who might be interested.

It hasn’t changed in over 100 years (but the population sure has).

Voting ourselves out of this mess is not so easy

Let me point you to a reform proposal.

SCOTUS and “faithless electors.”

It comports with the polling.

Lack of control of label is lack of control, ultimately, of a party.

The obsession over a singular winner ultimately makes no sense.

Thoughts on politics and constitutional powers.

Negotiations over government formation is not a crisis.

The Moore situation illustrates the nonhierarchical nature of US parties. This is nothing new.

The nature of US parties means that Trump more or less is the GOP at the moment, and hence the GOP will do nothing about Trump.

Primary turnout is not predictive of general election outcomes.

My ongoing crusade to spark thought and discussion on the quality of representation in the US Congress.

One could argue the constitutional requirements of the SOTU are fulfilled on an onging basis.

Is 435 the right number?

An Example of How Institutions Matter.

Some thoughts on the ongoing situation in Egypt.

Because sometimes poorly contructed observations can set a fellow to writing.

A bit of musing on parties, elections, and governance,

Some musing on guns: who uses them, how, and why.

There is much to critique in Washington, but the nexus of the governance problem at the moment is the GOP.

Sequencing matters.

If we taught the Federalist Papers more rigorously would that lead to a shared view of the constitution?

That word does not mean what you think it means (at least if you work in the mass media).

One simple proposal on the size of the House of Representatives.