Outside the Beltway

Cal Thomas made a tasteless joke at Rachel Maddow’s expense. He describes the lesson in civility he learned.

China’s government may be more “efficient,” but it’s hardly a model for the rest of the world.

The Obama Administration’s proposed solution to the impasse over contraceptives is unlikely to end the debate.

Are culture war issues about to make a comeback in the 2012 campaign?

Rick Santorum swept three states that are off the media radar screen. Will it revive his campaign?

Will the Obama Administration’s decision on contraceptive coverage by the Catholic Church have an impact in November?

The January jobs report was the best we’ve seen in more than three years.

Everything the critics say about the decision is right–and so is the decision.

Not surprisingly, Republicans are trying to reverse the automatic cuts to defense spending agreed to in August.

The latest projections from Congressional Budget Office are sobering to say the least.

Requiring a religious institution to comply with civilian laws is not a violation of religious liberty.

On it’s own, the so-called “Buffett Rule” is unlikely to do much to reduce the deficit.

Two prominent Florida Republicans are warning their party about losing the support of the nation’s fastest growing ethnic group.

One year later, Egypt’s revolution remains unfinished.

The truth about a Second Obama Term is that it likely wouldn’t be all that remarkable.

The Obama Administration has halted, for the moment, a pipeline project that has become a political football.

Mitt Romney has a bit of a tax return dilemma.

The first shot in a Constitutional showdown has been fired.

If you are going to talk about the unemployment rate, at least talk about the whole picture.

Conservatives are rejecting Andrew Sullivan’s Newsweek essay out of hand, but they ought to pay attention to what he’s saying.

Huntsman’s tactics reinforced his fellow Republicans’ natural skepticism of his candidacy.

How far should the press go in challenging assertions by politicians?

A far-reaching decision from the Supreme Court protecting religious liberty.

Michael Hastings has yet another credulous story attempting to smear the United States military.

Yes, it’s time to talk about that again.

When did serving your country become something political opponents attacked you for?

President Obama’s Pentagon is planning for an unlikely war with China rather than the small wars America will inevitably fight.

While the President’s recess appointments are bound to set off a political dispute with the Republicans, there does not appear to be a Constitution ban against them.

Rick Santorum’s foreign policy positions are troubling in many respects.

To Republicans, even thinking about engaging in diplomacy is enough to accuse the President of appeasement.

Mitt Romney said the other day that the 2012 Election is about “the soul of the country.” This is most assuredly not true.

Not surprisingly, most of the Republican candidates for President aren’t too keen on reducing the excessive growth in Executive Branch power.

Let’s ban robocalls.

Ron Paul has a new explanation for those newsletters of his.

If you’re going to take public money, “religious liberty” is not an excuse to fail to comply with the law.

Once again, people are engaging in largely mindless speculation involving Hillary Clinton.

Understanding the state of the GOP field requires recognizing that President Obama is actually pretty moderate.

Thanks to their own ineptitude, House Republicans suffered a big defeat this week. They totally deserved it.

A shocking new polls shows that most Americans would like to receive Social Security and not pay for it.