Outside the Beltway

Has anyone told Mike Bloomberg that “No Labels” is, well, a label?

The weekend arrest of a Columbia University Professor for an apparently consensual act raises some interesting questions about why precisely a specific act should be subject to criminal prosecution.

California’s Proposition 8 faced another legal test in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday, and the day didn’t seem to go well for opponents of same-sex marriage.

What will Republicans think of a candidate for President who admitted to smoking marijuana as recently as two years ago?

Yet another sign that the GOP’s biggest nightmare may actually end up coming true.

The GOP is being urged to avoid social issues and concentrate on reducing spending, shrinking government, and economic freedom. It’s a good idea.

Three of the Justices who ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in Iowa have been removed by the voters. That strikes me as the beginning of a dangerous trend.

For a guy who has no chance of winning, Carl Paladino certainly knows how to get himself press coverage.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels appears to be quietly putting together the beginnings of a campaign for President of the United States. Don’t count him out by any means.

A federal court has found that don’t ask, don’t tell violates the First and Fifth Amendments.

A case out of Texas demonstrates quite aptly the absurdity of the current patchwork quilt approach to same-sex marriage in the United States.

The New York Times realizes that most Republicans just don’t care that Ken Mehlman is gay. Surprise, neither do most Americans at this point.

President Obama will be giving an address to schoolkids again this year. Stay tuned for the cries of “indoctrination !”

The guy who ran George W. Bush’s campaign and the Republican National Committee has realized after only 43 years that he likes dudes.

After surviving the worst of a hard-fought primary campaign against J.D. Hayworth, Senator John McCain is probably pretty pleased with himself right now.

Barely half of Americans think Muslims have a Constitutional right to build a mosque near the World Trade Center and 18% think mosques shouldn’t be allowed anywhere. That’s why we have a 1st Amendment.

Sarah Palin decided to get involved in the “Doctor Laura” Schlessinger controversy, and in the process displayed a blatant misunderstanding of the First Amendment.

Ann Coulter has been dis-invited from a World Net Daily conference for her decision to speak at a convention sponsored by a gay conservative group.

Mary Cheney, who is openly gay and raising two children with another woman, has given $500 to New Hampshire Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte, who is “against same-sex marriage and believes marriage is between a man and a woman.”

Same-sex marriages are still barred in California, but how long that lasts is in the hands of three judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Walker lifted the stay on his Order declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional, but the big news may be the procedural defect that could doom any appeal.

There’s not as much conservative unity on the gay marriage issue as there used to be.

Former Bush administration Solicitor General Ted Olson is making a zealous case for same-sex marriage. Why are people surprised?

The White House seems to be getting annoyed at the criticism coming it’s way from the left.

The Republican Party is keeping relatively quiet on the Proposition 8 ruling. That’s a good idea.

Should we abandon the notion of civil marriage? Would doing so end the clash over homosexual unions?

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says there is no governmental or public interest in continuing a ban on gay marriage. But what about the will of his constituents?

That attitudes towards gay marriage varies by state won’t surprise you. The degree to which it does just might.

What impact will Judge Walker’s decision on Proposition 8 have on politics in 2010 and beyond ?

U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker today declared California’s Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional, thus opening the latest front in the gay marriage wars.

Screaming at one another and treating political opponents as enemies doesn’t seem to be getting us anywhere. But is there a realistic alternative?

Yesterday’s ruling by a federal judge declaring the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional is likely to collapse on appeal.

A district court judge has issued a ruling that could have wide ramifications for the question of same-sex marriage.

Not surprisingly, American’s partisan views on the Supreme Court are pretty much wrong.

Not surprisingly, Elena Kagan finished her testimony without giving any real ammunition to the Republicans.