Outside the Beltway

The immediate reaction among the political class to the debt downgrade was the play the same old stupid games.

The agenda of the Tea Party movement doesn’t necessarily coincide with what voters say they want from Washington.

The job approval numbers for Congress are at historic lows, but will that matter in 2012?

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

Perry has a combo of Tea Party populism and establishment going for him.

Has a precedent been set for future requests by the President to increase the debt ceiling?

The reviews are in on the debt negotiations, and the public isn’t happy.

The cuts to Pentagon spending in the new debt deal are further revealing a split in the GOP over foreign policy and military spending.

Michael Cohen argues that our system is broken because Republicans will no longer compromise.

You thought you’d seen the worst of Congress in July? Oh, you silly American you.

Vice President Biden has called Congressional Republicans and their Tea Party backers “terrorists.”

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

Did the debt ceiling debate reveal dysfunctional government?

Now that America’s political leadership have probably averted a self-inflicted global economic calamity, it’s time to assess the winners and losers.

We have a deal in Washington. Now, the leadership just has to make sure it can pass Congress.

Congress failing to raise the debt ceiling would involve abrogating an enormous amount of power to the Executive.

How the reelection incentive and parliamentary procedure are affecting the debt ceiling debate in Congress.

By insisting on perfection in the debt ceiling debate, the Tea Party has made itself irrelevant to the process.

The constitutional purists in the Tea Party apparently do not understand either bicameralism nor separation of powers.

John Boehner’s debt ceiling plan is being amended. And not in a good way.

Charles Krauthammer claims we are in the midst of a great debate. I am not so sure.

He doesn’t do a very good job.

Economic figures released today demonstrate clearly why the irresponsible talk surrounding the debt ceiling must end.

Christine Lagarde believes the impact could be large and global.

Steven Metz muses, “Scholars argue that too much political mobilization can make democracies dysfunction. Is that where the US is today?”

Their mouths were moving, but nothing of substance was coming out.

European leaders have put another Band Aid on the Greek sovereign debt crisis while America’s leaders are trying to stave off a self-inflicted financial default.

By choosing to go it alone on a debt ceiling plan, the GOP is taking a big risk.

The two Minnesotans in the Presidential race are starting to trade barbs.

It hasn’t been a very productive weekend in Washington, D.C.

If a crisis over the national debt is averted, Oklahoma’s Tom Coburn may be the unlikely hero.

I never would have negotiated in the first place.

He’s not in the race (yet), but Rick Perry is already a top-tier 2012 candidate.

Are the new crop of GOP governors too conservative?

The House Republicans are functionally insane.

Three new polls provide a warning to both sides of the debt negotiations, but mostly to Republicans.