Outside the Beltway

Public defenders in New Mexico are overworked, underfunded, and outmatched, but then that’s true pretty much everywhere in the country.

Be clear on what one is defending.

While hardly the most compelling argument against an archaic institution, yesterday’s silliness was noteworthy.

As we approach the vote, the fantasies keep coming.

Eliminating the department would mean parceling out most of its activities to other federal agencies, a sleight of hand maneuver that might create the appearance of smaller government but would disrupt the ordinary operations of the federal government. 

Congressional term limits are a good idea, but they are only a partial solution at best and may not be the best solution to the problems facing our political system.

The head of the biggest energy company in the world is reportedly Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of State.

Three of the top four national security positions in Donald Trump’s Cabinet will be filled by retired Generals. This isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Another day, another EC fantasy,

His actions illustration how well the EC process is institutionalized.

Donald Trump resurrects an old debate and desecrates the Constitution in the process.

Trump backs away from yet another campaign promise.

Team of Rivals?

In which I use a lot of words to say hello.

Future Supreme Court Justice?

No, the Clinton dynasty isn’t dead just yet.

Janet Reno, who served as Attorney General for nearly all of the Bill Clinton Administration, has died at 78.

Even if you’re not sure who you should vote for, it’s obvious who you shouldn’t vote for.

Are these the faces of Clinton voters? George P. Bush thinks so.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving Federal law and the rights of transgender students.

Two Republican Senators are exchanging barbs over the idea that the GOP should block any attempt by Hillary Clinton to nominate anyone to the Supreme Court if she becomes President.

Two weeks before Election Day, everything seems to be going Hillary Clinton’s way.

Damon Linker writes, “Millions of people disagree with your political views. That doesn’t make them moral monsters.”

Nothing that happens tonight during the Vice-Presidential debate is likely to matter, so feel free to skip it.

In which Ted Cruz endorses the guy who called his wife ugly and said his father was involved in the Kennedy assassination.

According to one report, the GOP’s longest living former President plans to vote for a Democrat this fall.

The GOP civil war continues…..

Apparently, even people who support Donald Trump don’t believe his claim that he can get Mexico to pay for his border wall.

House Republicans are vowing to continue their investigations even if Hillary Clinton wins the White House.

It’s the traditional start of the campaign season, and the race for President is getting close, at least at the national level.

A Trump surrogate warns of a “taco truck on every corner” if Trump loses. That sounds like more of a promise than a threat if you ask me.

In a ruling that could have a real impact on the 2016 election, the Supreme Court has declined to grant a stay to a lower court ruling striking down a North Carolina law that tightened Voter ID laws and restricted early voting.

This is not exactly what Rick Perry had hoped he’d be doing this fall.

Another sign of a weak economy as the Federal Reserve considers rate hikes and the Presidential campaign moves forward.

Donald Trump is signaling a big shift in his immigration position.

The “independent conservative” running for President is finding it hard to even get on the ballot.

A Federal Court has barred the Federal Government from enforcing guidelines on the rights of transgender students in public schools.

The latest desperation bid from anti-Trump Republicans is guaranteed to make a GOP civil war more likely.

A Federal Judge in North Dakota has struck down that state’s Voter ID Law, the fourth such decision in less than a month.

Big losses for proponents of Voter ID laws in two swing states.

A big setback for one of the most restrictive Voter ID Laws in the country.

Ted Cruz’s convention speech was about what you’d expect, a gamble designed to set up his campaign for President in 2020 or beyond.

The 2016 Republican Convention is barely halfway over, but some Republicans are already looking ahead to 2020.

Predictably, the latest effort to prevent Donald Trump from gaining the Republican nomination has ended in failure.

The Dallas shooting spree ended with police killing the perpetrator with a drone. I’m okay with that.

A horrific night in Dallas.