Outside the Beltway

Unable to get his way with the legislature, New York’s governor is taking a provocative step.

The United States can’t do any good in Syria, but we can do a lot of bad.

Without Congressional authorization, any attack on Syria would be illegal, but don’t expect Congress to do anything about it.

A plurality of Americans aged 18 to 34 have no idea how many people were killed, what Auschwitz was, or how Hitler came to power.

By all accounts, Gina Haspel is exceedingly well qualified to be the next C.I.A. Director, but she has a troubling past that the Senate will need to at least force her to answer questions about.

Absent changes in policy, the nation’s most hallowed military cemetery will run out of space in two decades.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham says war against North Korea would be worth it. Ignoring the fact that it would result in casualties unlike anything America has seen since the Vietnam War.

Continuing a long-standard tradition, the Trump Administration claims it doesn’t need to get legal authorization to keep American troops in Syria.

Despite what his own intelligence chiefs are saying, President Trump still does not believe that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

A Federal Judge In Kansas has blocked enforcement of a state law barring anyone who does business with the state from engaging in a boycott of Israel.

Of course Donald Trump wants a military parade, it would be consistent with his delusions of grandeur.

John Kelly continues to throw away the good name he earned in decades of service as a Marine to serve the agenda of President Trump.

With the Administration set to commit the United States to a forever war in Syria, it’s time for Congress to act.

Just over one year after President Trump’s foolish and ill-informed decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership Canada has stepped in to rescue the deal.

Most Americans are unlikely to remember John Anderson, but he was a harbinger of things to come.

Jim Nabors, who became famous as Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle USMC, has died at the age of  87.

There’s growing evidence that Donald Trump’s tweets are hurting him but his aides have basically given up trying to control his Twitter habit.

President Trump returns home from an Asian trip that wasn’t exactly impressive.

A preemptive attack on North Korea would be illegal, immoral and, most importantly, insane.

Even during an overseas trip, President Trump continues to try to undermine the Russia investigation.

On North Korea, there are two options, deterrence and war. And only one of those options makes sense.

America has become involved in conflicts around the world, largely without the knowledge of the American people or the consent of their representatives, and it doesn’t appear that’s going to end anytime soon.

John McCain has been standing out from his fellow Republicans largely by unleashing on President Trump, and it is unlikely to end anytime soon.

The White House believes that it is ‘inappropriate’ to question Generals. This argument is not only wrong, it’s downright dangerous.

The Bergdahl case comes to an end.

Donald Trump is continuing to up the ante in his rhetorical war against one of America’s most fundamental freedoms.

Stephen Paddock’s crime was clearly terrorizing, and will impact the lives of survivors, families, first responders in many ways for a long time. Based on the currently available evidence, though, the Las Vegas shooting was not “terrorism.”

Hugh Hefner, who became both a cultural icon and a catalyst and reflector of vast social changes, has died at the age of 91.

Speaking about his cancer treatment for the first time, Senator John McCain paints a grim picture.

America’s longest war seems likely to soon turn into America’s never-ending war.

Arguments advanced by those advocating a bill that would prevent Americans from participating in a boycott of Israel would not violate the First Amendment appear to be without merit.

President Trump’s reaction to the terror attack in Spain included an easily debunked lie about one of America’s most decorated Generals.

A legendary statesman has passed.

Roger Moore, who played James Bond for a longer period and in more films than any other actor to date, has died at the age of 89.

A new Pentagon proposal would place more discretion in the hands of field commanders, removing the need for Presidential approval.

President Trump has actually made a good pick for National Security Adviser. As with the rest of his foreign policy team, though, the question is if he’ll listen to him.

With two votes last night, President Trump’s Cabinet is coming together.

An unsurprising ‘resignation’ from the shortest-serving National Security Adviser in history.

Judge Gorsuch isn’t much of a fan of Donald Trump’s comments about the judiciary.

Donald Trump is turning out to be a man uniquely obsessed with appearances, and it’s impacting his entire Administration.

The 117 CIA officers who have died in our service should not be used to score cheap political points.

Rest In Peace, Mrs. Brady.

Another great loss for music in what has been a difficult year.

The Front Runner Edition OTB Caption Contest^TM is now over.

For now at least, it looks as though last week’s email news is having little impact on the state of the race for President.

The sense of national ‘unity’ that existed in the wake of the September 11th attacks didn’t last for very long.

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.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the election is “over,” because it isn’t.