Outside the Beltway

A little noticed rule change in the House is arguably one of the main reasons we’re in a government shutdown crisis.

One Virginia Republican suggests that defaulting on our bonds wouldn’t be that big of a deal.

The GOP’s approval numbers have fallen like a stone, but it’s unclear whether this will matter in 2014.

The Virginia Governor’s race may be slipping too far for Republicans to pull off a victory.

The government shutdown seems to be having an impact on the one competitive statewide race in country this year.

To borrow a phrase from Stephen Colbert, if you want to understand how Congress works, you better know a District.

The Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia wants a quick end to the Government Shutdown.

Air Force lieutenant colonel (designate) Erik Brine is so unessential that it hurts.

McAuliffe pulling away?

The race for Governor in Virginia is tightening, and Libertarian Party nominee Robert Sarvis is one of the reasons why.

The one Republican currently polling anywhere close to Hillary Clinton is, unfortunately for the GOP base, Chris Christie.

Washington Post Magazine profiles a local woman with a horrible secret: her father designed and ran Auschwitz.

A proposed Syria authorization being considered in the Senate places several limits on Presidential authority to act, but it’s unclear if those limits can actually work.

Not surprisingly, Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle are lining up behind the President in the debate over Syria.

The IRS will allow all married gay couples to file joint returns, but that still leaves couples in most of the country with more hoops to jump through.

And Republicans wonder why they have problems with minority voters.

Virginia Tech English prof Steven Salaita implores us to “Stop saying ‘support the troops.'”

As President Obama’s red line has been crossed more brazenly, he continues to sound reluctant to intervene in Syria while positioning forces to do just that.

Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn is the latest conservative to endorse the foolish idea of a Constitutional Convention.

The history of what to call the American Civil War.

Sailors will now be required to wait until 9 am to buy booze.

Bob McDonnell is not the first Old Dominion chief executive to supplement their income while in office.

CNN reports that CIA is going to great lengths to keep operatives from talking about what happened at Benghazi.

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

Conservatives are doing what the criticized JournoList for doing—even though JournoList didn’t.

The US Postal Service is struggling to make delivery more efficient.

Potential trouble for Virginia’s Republican nominee for Governor.

Some interesting taking of sides is already taking place in the GOP Senate race in Wyoming.

The Senate may be headed for an historic confrontation today if an 11th hour deal isn’t reached.

The GOP’s chances to take over the Senate became much better over the weekend.

Tony Kornheiser celebrated becoming a senior citizen by playing a round of golf with the president.

The drip, drip, drip in Richmond is turning into a flood.