Outside the Beltway

David Brooks points out that, despite the mythology of America as a land of rugged individuals and Europe as a socialist experiment gone wrong, the amount of social welfare spending is roughly the same.

The Obama Administration introduced a corporate tax reform plan that doesn’t go nearly far enough.

Anyone who falls for this needs to look into bridges in Brooklyn and oceanfront property in Arizona.

Maggie Gallagher’s anti-gay marriage argument is an example of pure conservative thinking.

Once again, a government entity thinks the average person is too dumb to take care of themselves.

Revisiting a lively debate from over the weekend.

Mitt Romney stumbled a bit during his victory tour this morning.

American politics is as polarized as ever, and it shows no signs of changing regardless of who wins in November.

Yet more revelations about Ron Paul’s newsletters.

Have Americans divided themselves into what are becoming increasingly different cultures?

Why are all the candidates for president so awful?

Conservatives are rejecting Andrew Sullivan’s Newsweek essay out of hand, but they ought to pay attention to what he’s saying.

Senator Jim DeMint demonstrated clearly today what is wrong with Washington.

Rick Santorum’s views on the role of government are somewhat disturbing.

Congress eliminates a bad subsidy, but it’s only because there’s a worse one on the books.

Republicans are learning that their hard line on immigration comes with a political price.

Ron Paul doesn’t want to talk about his newsletters now, but he was pretty talkative 15 years ago.

Should Ron Paul find his currently upward trajectory to continue he will find himself facing greater media (and opposition) scrutiny.

The final candidate clash of 2011 didn’t lead to the sparring that some expected.

With Gingrich surging in the polls, the pundit class has gotten out the long knives.

Time Magazine has chosen “The Protester” as its Person Of The Year. Let the outrage ensue.

The Establishment opposition to the current frontrunner has little to do with his policy ideas.

Barack Obama now looks to the Rough Rider himself for inspiration. Can’t he find it himself?

Rick Santorum has some extreme views on social welfare. Of course, he isn’t alone.

A new ruling from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals raises a host of questions.

I’ll be liveblogging tonight’s Republican national security debate over at RealClearWorld along with a solid team of foreign policy analyst

A Democrat sees doom and gloom as far as the eye can see.

Apparently, we should be more like China. Or something.

The Occupy movement is starting to face the reality that they really aren’t engaging in protected speech.

Jerry Sandusky, the longtime defensive coordinator for the Penn State football team, is being charged with eight counts of child sex abuse.

Increasing taxes on the rich may be a fiscal policy worth talking about, but it won’t make the poor richer.

There’s no consensus for European-style social democracy or a Randian libertarian paradise.

Have Republicans been co-opted by the Big Government they claim to hate?

The Tea Party flame was lit by the battle over TARP, but they quickly forgot about those bailouts that supposedly upset them so much.

Romney consolidated his position as the presumptive nominee, Perry continued his disintegration, Cain discovered what it was like to be a serious candidate, and Bachmann doubled down on crazy.

By looking only in one direction, Occupy Wall Street is missing the big picture.

In response to a poignant collection of tales of suffering from the worst economy in decades, some conservative activists have put up a juvenile collection of “suck it, losers” posts.

Elizabeth Warren has a deeply flawed view of our social contract.

Better or worse?

President Obama is proposing a special tax rate for millionaires.

Where do we stand after 224 years?

Contrary to what Eugene Robinson and Paul Krugman argue today, compassion does not require one to support government social welfare programs.

James Carville has some advice for Barack Obama. It boils down to “be like Bill Clinton.”