Outside the Beltway

Now that Republicans have the House, wouldn’t they be better off playing nice?

The last thing that Haiti needed was for a former dictator to return, but that’s exactly what has happened.

The American public still has a totally unrealistic view of what it will take to get the Federal Government’s fiscal house in order.

The Republicans are increasingly the party of white America. That’s short term good but long term bad for the GOP.

Frustrated that it couldn’t achieve desired environmental legislation despite huge majorities in both Houses of Congress, the Obama administration has decided to govern by executive fiat.

A woman in California has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s because she is apparently unable to resist her child’s incessant demands for a Happy Meal.

Has anyone told Mike Bloomberg that “No Labels” is, well, a label?

Despite yesterday’s victory for opponents of the Affordable Care Act, the prospects in the Supreme Court are not good.

A Federal Judge in Virginia has handed the first legal defeat to the President’s health care reform package.

Republicans were largely silent during the Bush Administration as spending went out of control. Will they do that again?

Several smart center-left commentators argue that President Obama is not triangulating. At least one argues there’s no such thing.

Is it possible to govern and not engage in some amount of redistribution?

Why would policy outcomes be different under the 17th Amendment?

A new poll about the proposals coming out of the Deficit Commission makes it clear that the American public needs to grow up.

Eliminating earmarks is good policy and good politics.

While Social Security has radically lowered the elderly poverty rate, it hasn’t eliminated it. Should we do more?

A longish NYT postmortem titled “Democrats Outrun by a 2-Year G.O.P. Comeback Plan” attributes Tuesday’s Republican victories to a January 2009 PowerPoint presentation. But structural factors were more important.

The governator has terminated the use of welfare cards at medical marijuana shops, psychics, bail bond establishments, bingo halls, cruise ships and tattoo parlors.

The Onion spoofs life at a think tank with Boy, I Really Thought Like Shit Today.”

Instead of decades-old retreads like talking about abolishing the Department of Education, it would be nice if we had a real debate about the fiscal circumstances in the country.

Virginia’s answer to Joe Biden has put his foot in his mouth once again. It won’t prevent him from getting an 11th term.

The new health care law’s individual mandate has survived it’s first legal challenge, and that’s not really a surprise.

Apparently, riding in a gilded carriage with footmen does not preclude one from seeking welfare funds in the United Kingdom.

In 1994, it was the Contract With America. In 2010, it’s the Pledge To America. But does it really mean anything regardless of what it’s called ?

Another new media star is coming to the rescue of an old media dinosaur. Put it’s probably too late.

The CBO sees a clear threat of a fiscal crisis during the next two decades unless we’re saved by magic ponies.

Career fields dominated by women tend to pay less than those dominated by men. But gender discrimination isn’t the main reason.

Free parking is a very inefficient use of land resources that wouldn’t exist without government mandates and subsidies. Is it time to end the practice?

Sharron Angle has moved on from Second Amendment solutions to First Commandment ones…

A growing number of conservatives are in dismay about the state of their movement.

Twenty-five years after retiring as President Reagan’s Budget Director, David Stockman is back with a scathing indictment of Republican fiscal policies over the past four decades.

In Court filings the Obama Administration is arguing that the health insurance mandate is a tax, and if they’re right the legal challenges to ObamaCare are dead.

Matt Yglesias argues that “Northern Europe is Egalitarian Because of High Taxes.” I would argue that he has his causality backwards.

It’s time for the Gingrich For President speculation to begin again.

Before we raise taxes on the rich, let’s first stop the flood of tax money that’s subsidizing their lifestyle.

Yesterday’s ruling by a federal judge declaring the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional is likely to collapse on appeal.

San Francisco is considering banning the sale of pets in the city limits.

Americans are more supportive of their tax money going to law enforcement than welfare.

The health care reform law faced it’s first legal test in a Courtroom in Virginia yesterday.

Senator Robert Byrd has died at 92, after years of poor health.