Outside the Beltway

Talking Points Memo’s Josh Marshall confirms that his site has been down since 5 pm owing to a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack.

A mustachioed German has once again sent the world into panic. This time, it involves euros not tanks.

Asserting the Social Security needs reform is one thing. Asserting its failure is another.

Whether it’s a “Ponzi Scheme” or not, Social Security has serious systemic problems that must be addressed.

For a peace envoy, Blair has some nonpeaceful ideas.

A Wisconsin DOT official sent out a memo telling DMV staffers not to volunteer the availability of free voter identification cards.

Not surprisingly, there was very little about the President’s jobs speech to write home about.

Rick Perry took a stroll down the third rail of American politics last night.

Both Virginia lawsuits challenging the Affordable Care Act have been dismissed by a Federal Appeals Court.

There was a somewhat disturbing moment during last night’s GOP Debate.

America is discovering that throwing money at an industry in the hope it will create jobs doesn’t work.

Governor, that analogy does not mean what you think it means.

There were eight people on the stage last night, but the GOP field has narrowed significantly.

If you haven’t experienced the joys of peddling around Germany with 15 of your closest friends while enjoying several liters of Munich’s finest, you’re too late.

Last night’s GOP debate was a two-man affair.

President Obama’s approval ratings are at an all-time low. Only 33% of whites and 48% of Hispanics approve. He’s still at 84% among blacks.

The 1980 debate between Reagan and Bush compared to the GOP primary debates in 2011 is flabbergasting.

Killing’s our business and business is good.

Derek Thompson argues that “the real reason Americans fell so squeezed” is our obsession with productivity.

Rick Perry’s big mistake may have been putting his opinions about Social Security on paper.

KARK weatherman Brett Cummins was asleep in a bathtub with a dead man wearing a dog collar lying next to him.

Mitt Romney’s jobs plan is detailed, but it doesn’t seem to be impressing anyone.

Are colleges teaching the right lessons about the 9/11 attacks?

The Sarah Palin bloom seems to be off the rose.

Democrats are fearing the President’s jobs plan will be underwhelming. Based on initial reports, it looks like their fears are well-placed.

Richard Cohen reports that people like Richard Cohen have lost their enthusiasm for Barack Obama.