Outside the Beltway

With all the birther talk these days, it’s probably time to question whether we even need the “natural born citizen” rule anymore.

It may be time to change rules keeping women out of combat roles. But “fairness” isn’t the right question.

In all honesty, much of what is coming out of the mouths of self-described conservatives is actually pretty darn radical.

My first piece for The American Conservative, which they’ve titled “War Isn’t for Everyone–The military needs civilian control, not citizen soldiers,” is in the May issue.

Can most people learn the traits to be highly successful in business?

The duty to defend “hateful, extremely disrespectful, and enormously intolerant” expression.

Can a candidate appealing enough to the base to win the Republican nomination beat Obama?

The “Obama Doctrine,” such as it is, seems to boil down to moral self-certainty combined with a glaring ignorance of reality. That’s a dangerous combination.

Ten days after sending American forces into kinetic military action in Libya, President Obama addressed the nation to explain “what we’ve done, what we plan to do, and why this matters to us.”

Xavier Alvarez lied about having been awarded the Medal Of Honor. Should that be a crime? The Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals says no, and they’re right.

Operation Odyssey Dawn has resurrected the eternal battle over what limits there are, and should be, on the President’s ability to use military force without Congressional authorization.

There must be a predisposition against war and we should only engage in just wars.

What are the limits of Resolution 1973? Are there any?

America is about to enter a third war in the Muslim world with no clear idea of the end game.

President Obama is once again catching flak for his leisure activities.

Recent events in Wiscosin seem to undercut the hypothesis that public sector unions have undue political influence.

The CNN Effect has given away to Twitter Standard Time.

Paul Krugman admits that he doesn’t bother to read conservative commentary. Should he?

It’s institutions of government – not its size – that matter when it comes to how good a job the government does.

In just over a decade, America has gone from a bipartisan consensus that torture and brutality are bad to a bipartisan consensus that they’re necessary.

The saga of accused Wikileaks conspirator Bradley Manning continues to get uglier, with the military acknowledging that he was forced to spend the day naked for, well, no apparent reason.

Two new polls reflect the extent to which public attitudes on same-sex marriage have changed dramatically over the past twenty years, and it’s only a matter of time before that’s reflected in the law.

It’s time to end the ability of public sector labor unions to hold taxpayers hostage.

Should employers be allowed to ask for your Facebook login as a condition of employment?

In a new Gallup poll, Americans rank Ronald Reagan as America’s Greatest President.

Is social media killing electronic mail?

The Obama Justice Department says it can look at phone records without warrants or judicial oversight.

I simply do not know enough expletives to adequately express how truly horrible this film was.

Is the only possible motivation conservatives could possibly have for calling out the lunatic fringe a desire for the acceptance of liberals?

Ronald Reagan would have turned 100 today. Here are some thoughts on his legacy.

While most Americans consider themselves “conservatives,” some conservatives exclude most Americans from the definition.

Al Jazeera English is kicking the butts of the American news networks on the Egypt story. Why?

Time for midterms.

A new study suggests college students aren’t learning the critical thinking skills they’re supposed to learn, but that isn’t necessary the fault of the university they’re attending.

The relationships between inflammatory rhetoric and political violence is complicated.

Palin’s infamous “target” poster recycles a theme used by both parties over the years.

Is the filibuster essential for the Senate to function as designed?

The American military personnel system works against keeping the best and brightest officers in the service.

President Obama and Chief Justice Roberts are calling for bipartisanship in the New Year.

With just over a week to go before the 112th Congress convenes, battle lines are already being drawn in battle over the defense budget.

The Presidency has lost the aura of mystique that used to surround it, and that’s a good thing.

The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a sign that the political ground is shifting. Will the GOP take notice?

Do graduates of elite colleges earn more because of where they went to school? Or because of the traits that got them selected?

The battle over the individual mandate is really just nothing more than the latest round in a batter that has been ongoing for 221 years.

Does that degree you get at the end of your four years of college really mean anything anymore, and is it worth the money you paid for it?

In her new book, Sarah Palin puts forward a view of the role of religion in politics that is in direct contrast with America’s own traditions.

Mike Bloomberg says we’re electing people to Congress who “can’t read” and “don’t have passports.”

Economist Bryan Caplan argues that our educational system does not prepare our children for the modern economy.

It appears that full body scanners, operated by leering yahoos under the cover of government authority, may finally be rousing the sheep who have meekly submitted to the absurd delays and indignities that have been piled on since 9/11 and sundry botched attempts.

With Democrats set to maintain their majority in the Senate, some on the left are pushing for filibuster reform. However, it seems unlikely that Harry Reid has the votes to change a long-standing Senate rule.