Outside the Beltway

We, as Americans, tend to have a limited knowledge of the institutional variation that exists across democratic systems around the world.

Figuring out how much of the opposition to a black president is based on racism is . . . complicated.

Eduardo Saverin has become a political whipping boy.

Recall elections in a hyper-partisan atmosphere are not a good thing.

Is there a Romney Doctrine?

If we taught the Federalist Papers more rigorously would that lead to a shared view of the constitution?

We should want more voters, not less, if we actually value representaitve democracy.

Legendary musician Levon Helm is dying.

Facts are stubborn things.

Far from being deterimental, there is a case to be made that SuperPACs have actually expended democracy during this election cycle.

This week’s hearings in the Supreme Court caught many proponents of the Affordable Care Act off guard.

Dan Drezner declares that “Policy wonks ignore political science journals at their peril.”

Dharun Ravi was convicted of bias intimidation toward Tyler Clementi. It’s not at all clear that he should have been.

What does it mean to have a limited government?

Arizona’s senior Senator want’s to bomb Syria.

Our political scene has changed drastically since Bob Kerrey was last in the Senate.

Billionaires have been free to donate as much money as they want to activist groups since the dawn of the Republic.

Yet another sign that international intervention in Syria is most likely never going to happen.

When it comes to same-sex marriage, the right is fighting a losing battle.

China’s government may be more “efficient,” but it’s hardly a model for the rest of the world.

Foster Friess, Rick Santorum’s money guy, probably shouldn’t be his media guy.

The NYT has an interesting piece on the ongoing limted v. big governemnt debate.

The Obama Campaign is being criticized for agreeing to play the SuperPAC game like everyone else does.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg had some advice on Constitution drafting for Egyptians

Sarah Palin isn’t running for President, and she hasn’t officially endorsed anyone, but that hasn’t stopped her from putting her thumb on the scale.

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

My latest for The Atlantic explains, “Why We Should Be Glad the Haditha Massacre Marine Got No Jail Time.”

One year later, Egypt’s revolution remains unfinished.

Why are all the candidates for president so awful?

We, as a country, need to remember that do not hold levers that allow us to move events this way or that

How far should the press go in challenging assertions by politicians?

The problem with Europe may not be the Euro, but the fact that there really aren’t any Europeans.

Rick Santorum’s foreign policy positions are troubling in many respects.

For a guy who says he dislikes “activist judges,” Rick Perry sure wants a certain Federal Judge in Virginia to be an activist.