Outside the Beltway

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

Some in Washington are claiming the intelligence community missed the warning signs of unrest in Tunisia and Egypt in what looks like little more than an effort to create scapegoats if things go wrong.

The debate over Senator Rand Paul’s proposed $500 billion spending cut plan has focused almost exclusively on one issue, and one nation.

Egypt entered a second day of chaos with all signs pointing to things getting worse before they get better.

The United States is facing a serious public relations problem among the Egyptian people.

One Republican Congressman is calling on President Obama to stand firmly behind our “friend” in Cairo, even though there’s little evidence we can trust him.

The US has limited influence over events in Egypt–something that recent history should underscore (although not everyone appears to understand this fact).

The Obama administration’s slow and cautious response to Egypt’s protest was frustrating. And correct.

Should we spread liberal democracy by force? If necessary!

Anti-government protests raged in Egypt for a second day, and nobody seems to know where they’re headed.

There is a problem with political rhetoric in this country, but telling people to be nicer to each other isn’t going to cool it down.

Bipartisan seating at the State Of The Union is a pointless act of political theater. Then again, so is the State Of The Union Address itself.

One columnist argues that Sarah Palin’s response to the Arizona shootings mark the end of whatever political future she might have had. He’s probably correct.

After five days of nonsense, President Obama’s address in Tucson last night struck exactly the right tone.

Sarah Palin released a statement today about the Arizona shootings and the debate that has followed. It’s unlikely to help her.

The tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Arizona has started another debate about political rhetoric. It’s a stupid debate, and it’s utterly pointless.

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

In a new interview, Justice Antonin Scalia says that the 14th Amendment does not bar discrimination against women, whether it’s done by public or private entities. He couldn’t be more wrong.

Do republics expire after 200 years due to fiscal irresponsibility?

President Obama is supporting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Is this the end of America?

What the Haley Barbour situation illustrates is that we, as a country, have not fully accepted or dealt with our own past.

Unless you paid close attention, you probably missed most of the coverage of the war in Afghanistan in 2010.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he isn’t running for President, but he’s sure acting like a guy who’s at least thinking about it.

The two English language newspapers who have been Julian Assange’s accomplices in disseminating stolen secrets defend themselves.

There is a simple mathematical equation that explains why deficit reduction is so difficult.

Yet another sign that the GOP’s biggest nightmare may actually end up coming true.

As the counting of write-in ballots in Alaska continues to go in Lisa Murkowski’s favor, the Miller campaign is getting more desperate in its ballot challenges.

Of the five countries that use the death penalty the most, only one is a democracy.

Virginia Senator Jim Webb is the last of a dying breed of Democrats, but his party may need him if it wants to remain competitive anywhere outside of a Blue State.

A Chicago voter is less than thrilled with the political slate for which he’s voting today.

The younger voters that flocked to Barack Obama two years ago feel let down. They need to grow up.

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

Jonah Goldberg has written a bad column. In this case, an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune headlined “Why is Assange still alive?”

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.

Salon has video of the aftermath of the Hopfinger handcuffing. Plus: if we remove the partisan labels and just assess what happened, would we view this situation differently?

“Those who doubt that the failings of higher education in America have political consequences need only reflect on the quality of progressive commentary on the tea party movement.”

Venezuela have reached a series of agreement on energy. Should the US be concerned?

Jim Treacher has coined a new term, Oprahturfing, to describe wealthy celebrities funding attendance at political rallies. While clever, the concept of “Astroturfing” is being misused by both sides.

Former car czar Steve Rattner sat down with Ezra Klein to whine about how the American people and its Congress wouldn’t just turn over the whole economy to unelected experts such as himself.