Outside the Beltway

Only 46 percent of Americans know that Republicans will have a majority only in the House when the new Congress convenes in January.

Unless there’s an emergency, is it proper for representatives who have been defeated in a mid-term election to be voting on controversial legislation?

The battle between social and fiscal conservatives continues, with the SoCons now saying that criticism of South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint is now considered evidence of ideological impurity.

Some Republican Senators-elect are imploring Harry Reid not to consider any treaties during the lame duck session.

The first civilian trial of a Guantanamo detainee ends with the Defendant being acquitted on all but one charge, and shows us why the entire process is little more than a show trial.

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

At least one group of Tea Party activists seems to realize that their biggest mistake of the 2010 election cycle was backing candidates like Christine O’Donnell who turned out to be their own worst enemies.

A Florida courthouse illegally saved 35,000 images from security scanners.

So will there be an efficacious backlash against TSA policies? I am guessing no.

The response from social conservatives to the call for a truce on social issues is about what you’d expect.

Lack of support from a key constituency may pose a threat to Nancy Pellosi’s effort to stay on as leader of Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Charlie Rangel has been found guilty of 11 violations of House ethics rules.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wants to install devices in cars to disable cell phones.

The incoming freshman of the 112th Congress say that they won’t repeat the mistakes that Republicans made when they gained power sixteen years ago, but some of the advice they’re getting virtually guarantees it will happen if they aren’t careful.

Newly elected Rep. Andy Harris was aghast when told his health benefits wouldn’t kick in until 28 days after his swearing-in.

There was bound to be entertainment during Charlie Rangel’s Ethics Committee hearing, and the Harlem Congressman did not disappoint this morning.

Here’s my plan for creating a budget surplus of $126 billion by 2015 and $592 billion by 2030.

The GOP is being urged to avoid social issues and concentrate on reducing spending, shrinking government, and economic freedom. It’s a good idea.

Thanks to an interactive web tool from The New York Times we can all try to make the hard political choices needed to fix the budget mess.

Former Washington Redskins Quarterback, and current Congressman, Heath Shuler has launched a quixotic campaign against Nancy Pelosi for House Minority Leader.

Is the current media environment a problem for proper political discourse?

Hamid Karazi says that the United States needs to reduce it’s military presence in his country. Perhaps we should listen to him.

While not inherently unconstitutional, lame duck Congresses have the potential for violating the spirit of the Constitution and create the potential for mischief on the part of Representatives who have been thrown out of office.