Outside the Beltway

Dan Nexon often gets asked by prospective candidates how they might improve their chances at getting into a PhD program in political science.

“Vertigo” has ended “the 50-year reign” of “Citizen Kane,” which has dropped to second place.

The Elements of F*cking Style drags English grammar out of the ivory tower and into the gutter, injecting a dull subject with a much-needed dose of color.

Publishing unsubstantiated rumor is not journalism.

While women are more visible at the 2012 Olympics than any past games, there are still cries of “sexism.”

Three new polls show President Obama leading in three key battleground states.

The novelist, playwright, and social critic Gore Vidal has died, aged 86.

Michael Phelps today won his 18th and 19th Olympic medal, breaking the old record held by gymnast Larysa Latynina. Does this make him the greatest ever?

Moderate Republicans in the House are starting to become more assertive in voicing their frustrations with how Congress is operating.

Romney’s foreign tour didn’t go quite as well as planned, but it’s unclear how much the minor gaffes will actually matter.

Since Israel’s system is far more “socialist” by American rhetorical standards, I am not sure what his point was.

Mitt Romney faces an uphill battle in trying to get to that magic number of 270 Electoral Votes.

NBC’s Olympic coverage doesn’t necessarily recognize the realities of social networking and the 24 hour news cycle.

Neither Romney nor Obama are running on policy; rather, they’re trying to persuade people the other guy would be even worse.

Mitt Romney is no more of a wimp than George H.W. Bush or John Kerry.

The President’s former Budget Director joins the ranks of those calling for Postal privatization.

Who should bear the cost of extra policing for candidate events?

Andrew Hacker argues that, while quantitative skills are “critical for informed citizenship and personal finance,” making kids master algebra to graduate high school has disastrous consequences.

..because apparently we can apply a modern definition of “arms” to the constitution, but not modern understandings of the word “citizens.”

The fact that someone disagrees with you doesn’t mean they’re evil

According to a new report, the CIA considers Israel to be an espionage threat.