Outside the Beltway

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.

It’s quite possible that the delays spawned by airline security measures are killing more people than they’re saving.

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.

TSA boss John Pistole has offered to give Senators a pat-down search so that they understand the controversial new procedures.

Rush Limbaugh is apparently not impressed with Barack Obama’s presidency. That doesn’t make him a racist.

The Washington Independent goes dark in December, failing to find profitability in three years.

Tonight’s topics: New airline screening measures, Karzai vs. Petraeus, political infighting among victorious Republicans, and the defeated Democrats keeping their leadership intact.

The gang at The Week ask, “Are child-free flights the next travel trend?”

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

The Atlantic’s Dave Thier laments that, “The Beatles on iTunes Means Your Kids May Never Hear ‘Her Majesty’

Terrorism risk assessment: Russia at “Extreme Risk”, Greece at “High Risk”, U. S. at “Medium Risk”, Canada and Germany at “Low Risk”.

Food prices are rising in China. For us higher food prices mean we get fat a little more slowly; for a poor Chinese family it means starvation stalks a little closer.

The cholera outbreak in Haiti continues unabated; riots against UN peacekeepers have broken out.

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.

Gmail alerted me that they had undergone a homepage makeover. Somehow, I hadn’t noticed. See if you can guess why.

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.

Airport security is less intrusive in Communist China and war torn Afghanistan than in the USA. Have we finally had enough?

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.