Outside the Beltway

German Chancellor Angela Merkel declare multiculturalism in Germany to be a “failure.” Proof that anti-immigration activists in the United States are correct, right?

Justice Alito said recently he won’t be attending the next State of the Union address. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates acknowledged in a newly released letter that the Wikileaks Afghan War document dump wasn’t as damaging as the Pentagon initially claimed. So what was the uproar all about?

The Pentagon has advised gay soldiers not to come out in the wake of a court order ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. This is a very pro-gay move.

Barbara Billingley of “Leave it to Beaver” and “Airplane” fame has died at the ripe old age of 94.

“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?

Some Democratic candidates for Congress are working hard to distance themselves from Nancy Pelosi.

A new law allows Presidential candidates to set up transition offices while they’re still running for election, perhaps providing an opportunity for shortening the 2 1/2 month interregnum between Election Day and Inauguration Day.

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.

A US soldier who captured a deadly 2009 rampage at Fort Hood with his cell phone camera testified Friday that he was ordered to erase the video by his commanders.

California voters are two weeks away from possibly legalizing marijuana, but the Federal Government doesn’t care.

The “Ronald Reagan” that many of today’s conservatives wish today’s Republicans were more like didn’t actually exist.

Glenn Reynolds “The Higher Education Bubble, and What Comes Next” lecture at Clemson (video).

To the extent that these faux debates are a measure of competence to hold the office in question, Sharron Reid’s holding her own against the veteran incumbent demonstrated that she was up to the task. Or, at least, as up to it as Reid.

Last night’s one and only Nevada Senate Debate was an embarrassing affair all around, but it most likely sealed the electoral doom of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The Washington Post looks around and discovers that the Tea Party isn’t racist after all. Their bad, I guess.

Paul Krugman argues that recent economic crises demonstrate that America has failed at corporate governance, banking, and the rule of law.

Only days after a Federal Court Judge issued an injunction preventing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy from being enforced, Obama Administration has asked for a stay and announced that it will be appealing the case.

A Federal Judge in Florida has handed a significant, albeit procedural, victory to the opponents of ObamaCare.

Desperate Democrats demonize donors, facts be damned.

Tonight’s topics: The latest mortgage scandal, lust for a third party, the role of judges in Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, political motorcades and their impact on the little people, and who knows what else. I hear there’s an election coming up, so perhaps that will enter into the discussion as well.

More bad news for Democrats as a new poll shows that voters are more likely to consider them extreme than Republicans.

We must abandon an Industrial Age education system that rewards compliance and stifles creativity.

Politicians are, by definition, a bit abnormal. However, this year we seem to have more than our fair share of the truly odd.

The last name of Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney (G) is misspelled as ‘Whitey’ on electronic-voting machines in nearly two dozen Chicago wards — about half in predominantly African-American areas.

Lots of jobs that existed in recent memory — secretaries, travel agents, gas station attendants, cashiers — have been replaced by technology. The middle class may be disappearing with them.

Last night’s Delaware Senate debate was entertaining, but it’s unlikely to move the polls very much.

The skyrocketing cost of tuition makes it harder for students to justify getting a liberal arts education rather than training for a high paying job.

54% of Americans want an alternative to the Democrats and Republicans. The question remains as to what kind of third party they want.

A group of conservative activists is planning a last minute ad blitz that could help put several Republican challengers over the top.

Should members of the Armed Forces and other public employees have the same rights under the 1st Amendment as the rest of us? Or should they be more like journalists?

After two months deep underground, thirty-three Chilean miners are finally back home.