Outside the Beltway

I think we should take Trump seriously and literally.

The Top Two system has created perverse incentives.

The Rogue Warrior is gone at 81.

A novel but flawed legal argument.

With an appearance by Caitlyn Jenner’s choice of party.

“Trump is a failed leader.”

John Kasich hasn’t shut the door completely, but recent comments seem to make it clear he’s not likely to take on the President for the Republican nomination.

Oral argument hints that we may have a 5-4 ruling allowing state legislatures to continue stacking the deck.

Once again, Republicans in California find themselves looking up and seeing a lot of desolation. They need to find a way to bounce back.

The GOP and Donald Trump are indistinguishable now. But it’s not clear what that means.

The requirement that the President be a “natural born citizen” is a historical anachronism that has outlived its usefulness or necessity.

Steve Bannon may be out of the White House, but his efforts to continue pushing President Trump, and the Republican Party, even further to the populist far-right continues.

A bit of wishful thinking in the wake of Steve Bannon’s ouster.

Another one bites the dust.

Donald Trump took to Twitter again this morning with predictable results.

Another conflict of interest for President-Elect Trump.

Californians are set to vote on marijuana legalization in November and, this time, it looks like it will pass.

While a brilliant and accomplished man, he’s absolutely clueless about politics and world affairs.

The Huffington Post announced today that they would not be covering Donald Trump in their politics section from this point forward. That’s the wrong thing to do.

Heather Havrilesky asks, “Why Are Americans So Fascinated With Extreme Fitness?

On screen body objectification is now equal opportunity.

Portland, Maine seems to about to make some progress in the fight against dumb laws.

Jerry Brown’s second go-round as governor has been very, very good to the Golden State.

The Court may have “punted” the Proposition 8 ruling, but it is likely to have a wide-ranging impact both in California and nationwide.

Republicans used to dominate California. Now, they’re barely a factor in the state’s politics.

Should we be outraged over the manner in which Muammar Gaddafi died? I’m not losing any sleep over it.

Ben Stein seems to have been out to lunch when he wrote his column about Dominique Strauss-Kahn

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver have announced their separation after 25 years of marriage.

With all the birther talk these days, it’s probably time to question whether we even need the “natural born citizen” rule anymore.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has mastered the worlds of bodybuilding, show business, and politics. Next, he’s going to try his hand at being a Marvel superhero.

Despite the Democrats sweeping quite literally every statewide office in California, Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization ballot issue, lost by 10 points.

Once again, the political media is wringing it’s hands over “negative” ads. As usual, it’s all a bunch of nonsense.

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

Arnold Schwarzenegger predicts President Obama’s re-election. Historically, that’s the safe bet.

Governor Schwarzenegger has signed a bill making pot possession (at certain levels) the equivalent of a traffic ticket.

Despite hopes that they could help reverse a 20 year trend, both Carly Fiorina and Meg Whitman are beginning to lose ground in their races for statewide office in California.

Judge Walker lifted the stay on his Order declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional, but the big news may be the procedural defect that could doom any appeal.