Outside the Beltway

Lost in the hubbub of S&P downgrading the US bond rating is news that the Italian government has the ratings agencies under criminal investigation.

Upon further review, S&P’s downgrade of the United States bond rating . . . still makes no sense.

While it’s hard to argue with S&P’s political analysis, its economic judgment is a head-scratcher.

On paper, Jon Huntsman looks like a great General Election candidate. The problem is it seems impossible for him to win the GOP nomination.

The War Powers Act’s 90 day limit is in sight. Will Congress force the president’s hand?

Both sides in the John Edwards case are heading into uncharted territory.

What we don’t know might hurt us.

Despite what appear to be the fond hope of European central bankers that it will just all go away, something needs to be done. But what?

Business Week’s cover story examines the coming implosion of the US Postal Service as we know it.

While President Obama has had some amusing gaffes on his trip to London, including getting the year wrong in the guest book and an awkward toast to the Queen, his speech to Parliament today hit all the right notes.

“Our records indicate that your annual income for the 2011 taxable year was $2,170,000,000,000. You have requested a credit limit of $17,000,000,000,000. These figures exceed the American Public’s guidelines for credit issuance”

Can most people learn the traits to be highly successful in business?

The systemic risks of financial institutions haven’t changed much since 2008.

Speaking before Congress yesterday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke debunked the assertion that the GOP’s relatively modest $61 billion spending cut package would significantly harm economic growth.

Actor Alec Baldwin is among hundreds being targeted by New York City for tax evasion. Is it reasonable to have to prove where you live?

Sarah Palin waded into the foreign policy pool today with a piece about Iran, and it was about as empty as most of the other ideas on Iran that we’ve heard over the last six years or so from everyone else.

Fed examiners made a bank take down a “Merry Christmas, God With Us” sign. Then the “system” kicked in.

Peter Orszag, President Obama’s first budget director, is headed to Citigroup and a multimillion dollar salary.

Citibank is helping the US catch up to the rest of the world with free, easy wire transfers.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner held a private, off-the-record meeting in comedian Jon Stewart’s office back in April. Speculation abounds.

National Republicans are reportedly abandoning Joe Miller’s Senate campaign at the last minute out of fear that only Lisa Murkowski can stop Alaska’s Senate seat from falling into Democratic hands. That could have a serious impact down the road for relations between inside-the-beltway Republicans and the Tea Party.

Charles Murray argues that the Tea Party is right to complain about out-of-touch elites.

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

There isn’t much doubt that China is manipulating its currency for competitive advantage. What can be done about it?

Up in Alaska, Lisa Murkowski and Joe Miller remain deadlocked and waiting for a vote count that could take two weeks to complete. In the meantime, though, the Senator is already considering other options for getting on the November ballot.

Council of Economic Advisors chair Christina Romer becomes the latest senior official to leave the Obama White House.

Twenty-five years after retiring as President Reagan’s Budget Director, David Stockman is back with a scathing indictment of Republican fiscal policies over the past four decades.

The US standard of living is not only growing but its lead over Europe and Japan is growing.

There are further signs that the economy will remain anemic through the end of 2010, if not longer.

More Politics 101 for Rand Paul.