Outside the Beltway

CNN’s Rick Sanchez has apologized after referring to Barack Obama as the “cotton-picking president of the United States,” which some have termed “racially tinged.”

After several months of bad housing sales, politicians in Washington are starting to talk about bringing back one of the worst public policy programs of the last two years.

If Republicans regain control of Congress, you could be seeing a lot of scenes like this on your television for the next two years.

President Obama will be giving an address to schoolkids again this year. Stay tuned for the cries of “indoctrination !”

House Minority John Boehner is getting a lot of attention for calling for mass firings at the White House. The real news, though, is that his speech is shifting the focus of the political conversation back to the economy. Which is just what the GOP needs.

The Obama’s are vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard again this year so, of course, it’s time for people to say stupid things about Presidential leisure activities again.

Once again, an American President is stepping into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and, once again, he has no idea how to accomplish the goals he’s established.

Why are people’s views about Islam so screwed up ? Mostly because the only things they know about it tend to be the worst possible aspects of all.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is superbly qualified for the presidency. But our system virtually assures that he won’t be a serious contender for the job.

The New York Times is reporting that the Obama Administration has convinced Israel that Iran is much further away from developing nuclear weapons than Tel Aviv fears, but there seems to be something else going on here.

Twenty percent of Americans still believe that Barack Obama is Muslim. Not only is it wrong, it says something rather disturbing about our country.

It has never been illegal to wear military medals and uniforms to costume parties or while portraying a soldier in a movie.

The title says it all.

If the President looks worried, he has a pretty good reason.

President Obama’s motorcade caused gridlock in the Los Angeles area last night, although one wonders how people could distinguish it form the average Monday.

As many American soldiers have died in Afghanistan under Obama as under Bush.

Robert Gates says he wants to retire next year, but will the call of duty cause him to stay longer ?

The GOP is playing a dangerous game with the anti-Islamic rhetoric that it seems to be courting these days.

Barack Obama has significantly widened his predecessor’s global war on terrorism, even if he’s no longer calling it that.

President Obama waded into the “Ground Zero” mosque controversy at a Ramadan dinner last night.

If you think Jimmy Carter is the Worst Figure in American History, you really need to read more.

The poll numbers look grim for the President, but it’s still far too early to be making predictions about the 2012 elections.

According to a new MSNBC/Wall Street Journal poll, the public that will head to the polls in November is increasingly gloomy and pessimistic.

Democrats are currently engaged in a circular firing squad.

Every new report out of Iran seems to bring us closer to the moment when Israel has decided it’s heard enough. What happens if that day actually happens ?

Another round of primaries last night made the playing field for November just a little bit clearer to see.

The White House seems to be getting annoyed at the criticism coming it’s way from the left.

Conservatives seem very eager for Hillary Clinton to get back on the campaign trial, but it’s not going to happen.

The First Family can go on vacation, but politics never does.

Are we nearing the point where presidents won’t be able to fill Supreme Court vacancies?

This year’s Zogby poll of public opinion in the Middle East exhibits a marked shift on the Obama Administration, Iran.

Another bad jobs report demonstrates that the “recovery” is an illusion for many people.

Saddam Hussein’s closest adviser in the 1990s, Tariq Aziz, is talking to reporters, and he wants American troops to stay in Iraq.

Some Democrats who support ending the Bush tax cuts for high earners want to exempt their own rich constituents.

The Obama Administration is dismissing the results of a referendum in Missouri that purports to strike down health insurance mandates.

What impact will Judge Walker’s decision on Proposition 8 have on politics in 2010 and beyond ?

While it may be true that facts are stubborn things, a lot of American are stubborn in the face of them.