Outside the Beltway

With just over two weeks today, rumors are starting to float out that the efforts to fix the Federal Exchange website may not be done in time.

Amazon’s new deal with the USPS offers a way out of the agency’s problems if only Congress would give up its last bit of control.

Bum Phillips, former head coach of the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints, has died aged 90.

To borrow a phrase from Stephen Colbert, if you want to understand how Congress works, you better know a District.

The Emmys will honor Cory Monteith but not Jack Klugman or Larry Hagman. Where in that sentence you said “Who?” will tell us how old you are.

Texas has become the latest state to attempt to restrict abortion rights, and North Carolina isn’t far behind.

A Colorado 6-year-old with a penis has successfully sued for the right to use the girls’ restroom.

A George W. Bush renaissance? Not exactly.

Apparently, our biggest problem in America is now the name of an NFL franchise.

Long suffering fans of the Dallas Cowboys, including myself and Steven Taylor, have a love-hate relationship with owner-general manager Jerry Jones. cowb

Calvin Watkins considers “The sad case of Sam Hurd,” a former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.

Matt Yglesias has a smart push-back against the lamentations of the decline of journalism.

The Ravens quarterback cashed in after winning the Super Bowl. Now it’s Maryland’s turn.

About 8.1 percent of U.S. workers have commutes of 60 minutes or longer and nearly 600,000 have “megacommutes” of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles.

The Cowboys’ first equipment manager and designer of the iconic blue star logo has died.

New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy was experiencing post-concussion syndrome but hid it from the team for days.

How two head coaches got struggling NFL teams ready to play one day after the shocking death of a teammate.

Another week, another innocent person killed by an NFL player.

Wherein I get a bit petty (but to make a point and, maybe just because it amuses me).

A week out from the election, President Obama is a heavy favorite to win re-election. But the major press continues to pretend otherwise.

A Bangladeshi man was arrested yesterday in New York for an apparent plot to bomb Federal Buildings. The entire plot was an FBI sting operation.

Sometimes, real life catches up with those who think their online life is secret.

So, it’s been a quarter of a century since “Star Trek: The Next Generation” made its debut. As if I didn’t feel old already.

A rather egregious case of misplaced priorities in Texas.

Signs are brewing that the Chinese economy is slowing down significantly.

A black ‘Democrat’ who seconded Obama’s nomination in 2008 is endorsing Romney in 2012. It’s not a big deal.

Examining a history that might have been.

The Romney campaign has apparently decided to be more aggressive in its attacks on the President, which poses serious risks for the campaign.

Will winning a championship finally overshadown “The Decision” and erase the NBA’s best player’s reputation as a choke artist?

As societal attitudes change, what counts as an insult so bad you can sue someone over it also changes.

The Catholic Church has fired a legal shot across the bow of the Affordable Care Act.

The economic tea leaves don’t look disastrous, but they don’t look all that great either.

Charlie Savage documents a major shift in Barack Obama’s philosophy of presidential authority.