Outside the Beltway

Based on the polls, the odds of some changes to America’s gun control laws will become law. It’s unlikely they’ll accomplish anything, though.

Fitch is out this morning with a warning on the nation’s credit rating that both Republicans and Democrats need to listen to.

The GOP is following a strategy on the debt ceiling that cannot possibly succeed.

Once again, the House GOP is risking sending the economy into the tank to prove a political point.

The White House has shot down an idea that never deserved to be taken seriously.

The ultimate impact of the Newtown tragedy on the nation’s gun laws is likely to be very limited.

Welcome to the latest crazy scheme to avoid reality.

Minting a Platinum Coin would be a really bad idea.

Resurrecting and old, and bad, idea.

Are we really going to do this again? The answer appears to be yes.

Could a coin like this solve the looming debt ceiling crisis?

The next six weeks or so will see Congress once again fighting over a self-created crisis.

Our politicians have averted an artificial crisis of their own making. The next one’s in two months.

You can’t always get what you want.

The Tea Party guys had a bad year.

Representative democracy is a process of delegation of power to agents who act on behalf of citizens. The process of delegation matters.

Last night’s defeat of “Plan B” demonstrated yet again that John Boehner does not really control his caucus.

Radical tax groups secured a Pyrrhic victory last night.

The latest offer from John Boehner includes a significant concession.

Conservatives seem to be viewing the Fiscal Cliff through rose-colored glasses.

With just about a month to go before we hit the “Fiscal Cliff.” things don’t look good at all.

More signs of cracks in the wall of GOP resistance to tax increases.

Republicans need to realize that they are at a disadvantage in the upcoming negotiations regarding the Fiscal Cliff.

Obama thinks he has a mandate to raise taxes on high earners. Republicans think they have a mandate to stop him.

President Obama seems to have given away the store when it comes to the defense sequestration cuts.

Getting to the heart of the problem from my POV (plus historical numbers).

Do fiscal conservatives realize they’re being sold a bill of goods?

Economic growth is the key to fixing many of our problems. Unfortunately, we’re not likely to see the kind of growth we need any time soon.

Both campaigns seem to be focusing on an argument that the voters don’t want to hear.

In calling for the sequestration cuts to be delayed, Republicans are demonstrating their lack of seriousness on the issue of fiscal responsibility.

While Washington dithers, business owners are starting to worry.

One year ago, the U.S. lost it’s AAA credit rating with S&P. There doesn’t appear to have been any real impact from that decision.

The President’s former Budget Director joins the ranks of those calling for Postal privatization.

Disseting the Romney visit to the UK and musing about the state of GOP foreign policy views.