Outside the Beltway

While unemployment remains stubbornly high, Washington is spending its time fighting over the budget deficit

Judging by the June jobs report, there’s no economic recovery coming in the near future.

More than any other time in the past, the GOP is now firmly under the control of its most conservative members.

Whatever happened to the GOP’s promise to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act?

A few liberal law professors say Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should resign now so President Obama can pick her successor.

Remember Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the arrogant French aristocrat whose career was ended by a courageous chambermaid, shedding light on a corrupt social system? A funny thing happened on the way to the slammer.

Barack Obama’s leadership style may be his undoing.

Does a little known provision in the 14th Amendment make the entire debt ceiling debate irrelevant?

The odds of history are against Michele Bachmann.

Another major campaign finance case from the Supreme Court.

Sunday afternoon musings on an electoral college sweeps.

A victory for marriage equality in the Empire State.

President Obama came close to endorsing same-sex marriage last night, but stopped short yet again

The GOP contenders are starting the regular ritual of decided how to navigate our rather odd nomination process.

President Obama is expected to announce the withdrawal of the 30,000 Surge troops.

As of June 17, Sarah Palin is a registered US trademark, serial number 85-170,226.

Contrary to what Senator McCain, seeking realism in military policy does not make one an isolationist.

States are racing to put obstacles in front of voters in the name of fraud prevention.

The vast majority of the seats in the Virginia legislature will not even be contested this November.

A new Gallup poll has “Generic Republican” beating President Obama. Unfortunately, the GOP won’t be able to nominate this anonymous candidate.

Sandy Levinson suggests that there is a key lesson from the Founders that we ignore.

Turkey has had elections, and the ruling AKP has retained a majority in parliament. The next major issue appears to be constitutional reform.

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

More on the whole “republic not a democracy” discussion.

Unemployment was high when Barack Obama took office and it’s gotten substantially higher. Does that mean he won’t get re-elected?

Cynthia Tucker regrets her support for majority-minority districts.

Remember Egypt?

Across the country, Republicans are pushing laws that will make voting harder.

The GOP doesn’t have a charismatic superstar waiting in the wings. That’s okay.

It’s just one Congressional District out of 435, but that won’t stop everyone from trying to turn the results in NY-26 into a national referendum on Medicare reform.

Stephen Colbert has been running an ongoing shtick in which he’s trying to start a political action committee, gets letters from his Viacom bosses poo-pooing the idea, and then inviting his lawyer on to explain ways to get around these concerns.

Voters in New York State may help move the budget debate on Capitol Hill.

Canada is much friendlier than the United States with regard to immigration.

The Republican candidates of 2012 are so weak because of GOP losses in 2004 and 2006 Senate and gubernatorial races.

How much of public opinion is about tribal political identification and how much is about the actual policies themselves?