Outside the Beltway

Divided government is the worst political system ever, except for all the others.

With the House’s proposed deal reaching an impasse, the Senate is now taking center stage.

The GOP’s approval numbers have fallen like a stone, but it’s unclear whether this will matter in 2014.

There seems to be at least some hope for a temporary deal in Washington to end the shutdown and raise the debt ceiling, but don’t count your chickens just yet.

Republicans appear to be uniting behind a short-term plan to deal with the debt ceiling, but seem okay with keeping the government shutdown going forward.

There’s no denying it now. The GOP is being harmed by the events in Washington far more than the President and Democrats in general.

Paul Ryan is back, and he has a plan his party ought to be paying attention to.

The real world impact of what’s happening in Washington is becoming apparent.

Signs that investors are starting to get nervous about the lack of action coming out of Washington.

If one considers oneself to be conservative, ask if the the actions of the GOP at the moment conform to that term..

Contrary to the White House’s arguments, negotiating over the debt ceiling is not at all historically unprecedented.

The government shutdown seems to be having an impact on the one competitive statewide race in country this year.

They’re back…….

63% are angry at Republicans, 57% are angry at Democrats, and 53% are angry at President Obama.

There’s a way for President Obama and Speaker Boehner to talk out a deal to resolve the current crisis, but they have to want to do it.

One cannot support the shutdown tactic and then be outraged that part of the government is shutdown.

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

Speaker Boehner sends a signal that there won’t be a quick resolution to the government shutdown crisis.

The outlines of a possible new GOP proposal are emerging. Can it go anywhere?

One of the dumber aspects of the current shutdown repeats itself.

The Pentagon is recalling up to 300,000 furloughed civilian employees on the same day that Congress voted to pay all furloughed employees when the government reopens.

The government shutdown is starting to have effects in the “real world.”

The Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia wants a quick end to the Government Shutdown.

Democrats in the House will attempt to use an obscure House procedure to force an end to the government shutdown. It’s success is by no means guaranteed.

The “Hastert Rule” isn’t the reason Speaker Boehner isn’t bringing a “clean” CR up for a vote, political survival is.

Speaker Boehner told his caucus members that he will not allow a default over the debt ceiling but don’t look for a change in strategy.

The first poll taken after the shutdown began has little good news for the Republican Party.

A comment from one Congressman sums up the attitude of the small group of Congressman and Senators who have placed us in this situation.

Reasonable members of the House GOP caucus are fighting back. Are they outnumbered?

The Defense Department might open for business while the rest of government remains shut down.

The NFL donates its game broadcasts to troops deployed in harm’s way but they still won’t get to see them during the shutdown.

If you want to understand why Republicans in Congress are acting like they are, just look at the polls.

Air Force lieutenant colonel (designate) Erik Brine is so unessential that it hurts.

There’s no sign that the government shutdown will end any time soon.