Outside the Beltway

Last January 1, some of us made a series of predictions. Here’s how we did.

Judging by the record of the past decade and a half, movement conservatism has accomplished very little.

The President and his supporters say that Congressional Republicans will temper their rhetoric in a second Obama term. Don’t count on it.

Last night, Bill Clinton hit one out of the park for the President Of The United States.

One of these men is going to his party’s convention, the other is not. The reason why is rather obvious.

Lies and misrepresentations in politics seem to be something the American people have come to, if not accept, at least expect.

President Fernando Lugo of Paraguay was impeached and removed from office this week.

Following yesterday’s shoot-down of a Turkish F-5 by Syria has once again raised the specter of NATO action under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. It’s not going to happen.

Issa, Holder, and a little Madison.

Common Cause has filed a specious lawsuit alleging that the filibuster is unconstitutional.

Could things possibly get worse on Capitol Hill? Grover Norquist seems to relish the possibility.

The truth about a Second Obama Term is that it likely wouldn’t be all that remarkable.

Getting to the heart of last night’s moment of kabuki theater.

I can’t be the only one who cringed at his applause line: “To take an ex-wife and make it two days before the primary a significant question in a presidential campaign is as close to despicable as anything I can imagine.”

Another death row inmate. Another case of prosecutorial misconduct from the office of Harry Connick, Sr.

The Republican candidates for President have apparently forgotten that this guy was their party’s nominee twice.

So, what’s next?

Gingrich has some pretty radical ideas about separation of powers.

Newt Gingrich’s ideas about the role of the judiciary are very dangerous.

With Gingrich surging in the polls, the pundit class has gotten out the long knives.

Usually if a quote is too good to be true, it is.

There aren’t many glad tidings at the White House these days.

So, how did we get to the point where a fat, condescending, serial adulterer who left office in disgrace twelve years ago is the latest challenger for the conservative mantle?

One would like to think that if a governor seeks the impeachment of the head of an independent commission that said governor could, well, explain why. One would be mistaken, however.

Is Newt Gingrich on the verge of a rise in the polls?

Where should we look to understand the failings of the government?

In the book he released last year , Rick Perry advocated far reaching changes to the Constitution.

Institutions, or the lack thereof, matter.

Usually, Defendants plead guilty for perfectly rational reasons.

The Obama administration is arguing the 14th Amendment renders the debt ceiling moot.

House and Senate Republicans are pushing a Balanced Budget Amendment. It sounds like a good idea, but it isn’t.

President Obama overruled his top legal advisors in deciding that the Libya operation does not amount to “hostilities” under the War Powers Act.

Dennis Kucinich and nine other Members of Congress are suing the President. They won’t get very far.

It has now been 60 days since American involvement in Libya commenced. Congress has failed to act, and that’s their fault.

Is the war in Libya illegal?

Whenever I despair at the current state of the Republican Party, I remind myself that things aren’t much better across the aisle.

There are still three days left, but it’s looking less and less likely that a budget deal will be reached in time to avoid a government shutdown.

Operation Odyssey Dawn has resurrected the eternal battle over what limits there are, and should be, on the President’s ability to use military force without Congressional authorization.

Newt Gingrich is very popular among young conservatives. But two ugly divorces will keep him from being a contender for the presidency.

A few thoughts/historical examples, as to why I am guarded in my optimism on Egypt.

According to a new Gallup poll, President Obama is not only less popular than George W. Bush, but the only president from the last half century less popular is Dick Nixon.

After 1 1/2 years in office, President Obama has yet to grant a single request for a pardon or clemency, continuing a thirty year trend in which the Presidential pardon power has nearly fallen in to disuse.