Outside the Beltway

An object lesson in bureaucracy and the reason why infrastructure projects aren’t as easy to complete as some think.

Once again, we learn that hosting the Olympics doesn’t carry nearly the economic benefit the IOC wants host cities to believe it does.

Moderate Republicans in the House are starting to become more assertive in voicing their frustrations with how Congress is operating.

The GDP report shows the economy slowed in the second quarter, to the surprise of nobody.

President Obama set off a firestorm by claiming business owners didn’t build “that.”

Once again, a pundit has come up with the boneheaded idea of reinstating the draft.

We’ve reached a point where our wonder at modern technology fades almost instantaneously and is replaced by annoyance that our technology isn’t better

Are the Stuxnet and Flame attacks the opening shots in a dangerous new era of secret war?

Thomas Friedman continues his quixotic quest for a third party. His candidate: a fantasy Barack Obama.

US Army Special Forces are the best we have at working with far-flung villagers. Are they good enough?

Are infrastructure projects the key to turning around the economy? Not really.

The President seems to think the private sector is doing fine. He couldn’t possibly be more wrong.

The United States may have slowed down Iran’s nuclear program without firing a shot–not counting the one at our own foot.

Meet Flame. A cyber threat that makes Stuxnet seem like child’s play.

China’s economic engine may be sputtering.

When Dan Drezner tweeted “I’m not going to read anything dumber than this today,” my inclination was to scoff. He actually undersold it.

The price of a DC cab ride went up big time recently and neither riders nor cabbies are happy.

College football will get a four-team playoff. What it’ll look like is anyone’s guess.

Thomas Friedman is fantasizing about Michael Bloomberg again.

Jim Yong Kim is an impressive man. But he’s got no background in banking, finance, or economics.

An attack on Iran is likely to unleash consequences that we are unprepared to deal with.

If you listen to the punditocracy, you’d think that there’s actually a doubt as to who the GOP nominee will be.

China’s government may be more “efficient,” but it’s hardly a model for the rest of the world.

Requiring a religious institution to comply with civilian laws is not a violation of religious liberty.

Mitt Romney seems poised for victory in Florida.

Wait until you hear about Newt Gingrich’s new out of this world idea.

It’s not just low wages that have kept technology manufacturing jobs out of the United States.

A list of international contingencies to worry about in the coming year. Handy as a stocking stuffer!

Barack Obama now looks to the Rough Rider himself for inspiration. Can’t he find it himself?

Italy’s new government is comprised exclusively of un-elected experts.

Public opinion on the Occupy movement has turned increasingly sour.

An attack against Iran’s nuclear weapons research facility won’t be an easy thing.

Well, maybe not so brief…

Obama is trying to get into Guinness under “US President with Most Simultaneous Wars”

American has real economic and social problems. But the solution in on Capitol Hill, not Wall Street.

With the advantage of hindsight, it’s clear that more creative strategies were needed. But they probably couldn’t have been passed.

A computer virus has infected America’s fleet of Predator and Reaper drones.

Protestors have converged on DC, rallying against Afghanistan, Wall Street, and stuff.

Elizabeth Warren has a deeply flawed view of our social contract.

Rick Perry continues to slip in the polls.

A meme is emerging that the Occupy Wall Street protests are America’s version of the Arab Awakening. That meme must die.

Like clockwork, the arguments for creation of a third party are popping up again.

President Obama would like to sell you something.