Outside the Beltway

As of today, the United States is legally barred from borrowing money to finance its operations. Thanks for nothing, Congress.

The Congressional Budget Office has come up with slightly different calculations of the savings created by the Obama-Boehner budget compromise.

President Obama’s budget speech was light on specifics, but that’s because it was really the opening salvo of the 2012 campaign.

The GOP seems to be telling President Obama that revenue increases are off the table. That’s a huge mistake.

What, if anything, does the budget deal mean for the future?

As yesterday’s budget negotiations began, the GOP had a choice – appease the base, or make a deal. They made the right choice.

Why in the hell are Federal taxpayers footing the bill for residential trash collection in DC?

Games legislators play…

For the past day or so, America’s fighting men have been pawns in a cynical political game.

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.

Rather than fighting over the remnants of the FY 2011 budget, the GOP should make a deal and get ready for the bigger, and more important, battle ahead.

The next week promises to be a battle between John Boehner and the Tea Party over whether or not compromise is a good idea.

The NPR vote was nothing more than political theatrics–and it violated a GOP campaign promise to boot.

Republicans are about to take a walk along the third-rail of American politics.

Huge news in the marriage equality debate today as the Obama Administration has decided not to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court anymore.

Neither side is covering themselves in glory in the battle over the Badger State budget.

Thanks to the help of a group of Tea Party Freshman in the House. Congress has finally cut off funding for a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that the Pentagon never wanted.

Four years after Barack Obama became a Presidential candidate, the birther myth not only persists, it seems to be becoming more prevalent. Why?

Now that Republicans have the House, wouldn’t they be better off playing nice?

Yesterday, Eric Fuller, one of the victims of last week’s shooting in Tuscon, blamed Sarah Palin, John Boehner, Glenn Beck and Sharron Angle for the tragedy. Today he was arrested for making a death threat to a local Tea Party leader.

Bipartisan seating at the State Of The Union is a pointless act of political theater. Then again, so is the State Of The Union Address itself.

Factions on the right and left continue to charge one another with trying to politicize the Tucson murders. They’re now nitpicking the memorial service.