Outside the Beltway

It’s now clear that, absent an unlikely miracle, there will be a government shutdown.

With key conservatives pushing for sanity, the grown-ups have a chance to take back the GOP.

Nazi comparisons are only helpful when discussing actual Nazis.

Can differences in media coverage of two unrelated filibusters be explained solely by media bias?

If recent history is any guide, there won’t really be a government shutdown next week. But, the zealotry of the “defund Obamacare” caucus could change everything.

Republicans reportedly have another plan to get what they want on Obamacare and other issues.

Nobody has moved a piece yet, but the outcome of the Obamacare battle in the Senate seems foreordained.

Starbucks is kindly asking customers not to bring guns to their stores.

The GOP’s plan to defund reality becomes even more disconnected from reality.

A gun rights victory at the ballot box in Colorado.

The House GOP Leadership didn’t endear itself to the Tea Party today.

Will Congress now take some responsibilty?

Surprisingly, many pundits on the left don’t seem too thrilled about the idea of a Senator Cory Booker.

Congress isn’t spending much time in Washington these days but that’s only one of the reasons it isn’t accomplishing very much.

President Obama is doing precisely what Senator Obama warned us about.

Gay bars around the world are banning Russian vodka to protest the lack of gay rights in that country.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are openly disagreeing with a proposed strategy to threaten a government shutdown if Obamacare isn’t repealed.

The two ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are clashing on defense appropriations.

Republicans aren’t happy with their leadership. The reason why is also the reason why Republicans are in trouble politically.

Time to “pivot to the economy” again.

New Jersey’s highest court gets it right.

President Obama has once again weighed in on the Trayvon Martin case in a personal manner.

New technology brings the day of round the clock tracking of citizens who’ve done nothing wrong ever closer.

There really is no reason for Congress to confirm so many posts.

Michael Bloomberg wants New Yorkers to take the stairs. The bastard.

The Senate may be headed for an historic confrontation today if an 11th hour deal isn’t reached.

Low voter priorities and the natural tendency of the media to move on to the next big story meant that gun control was not going to be a top political issue for long.

The 10th anniversary of McCain-Feingold teaches a lesson we should already have learned.

Thoughts on the immigration debate.

Texas has become the latest state to attempt to restrict abortion rights, and North Carolina isn’t far behind.

The latest House GOP pronouncements on immigration reform make it exceedingly unlikely that any bill will pass this year.