Outside the Beltway

He’s tan. He’s rested. And, apparently, he’s ready. Mitt Romney seems very interested in 2016 all of a sudden.

A man best known, perhaps, for what he didn’t do, has passed away

In the wake of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on C.I.A. torture, some have suggested that eight years of Jack Bauer helped make torture more acceptable to the American public.

As expected, the Senate passed the so-called “Cromnibus,” but not before a self-aggrandizing maneuver by Ted Cruz ended up being exploited by Democrats to pass outstanding nominations.

Rick Perry is sounding for all the world like a candidate for President, and says he’s a different candidate this time, but initial perceptions are hard to overcome.

Even leaving aside the fact that it is far too early to be making such assessments, the idea that Rand Paul is the front runner for the Republican nomination in 2016 fails the logic test.

The GOP donor class would like the 2016 race to be short and sweet, but that’s unlikely to happen.

The Supreme Court is set to decide if the state can deny a license plate with the Confederate flag design because it is “offensive.”

When push comes to shove, top Republicans may still try to make Mitt Romney happen.

Former Senator Jim Webb is the first Democrat to kinda, sorta, throw his hat into the ring for 2016.

An adviser close to Hillary Clinton is talking about expanding the Electoral College map in 2016, but even without such an expansion the GOP faces an uphill battle.

Mike Huckabee seems to be making the moves necessary to run for President again, For reasons only he can understand.

Voter Turnout was lower this year than in any midterm since the one held eleven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Trying to explain one of the biggest surprises of Election Night 2014.

Tuesday’s Republican wave didn’t change the fundamentals.

Despite speculation, both Angus King and Joe Manchin will stay with the Democratic caucus. And that makes sense for both of them.

What happened Tuesday? And what does it tell us about 2016?

2014 was not supposed to be a wave election, but it clearly qualifies as one.

Once again, reporters and pundits are arguing that Chris Christie’s “New Jersey style” won’t play well on the stump. I’m not so sure they’re right.

Things are looking good for the GOP to take over the Senate, but there are still several right races that could tip the balance one way or the other.

Despite conventional wisdom, there remains little incentive for the GOP to change its position on immigration reform.

To a large degree, the Democratic Party’s supposed advantage among women voters appears to not exist this year.

For the ninth time since 1974, the next Governor of Maine will likely be elected with less than 50% of the vote.

Rich guys are backing organizations that are taking over traditional party functions. Is that a problem?

The die is cast.

If the GOP wins the Senate in November, their majority could prove to be fleeting.

The idea that the N.F.L. “doesn’t pay taxes” is largely false.

While it still seems unlikely that he’ll run, Mitt Romney does seem to be leaving the door open to a third run at the White House.

A number of factors unique to 2014 make it likely that control of the Senate could be up in the air for months after Election Day.

Republicans still have an advantage, but Democrats seem to be holding their own in the battle for Senate control.

The fact that a candidate like Mike Huckabee could win the Iowa Caucuses is the reason to end the Iowa Caucuses.

So far at least, there is no evidence that 2014 will be a “wave election.”

The GOP has a good chance of taking the Senate in 2014, but it will be by a narrow margin.

A new poll suggests that Hillary Clinton’s record as Secretary of State doesn’t impress voters as much as she might hope.

If Hillary Clinton is going to have a serious challenge in 2016, the person who will do that has yet to emerge.

It seems improbable, but the national landscape on same-sex marriage is changing so quickly that even the Republican Party may find itself changing faster than some might think.

The justice system works, there’s no need to scrap it.

Lawmakers and journalists don’t understand the civil service.

New Hampshire Republicans still like Mitt Romney.

A setback for supporters of Rand Paul in the Hawkeye State.

Eric Shinseki resigned as Secretary of Veterans Affairs this morning, to the surprise of absolutely nobody.

It seems unlikely that Eric Shinseki will have a job for much longer.

Some polls aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

The RNC wants to limit primary debates, but it’s not clear that’s a good idea.