Outside the Beltway

And the fun part is that his main motive for running appears to be the opportunity to troll Rand Paul.

Pundits and political scientists agree that, if the 2016 presidential election were today, we’d have a much better idea who would win.

The confirmation of a new Attorney General has been held up nearly six months for what amounts to no legitimate reason.

Like nearly all of his fellow Republicans, Jeb Bush has adopted the disastrous foreign policy views that typified his brother’s Presidency.

Some thoughts on a column by Roger Noriega on the Obama administration and Latin America,

A new survey suggests that fewer Americans lack health insurance than at any time since that number was first measured.

Marco Rubio is the first Republican in the race who actually has a plausible chance to win the nomination, but it’s not going to be easy.

Legislators in Tennessee have taken the “gun rights” argument further than it was ever intended to go.

One freshman Senator seems to think that war with Iran would be easy, just like Republicans used to think that war against Iraq would be easy.

Scott Walker’s response to the Iranian nuclear deal is perhaps the most irresponsible so far.

The Iranian nuclear accords are barely 24 hours old and some people have already made up their mind about them.

Talks in Geneva have reached a framework agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program that, if it’s complied with, appears at first glance to be about the best deal available under the circumstances.

As expected, New Jersey’s senior Senator has been indicted.

The Justice Department will not pursue contempt charges against Lois Lerner because it has determined that she did not waive her rights under the Fifth Amendment.

New polling on President Obama’s opening to Cuba is likely to surprise some, and disappoint others.

Hillary Clinton continues to look more inevitable by the day, but Joe Biden doesn’t want to go away just yet.

After nearly 20 years in office, Harry Reid announced early today that he would not seek reelection in 2016.

Bowe Bergdahl will face charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, and the White House’s narrative about this release lies in tatters.

Do we really want to put another first-term Senator with no executive experience in the Oval Office? Because beyond the mere legal requirements, it does not appear that Ted Cruz is qualified to be President.

Rand Paul now says he signed the Cotton Letter to strengthen the Administration’s bargaining position.

Senate Republicans have done more harm to the goal of stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons than they have done good.

Amateurish? Condescending? Yes. Treasonous? No.

A powerful Democratic Senator looks like he’s about to be in a whole lot of trouble.

Once again, the Supreme Court appears to be sharply divided on the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act.

Another lesson in incompetence in governing from House Republicans.

Polling indicates that the American public opposes the GOP position on DHS funding, but that’s unlikely to change many minds on Capitol Hill.

As expected, President Obama has vetoed the bill that would have authorized the Keystone XL Pipeline.

A Federal Judge has issued a temporary halt to the Obama Administration’s deferred deportation program, but appeals can be expected.

Daniel Larison is far less ambivalent about our war on ISIL than me.

Most in the international relations community are not amused by the president’s National Security Strategy.

President Obama will ask Congress to authorize a war he started six months ago.

My latest for War on The Rocks, “IS OBAMA REAL(IST) CONFUSED?”

Another commentary on the National Security Strategy, this one at The Hill.

The first installment of my analysis of the National Security Strategy.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu’s speech to Congress is becoming even more partisan, much to the apparent chagrin of the Israelis.

Pressure is building on the Administration to send military aid to Ukraine, but it would be a very bad idea.

Some Congressional Democrats are considering skipping a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a Joint Session Of Congress.

By inviting Prime Minister Netanyahu to address Congress, Republicans are damaging the U.S. relationship with Israel.

Get ready for another pointless House lawsuit against the President.

Some are criticizing the President for not going to Paris for yesterday’s rally.

President Obama’s decision on Keystone XL is apparently to delay things long enough so he doesn’t have to decide at all.

Just one day into the new Congress, the first confrontation is already set.

A Federal Judge has dismissed the first lawsuit filed against President Obama’s immigration “executive action.”

The Army’s investigation of the disappearance five years ago of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has been referred to a top General, who will decide if a court martial should be convened.

Nebraska and Oklahoma are suing Colorado over the Centennial State’s decision to legalize marijuana, but they don’t seem to have much of a case.

A Federal Judge has issued a ruling that sort of says that President Obama’s Immigration action is unconstitutional. Except it’s poorly reasoned, and apparently not legally binding on anyone.

The costs of more than a decade of war are far higher than many ever thought, and we’re still paying the price for the fiscal irresponsibility of the Bush Administration while they were being fought.