Outside the Beltway

Herman Cain will announce his future campaign plans this afternoon but, in some sense, it doesn’t matter what he decides to do.

The much celebrated ban on earmarks isn’t stopping Congressmen from trying to earmark.

It was a good day for Newt Gingrich, but will it matter in the end?

Once again, pundits are suggesting that New York’s Michael Bloomberg might run for President. Though nobody seems to be able to explain why.

Newt Gingrich, Republican frontrunner. Four words most people never thought they’d see together.

The former pizza executive is a smart guy. But he’s not fit to run the country.

My latest for The Atlantic: “Some Reasons Not to Worry About Republican Foreign Policy Craziness”

Rick Perry is out with a plan to reform Washington. Mostly, it’s just a bunch of gimmicks.

Doug Feith’s replacement is prettier and softer spoken.

President Obama ended the tradition of native costumes for the APEC Summit.

From across the pond, an observation that the way we pick Presidents isn’t really that bad after all.

Last night, Herman Cain established that he simply isn’t prepared to be Commander in Chief.

Or, perhaps, the Perry Princple?

A cynical racial play by Herman Cain.

Herman Cain’s promise to rely on “experts” should raise eyebrows everywhere.

Another potential problem for the Cain campaign.

Do we place too much importance on performance in presidential debates?

Barack Obama wrote two bestselling memoirs before becoming president. Both of them are hot items at Foggy Bottom.

If Republicans keep looking for the next Ronald Reagan, they’re going to be disappointed for many reasons.

Quite improbably, Herman Cain remains at the top of the GOP field.

Barack Obama uses a teleprompter. This is not a big deal.

Herman Cain’s foreign policy consists of little more than deliberate ignorance.

Byron York argues that the lesson of Rick Perry’s candidacy is “Think before you run.”

The Tea Party flame was lit by the battle over TARP, but they quickly forgot about those bailouts that supposedly upset them so much.

Rick Perry seems to be picking up where Sarah Palin left off.

Herman Cain is leading Mitt Romney in two respected polls.

Ten years ago tomorrow, President Bush announced that “the United States military has begun strikes against al Qaeda terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.”

Sarah Palin is out for 2012

In an interview, President Obama says that Americans are worse off than they were four years ago.

Where should we look to understand the failings of the government?

Rick Perry continues to slip in the polls.

Chris Christie’s weight has become a political concern, apparently.