Outside the Beltway

It’s usually more effective to run for something rather than against someone.

A piece in The Atlantic inspires thoughts.

Can we stop pretending these trolls and grifters are Republicans?

Joe Biden has bet his presidency on a caucus that may simply be irreconcilable.

Voters are suppose to choose elected officials, not the other way around.

The trailblazing soldier-statesman has died at 84.

We’re an incredibly divided country but splitting it into two is impossible.

Our brains are wired to seek approval but may not be equipped to handle our modern existence.

The political calculus of Arizona’s senior Senator is unclear.

The difference is politics, not reason.

The Lone Star State has enacted some peculiar new laws.

A new story archetype is all too common.

The system is not defensible.

It’s not too late but it’s too late.

Some recent news items that add to concern about American democracy.

An interesting podcast conversation.

J.D. Vance’s cynical suggestion.

This time: the Alaska GOP.

Not surprisingly, it has been a bit contentious.

He will challenge Greg Abbott for the GOP nomination.

Thinking about party evolution and behavior going into 2022.

Short-term politics and long-term harm.

The combination of incompetence and a new system have the mayoral race in turmoil.

Yet more evidence that we’re a nation divided.

Yet another thing driving Americans apart.

One party is divided on how to govern and the other is united in not governing.

Even incredibly abnormal Presidents are Presidents.

We need what we aren’t going to get.

“If the conservative cause depends on the populist appeal of one personality, or on second-rate imitations, then we’re not going anywhere.”

Even the smartest designers can’t anticipate all the flaws with the rules they write.

The fact-checkers blew this one and blew it big.

The GOP is actually pretty healthy at the moment, despite some public rhetoric to the contrary.

A quick lesson about American parties.

Here we go again.

Republicans are more partisan—and distrustful of government—than Democrats.

Republicans who admit Joe Biden won the election fair and square are being driven from the party.

Assessing Republican strategic positioning (and the incentives in our system).

On fiscal policy and historical comparisons.

The long shift of population from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt continues—with the unusual exception of California.

More voice, more votes, more representation.

With an appearance by Caitlyn Jenner’s choice of party.

An interesting but uneven debate.

49 percent of Americans lean Democratic, compared to 40 for Republicans. Yet a plurality identify as Independent.

Another entry in the “stunning, but not surprising” category of political observations.

The Watergate conspirator, author, and talk show host was 90.

Nonhierarchical parties strike again.

Empowering authoritarians.

Also some ironic positions on capitalism.

And what GOP opposition says about the party.

The ongoing codependency that is the Trump-GOP relationship.