Outside the Beltway

Sometimes the bird gives you the bird

One last post on Dreher.

Things finally got too weird for his benefactor.

The latest strategic moral panic from the far right

The only way to save our freedom is to destroy it.

The right questions are: 1) why do some some on the right like him, and 2) should this concern us all?

Hungary is part of a broader global trend, but the real issue isn’t Hungary, it is the Americans who praise Hungary.

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

Why the ‘moral majority’ is willing to tolerate so much immorality from their leader.

From Rod Dreher

Much like the President they obsequiously defend, Republicans have become useful idiots in Russia’s war on Western liberal democracy.

Chick-Fil-A is ending its charitable giving to organizations that oppose LGBT rights, and conservatives are predictably freaking out.

Pope Francis defrocked former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick after decades of allegations of abuse of young boys and seminarians.

The Trump Administration is preparing a policy change that will essentially define transgender Americans out of existence.

The Ukrainian branch of the Russian Orthodox Church is pushing for independence. Church leaders in Moscow are not too happy about this.

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Washington, D.C this week, but his letter reveals that he still has a blind spot when it comes to the Catholic abuse scandal.

Pope Francis took the rare step of sending a letter addressed to all of the world’s Catholics on the sexual abuse scandal. Words are fine, but they need action to back them up.

One of the most prominent members of the American Catholic hierarchy has been removed from office in the face of mounting allegations of sexual abuse that stretch back decades.

Three new polls show that Republicans basically agree with the leader of their party when it comes to the issue of Russian interference in American elections.

A writer at National Review is proposing a compromise on the issue of transgender rights. Needless to say, many conservatives aren’t very happy about it.

The Atlantic fired one of their few conservative voices for saying women who have abortions should be hanged. Was this beyond the pale?

The Vatican has stopped short of calling the reports “Fake news.”

Americans as a whole are becoming less religious and some people are panicking about it.

Republicans sure have changed their mind about Vladimir Putin.

The Supreme Court won’t hear the appeal of a pharmacist who objects to providing the ‘morning after’ pill.

A new poll shows that the vast majority of Americans oppose Kim Davis’s refusal to follow the law, even while some Republican candidates rally behind her.

Voters in Ireland have overwhelmingly approved a referendum legalizing same-sex marriage.

Thwarted by the legislature, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal used his executive power to take action that seems directed more toward evangelicals in Iowa than anything happening in his home state.

A new survey shows that Americans are becoming less Christian, and less religious overall.

Many of America’s top law firms have declined to accept cases defending bans on same-sex marriage, and that’s okay.

Later today, President Obama will sign an Executive Order barring Federal Contractors from discrimination based on sexual orientation. But that’s not even the most controversial part for some conservatives.

A case out of Louisiana raises serious First Amendment issues.

A new poll shows that Americans don’t buy into the idea of “American exceptionalism” as much as they used to. That’s a positive development rather than a negative one.

So, this happened.

It’s a bit too early for Republicans to be celebrating that Senate majority that so many people are predicting.

Who watches Sunday morning talk shows anymore?

The bizarre conservative love affair with Vladimir Putin continues.

Vladimir Putin seems to be getting a lot of love from cultural conservatives in the United States.

Don’t blame Dallas, or 60s era Texas conservatism, for what happened in Dallas 50 years ago,

What are the implications of the GOP winning this confrontation?

A case out of New Mexico presents an interesting collision of First Amendment rights and anti-discrimination values.

Some conservatives don’t seem too troubled by Vladimir Putin’s repression.

Most deprived subcultures resent those among them who strive too hard to escape–much less succeed.

To a large degree, the right seems to have backed down in the marriage wars.

What is the appropriate response to someone who’s acting like a jerk?

For the New Year, how about challenging your ideas just a little bit?

Whether Mitt Romney wins or loses, the GOP needs to evolve or be doomed to minority party status.

Some Republicans are beginning to ponder what might happen to their party if Mitt Romney loses in 2012.