Outside the Beltway

As impressive as Republican gains in this week’s elections were at the national level, they were even more so in state legislative races. Which means Republicans are in position to consolidate and expand upon their recent gains.

Nancy Pelosi is strongly considering staying in Congress as Minority Leader. It’s her job if she wants it.

Despite votes in the 2010 contest still being counted, polls for 2012 are already pouring out. They’re largely meaningless.

The enthusiasm for Tea Party candidates likely helped the House Republican wave. But it also likely cost the GOP four Senate seats that it would otherwise have won — and thus the majority.

Unnamed Republican leaders are lined up to ensure that anybody but the former VP nominee is the party’s 2012 standard bearer.

Politico says 99 Democratic House seats are “in play.” They’re not. But dozens are.

Politicians are, by definition, a bit abnormal. However, this year we seem to have more than our fair share of the truly odd.

If South Carolina’s Jim DeMint has his way, the Senate won’t be conducting any business unless he approves of it.

A new projection of Congressional reapportionment shows a dramatic shift to traditionally Republican states in the South and Southwest.

Christine O’Donnell has become the latest star of the Tea Party movement, and her primary battle with Mike Castle the latest battleground over the future of the Republican Party.

Democrats are sending some of their candidates to the Death Panels.

Washington Monthly ranks colleges “based on what they are doing for the country — on whether they’re improving social mobility, producing research, and promoting public service” rather than “wealth, exclusivity, and prestige.” Too bad they don’t hire that way.

On January 3, 2008 Mike Huckabee celebrated a victory in the Iowa Caucuses, will be able to repeat that in 2012 ?

The Republican campaign against birthright citizenship doesn’t seem to be gaining the kind of support they expected.

Is the GOP really serious about changing the citizenship rules in the 14th Amendment ? Not likely.

Immigration “moderate” Lindsey Graham is suddenly sounding not so moderate.

Where did Alvin Greene get the $ 10,000 for his Senate filing fee ? He got from you, Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer !

Alvin Greene is running a political campaign, but it’s unlike anything anyone has ever seen before.

One year ago today, Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska after only 2 1/2 years in office.

South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham sees the beginning of the end of the Tea Parties, and he’s probably right.

Not surprisingly, Elena Kagan finished her testimony without giving any real ammunition to the Republicans.

Senator Robert Byrd has died at 92, after years of poor health.

Despite repeated promises to the contrary, the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay will be remaining open indefinitely.

“Endorsed by Sarah Palin” could become something that Democrats start using in negative campaign commercials.

Nikki Haley overcame a smear campaign and religious bigotry to come one step closer to the Governor’s Mansion in South Carolina.