Outside the Beltway

If one is going to worship at the alter of original intent, it might be useful to know a bit of history.

Cory Booker’s decision to explore a run for the U.S. Senate has upset the powers-that-be in New Jersey Democratic politics.

Well. medium length anyway.

Once again, Senate Democrats are talking about filibuster reform, but will they actually follow through?

The former Republican governor of Florida says his former party is so extreme that it holds positions he held two years ago.

Drudge Report says Team Obama thinks CIA Director David Petraeus will be Mitt Romney’s vice presidential pick.

Common Cause has filed a specious lawsuit alleging that the filibuster is unconstitutional.

Harry Reid is apparently regretting not going forward with filibuster reform in January 2011.

The battle is on for control of the Senate, but whoever wins is likely to have a very slim majority.

The Senate didn’t have a productive 2011. Is this just a case of laziness?

Worried the GOP might eliminate the filibuster if they gain control of the Senate? Don’t be.

The former Utah governor will almost certainly never be the GOP nominee. But someone like him will be soon.

Harry Reid’s “nuclear option” has changed the rules of the game, for now.

Harry Reid is playing hardball, invoking a tactic that he himself decried being threatened when Republicans were in charge.

A political science-y response to the question of whether the system is broken.

The funny thing is that the quorum-busting in WI is more like a filibuster ought to be: a true delaying tactic that eventually has to give way to a democratic outcome.

Chicago’s next mayor will be either Rahm Emanuel or Carol Moseley Braun.

Peggy Noonan argues that Tuesday’s elections shows that Americans want to be led by accomplished grown-ups and will reject people who seem empty or crazy.

In my former home state of Alabama, Republicans won every major contest, save the one House seat specifically drawn to ensure a Democratic victory.

Harry Reid think it’s his Constitutional duty spend other people’s money and bring it home to Nevada. His constituents seem to have other ideas this year.

Like Sarah Palin, Christine O’Donnell is no fan of the press.

While it will be difficult, the idea that Lisa Murkowski could win a write-in bid to retain her Senate seat is not at all implausible.

The numbers still show an exceptionally close Senate race in Nevada. They also show that a different GOP nominee would have meant a very different scenario.

Rand Paul’s initial mis-steps after winning the Republican primary seem to be largely behind him.

Harry Reid has spent the summer trying to portray is opponent as a kook. So far, it’s working.

As the campaign in Kentucky heats up for the final sprint to November, Rand Paul seems to have succeeded in moving beyond many of the mis-steps that plagued him three months ago.

Crist’s gamble continues to appear to have been a good one.

More Politics 101 for Rand Paul.

Miss yesterday’s opening round of the Kagan hearings ? You didn’t miss much.