Outside the Beltway

The infamous VA backlog is finally dwindling. Much of it was a function of good intentions.

Some interesting choices ahead for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

The Iraq War did significant damage to the legacy of the Republican Party.

The final release of President Lyndon Johnson’s tape recordings reveals a bizarre plot.

President Lyndon Johnson considered flying to the 1968 convention and offering himself up for re-nomination.

Andrew Bacevich bemoans the social impact of the all-volunteer force.

In “Veterans and Senate Buddies, Until Another War Split Them,” Elisabeth Bumiller profiles the relationship between Chuck Hagel and John McCain:

Are two-term Presidencies the new normal?

The Afghan Surge announced by President Obama in December 2009 is over. By any objective measurement, it was a failure.

President Obama didn’t blow the doors off the Time Warner Cable Arena last night, but he didn’t need to.

As its convention begins, one has to wonder what has happened to the Republican Party.

At some point, however, using the bad actions of the past to justify worse actions in the present has to stop.

A group of former special operations and intelligence officers are criticizing President Obama for “Dishonorable Disclosures.”

Examining a history that might have been.

In March, Janet Wolfenbarger became the first female four-star general in Air Force history. Now, she’s assumed command of all Air Force weapons programs.

For the first time in 68 years, neither major party candidate for President has served in the military. Does this matter?

Nicholas Katzenbach, a central figure in the civil rights fights of the 1960s, has died.

As they did four years, ago the New York Giants will get a parade in New York City today. Some are wondering when Iraq War vets will get theirs.

Mitt Romney made a suggestion about how to fix our campaign finance system. It’s a good idea.

Last night, Ron Paul decided it was a good idea to bring back the ghosts of the Vietnam War era.

Time Magazine has chosen “The Protester” as its Person Of The Year. Let the outrage ensue.

Looking at the intellectual jumble that is the mind of Newt.

The most disturbing part of Saturday’s debate came when most of the GOP candidates endorsed torture.

Andy Rooney, best known to recent generations as the cranky old man at the end of “60 Minutes,” has died at 92.

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

It turns out there are some jobs immigrants will do, but Americans won’t

Far from being an existential crisis, the recent rise in public distrust in government is easily explained.

Watching the news and reading the op-eds makes it clear: America is doomed.

Former Oregon governor and long-time US Senator Mark Hatfield has died.

Some on the left are upset with the President, but does it really matter?

Thomas Ricks makes the case that JFK was the worst President of his century but his argument misses the mark.

The draft ended in 1973. It’s effects still linger today.

Tim Pawlenty’s foreign policy speech shows him siding with the hawks, and joining in the neocon distortion of Reagan’s legacy.

An ex-CIA agent says that someone in the Bush White House tried to use the agency to “discredit” Iraq War critic Juan Cole.