INSIDE POLITICS
The Washington Times' political blog.
Latest Blog Entries
Last Congress gets a 'C-plus'
Amid all the talk of most productive Congress in generations, political scientists have come up with a grade for the way the institution operated in 2010 — a "C-plus," or just a slight improvement over 2009's "C" grade.
Obama not in favor of drug legalization
Facing a growing movement to legalize the use of marijuana and other drugs, President Obama on Thursday said they should stay illegal but suggested that governments spend more time trying to reduce demand, rather than punishing nonviolent first-time offenders.
Chaffetz says he was wrong to chide Bachmann
Rep. Jason Chaffetz has backed off criticism of fellow conservative Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann and her televised rebuttal to President Obama's State of the Union address, saying he was mistaken as to the timing of her event.
Health care reform loses ground in poll
Opposition to the Democrats' 2010 health care law ticked upward in January, as Republicans ramped up efforts to repeal the reforms, a new poll says. Yet while the public remains divided on health reform overall, a survey conducted by researchers from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health also showed there is no groundswell of public support for overturning the law that includes many individual components popular across the political spectrum.
Not everyone loved Obama speech
So much for Washington's bipartisan love-fest. While Democratic and Republican members of Congress broke tradition and — in an attempt to foster greater civility — sat together for President Obama's State of the Union speech Tuesday night, Rep. Paul Broun was holed up in his office firing off nasty Twitter posts about the president and his speech.
Obama's John Hancock most popular, poll says
He's never won an Oscar or scored a game winning World Cup goal, but President Obama has beat out movie stars, professional athletes and other celebrities in a poll ranking the most sought-after autographs.
Polls shows Romney in GOP lead for 2012
A new Rasmussen Reports survey of likely Republican primary voters shows that Mitt Romney leads the pack with the support of 24 percent. Sarah Palin, the party’s nominee for vice president in 2008, runs second with 19 percent, closely followed by Mike Huckabee with 17 percent.
Sanders: Obama erred in pick for jobs panel
Vermont independent Sen. Bernard Sanders — perhaps the most liberal member of Congress — blasted President Obama on Friday for naming General Electric Co. CEO Jeffrey Immelt to head a new White House Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
59 back mixed-seating idea
Sen. Mark Udall's call for a congressional kumbayah moment at State of the Union address has gained speed over the past week.
Obama poised for re-election in 2012, poll says
Since President Obama's party took a self-acknowledged "shellacking" in the November congressional elections, the Democrat has increased his lead over four 2012 Republican White House frontrunners, a new polls shows.
GOP signals budget will be SOTU focus
Republicans said Friday they have tapped House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan to deliver the GOP's official response to President Obama's State of the Union address next week.
MLK and war
Amid all the government officials who annually commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, those with the toughest job are probably in the Defense Department. How do officials whose job is to prepare the country for war handle the legacy of a man who was vehemently anti-war?
Landrieu, Snowe to sit together at State of the Union
Democratic Sen. Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana said Thursday she and Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine will sit together during President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday.
Florida Gov. Scott to public: Tweet me
Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who the media has accused of dodging their questions and limiting reporter access during his first two weeks in office, is bypassing the press and fielding questions directly from the public via the social media website Twitter.
Brown, Obama in OK shape for re-election, Ohio voters say
Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is in "decent" shape to win re-election in 2012, while President Obama faces good but not great prospects for carrying Ohio in two years, according to a new poll.
