WATER COOLER
The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
Latest Blog Entries
DREAM Act passes House, but Senate likely to block bill
The House passed the Dream Act on Wednesday evening on mainly partisan lines 216 to 198. House members on both sides of the aisle crossed over to vote for or against this immigration bill with 8 Republicans supporting the legislation and 38 Democrats opposing it. The DREAM Act now goes to the Senate, where the odds on its passage remain low. Democrats have yet to whip at least sixty votes to overcome a filibuster.
Sanders and Landrieu outraged over tax compromise
Senator Bernie Sanders, Vermont Democrat, and Senator Mary Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, are crying foul over the tax compromise President Barack Obama made with Republicans.
Rockefeller on cable news: I want them to clean up their act
Senator Jay Rockefeller, West Virginia Democrat, follows up on his comments about pulling the plug on Fox News and MSNBC.
Sharpton to meet with FCC in effort to censor Limbaugh
Reverend Al Sharpton appeared on MSNBC on Monday and talked about his upcoming meetings at the FCC that he hopes will result in throwing talk radio host Rush Limbaugh off the airwaves.
Manchin breaks campaign promise on taxes
Senator Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat, demonstrated today that he knows how to flip-flop on the issues. During a vote in the Senate on Saturday, Mr. Manchin voted in favor of extending the Bush-era tax cuts solely for families making up to $1 million a year.
Rangel to TWT: I don't deal in average American citizens (VIDEO)
Following a vote to censure Rep.Charles Rangel on Thursday night, the congressman spoke to reporters and lashed out when I asked if an average American citizen would be punished more severely if the individual committed similar violations.
WikiLeaks Cable: Venezuela’s medical system in disarray
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez lauded WikiLeaks founder Julian Assnage as a "brave man" according to El Universal. Mr. Chavez remarked on his state-run TV network VTV: "The empire stood naked. I do not know what the United States is going to do. Well, they do not care about this. But how many things have been disclosed! They disrespect their allies with all these spying activities!” Mr. Chavez may be referring to a WikiLeaks cable describing his country's health care system. A WikiLeaks cable dated in December of 2009 and released on Sunday describes Venezuela’s medical system in disarray.
Female House members to gain restroom under Boehner Speakership
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, may have made history by becoming the first woman to become Speaker, but she did no favors for her fellow female colleagues who long wanted a bathroom for themselves off the lower chamber's floor.
Rangel to face House censure vote
House members are scheduled to vote on Thursday on whether or no Congressman Charlie Rangel, New York Democrat, will be censured. Mr. Rangel, former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, who was found guilty by the House ethics committee of 11 violations, should be censured.
Tax-payer funded X-Mas exhibit shows ant-covered Jesus and naked kissing brothers
The Smithsonian is finding itself in hot water over a controversial Christmas-season exhibit showing Jesus Christ covered in ants, naked brothers kissing, genitalia, and TV host Ellen DeGeneres grabbing her breasts.
Wikileaks and Obama's Bow
A Wikileaks cable sheds new light on Obama's April 2009 bow to the Saudi King
Choosing Upton for Energy and Commerce is a loser for GOP
Committee Chairmanships are still being figured out for the incoming House Republican majority in the 112th Congress next year. While American voters are counting on the GOP to do the right thing by reining in spending, keeping taxes low, and loosening up government regulations among other issues, unfortunately it appears Republican leadership may be falling short in their choice of who could possibly head up the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
WikiLeaks doc dump furthers Obama as weak on international front
Over 250,000 State Department documents, among them secret diplomatic embassy cables from all over the world, have been revealed on Sunday as a result of a WikiLeaks document dump. On the heels of a crisis on the Korean peninsula, a Russian government making demands regarding our nuclear arsenal, a terrorist tried in U.S. a civilian court found guilty on only one count among 150, and an Iranian dictator making threats to the United States and our allies, the latest WikiLeaks document dump serves to confirm that the Obama administration is perceived as weak on handling international affairs.
Liberty’s challenge
Conservatives are cautiously optimistic that the Republican controlled House will reverse the Big Government trend. Before the new crop of politicians is sworn in, it is important to examine historical precedents and establish basic standards that should be met to offer the best chance of restoring smaller government.
Jindal: Obama admin 'divorced from facts and reality' after BP spill
Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby Jindal recently released his new book "Leadership and Crisis" where he opens up about the Obama administration's response and handling of the BP oil spill among other issues. The Louisiana governor spoke to me earlier this month and described President Barack Obama's reaction to Mr. Jindal when the president first landed in Louisiana after the oil spill disaster.
