Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Court puts doubt on Obama’s appointments in recess
A federal appeals court cast doubt Wednesday not only on President Obama's controversial January recess appointments but on most such appointments, using oral arguments to question whether presidential powers can ever be used unless Congress has officially adjourned for the end of a year. Published December 5, 2012
War on terrorism spurs House to grant presidents Secret Service protection for life
Two decades ago, Congress passed a bill canceling former presidents' Secret Service protection 10 years after they left office, beginning with George W. Bush. But now, with the war on terrorism presenting new dangers and presidents taking more active roles around the globe, the House did an about-face Wednesday. Published December 4, 2012
Obama veto possible over Guantanamo
The Senate Tuesday approved a defense policy bill that calls for a fast transition in Afghanistan, orders a study of U.S. military options in Syria such as imposing a no-fly zone, and restricts President Obama's authority to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay. Published December 4, 2012
Senate orders study on U.S. no-fly zone in Syria
The Senate voted Tuesday to order President Obama to study what military options the U.S. would have if it wanted to get more deeply involved in the revolt against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Published December 4, 2012
Democrats shrug off Republicans’ ‘fiscal cliff’ counter
House Republican leaders delivered a $2.2 trillion "fiscal cliff" counteroffer to President Obama on Monday that included $800 billion in tax increases, but the White House and congressional Democrats said that still isn't enough revenue to begin negotiating. Published December 3, 2012
Historic town’s clash leaves ‘Tread’ marks
Officials in Culpeper, Va., decided to create a new public relations branding campaign, and tourism officials suggested they go with a new, less "political" emblem. The problem: The town's existing logo — the famous Revolutionary War-era rattlesnake and "Don't Tread On Me" combination — had been "hijacked" by the conservative tea party movement, staffers said. Published December 3, 2012
House passes bill to cancel diversity visa lottery
The House voted Friday to cancel the annual diversity visa lottery and give those immigration visas to high-tech foreign-born who earn advanced degrees from American universities, as Republicans powered through their chamber the first major immigration bill since the election. Published November 30, 2012
Senate votes to rewrite detention rules in war on terror
Senators voted late Thursday to rewrite some of the key rules in the war on terror, including prohibiting indefinite detention of U.S. citizens captured at home, and a permanent ban on transferring suspected terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States. Published November 29, 2012
Palestinians gain U.N. status as ‘observer state’
Palestinians won a victory on the world stage Thursday when the U.N. General Assembly voted to grant them enhanced status in the world body, but they could face a backlash in Washington, where lawmakers introduced legislation to kick them out of their diplomatic offices and to strip U.S. aid. Published November 29, 2012
Obama opposes GOP option for amnesty
The Obama administration said Wednesday it opposes House Republicans' first postelection immigration effort to entice more high-tech university graduates to stay in the U.S., signaling that this month's election has yet to foster a breakthrough on Capitol Hill on an issue all sides expect to dominate. Published November 28, 2012
Are parties hurtling toward ‘fiscal cliff’?
With little tangible headway being made in Washington on averting the looming federal taxes-and-spending crisis, a key observer said Wednesday that he puts the chances of Congress reaching a deal before the Jan. 1 "fiscal cliff" deadline at less than 1 in 3. Published November 28, 2012
Senate calls for more Marines at U.S. diplomatic posts
The Senate voted Wednesday to authorize adding Marine security forces to more U.S. diplomatic posts around the globe in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist assault in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead. Published November 28, 2012
Senators in GOP propose immigration reform
Moving to try to steal the immigration spotlight from Democrats, top Senate Republicans on Tuesday introduced their own version of the Dream Act to grant young illegal immigrants legal rights — though it wouldn’t give them a special path to citizenship. Published November 27, 2012
![“You either engage them or you become an irrelevant party and movement. We already cannot win California and New York. If we continue like this, it’s [next] going to be Florida, Texas, Arizona. That’s it — Republicans will never win another national election.” - Alfonso Aguilar, a Bush administration official who is now the executive director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles (The Washington Times)](https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2012/11/26/20121126-204608-pic-885944918_c37-0-1963-1123_s652x380.jpg?3fb811c5f1a9ae2f09b9268e389c304f66a093e3)
Data show Hispanics more likely to relate to Democrats
Stung by their election defeat, Republicans are eager to try to woo Hispanic voters, arguing that once their party puts immigration reform behind them, the ethnic group will be open to the GOP's conservative message. Published November 26, 2012
Reid threatens filibuster change
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid confirmed Monday he will push to change Senate rules and curtail some Republican filibusters next year, setting up a major test of collegiality and power politics in the usually chummy chamber that bills itself as "the world's most exclusive club." Published November 26, 2012
GOP immigration bill keeps the well-educated
Trying to beat Democrats to the punch on the first post-election immigration bill, House Republicans have scheduled a vote later this week on a business-friendly proposal to grant green cards to foreigners who earn high-tech doctoral degrees from U.S. universities. Published November 26, 2012
Roosevelt’s movable feast sparked outrage in year of ‘Franksgiving’
The year was 1939, and American businesses, still reeling from the previous year's recession, decided they wanted an extra week of Christmas shopping. The solution? They asked President Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving up a week. Roosevelt complied — and confusion and outrage ensued. Published November 21, 2012
EPA says Jackson has an internal use email, compliance with FOIA raised
The Environmental Protection Agency this week acknowledged that Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has a second official email that she uses for important communications, but said it's a standard practice and doesn't shield her from open-records requests. Published November 20, 2012
Illegals may get driver’s licenses in Illinois
Top Illinois state officials said Tuesday they'll push to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants — a move backed also by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who for years stood as Democrats' key impediment to pushing immigration in Congress. Published November 20, 2012
Allen West concedes in Fla. House race, leaves one black GOP lawmaker
Rep. Allen B. West's concession Tuesday that he lost his bid for re-election means the 113th Congress will open in January with only one black Republican in either chamber — a rough end to a year when the GOP had high hopes for expanding the diversity of its caucus. Published November 20, 2012
