THE WASHINGTON TIMES

EDITORIAL: Obama Justice Department plays ‘Snooki’

When George W. Bush appointees at the Justice Department used political considerations in hiring career employees, official Washington exploded in outrage. Yet we hear barely a peep of protest now as the Obama Justice Department does the same thing for liberal ends. Published October 8, 2010

EDITORIAL: Our ally, Pakistan

Pakistan did not immediately accept an American apology for the deaths of Pakistani troops killed by mistake in Kurram Agency during a cross-border hot pursuit last week. Meanwhile, nearly 100 tankers in Pakistan carrying fuel to support the war effort in Afghanistan have been torched, the Torkham Gate in the Khyber Pass remains closed, and there are reports that elements in the ISI, Pakistan's military intelligence service, are supporting the Taliban. Policymakers in the United States should begin discussing whether Pakistan is part of the solution to the challenges in the Mideast and South Asia or part of the problem. Published October 7, 2010

EDITORIAL: Hizzoner, Bob Tyrrell

Demand a recount. We're talking about Chicago, where "how many votes ya got" often depends on "how many votes ya need." The question at hand is whether a nonresident like Rahm Emanuel, late of the Obama White House, can pirouette into town (like the dance student he once was) and get his finger around the levers of machine power that anoints Chicago's mayors. In a volatile year like this, almost anything could happen. Published October 7, 2010

EDITORIAL: EPA to drain $1 trillion from economy

The zealots at the Environmental Protection Agency are poised to suck a trillion dollars and 7 million jobs out of the economy with an unnecessary and destructive change to pollution rules. Less than two years ago, the EPA set a ground-level ozone standard of 75 parts per billion (ppb), but Obama administration officials are looking to impose an even lower standard of 60 ppb by fiat. That seemingly small change will have sweeping effects throughout the economy. Published October 7, 2010

EDITORIAL: Measuring civic health

Voter surveys, the Tea Party movement and public demonstrations across the land make it clear Americans think something major is wrong in this country. Not to worry, the federal government is spending your cash to pay so-called volunteers to collect data to assess civic health. That's hardly what the doctor ordered. Published October 6, 2010

EDITORIAL: Sgt. Miller’s last stand

Modern wars often are described euphemistically with expressions like "overseas contingency operations" and "low-intensity conflict." They sometimes are fought from air-conditioned cubicles whence missiles are fired remotely from pilotless drones on unsuspecting targets. At the tip of the spear, however, war remains what it always has been: a punishing, violent, life-or-death struggle - the ultimate test of character of anyone who faces it. Published October 6, 2010

EDITORIAL: Designing Obamacar

It's not enough for the Obama administration to take over America's largest automaker. The O Force is pushing to redesign every car on the road to reflect the bland, lifeless vision of an activist base committed to undoing the Industrial Revolution. Proposed rules floated Friday by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation would raise the existing corporate average fuel economy mandate of 35.5 mpg by 2016 to 60 mpg by 2025. Published October 6, 2010

EDITORIAL: Acquit Geert Wilders

Dutch member of Parliament Geert Wilders is on trial in the Netherlands for "incitement to hatred and discrimination." His crime was daring to criticize Islam. Published October 5, 2010

EDITORIAL: Colbert before ethics

Democratic leaders would rather waste time with comedian Stephen Colbert than uphold the ethics of Congress. With the refusal of the House to hold ethics trials for Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York Democrat, and Maxine Waters, California Democrat, the arrogance and impudence of Nancy Pelosi's speakership is on full display. Published October 5, 2010

EDITORIAL: Remedial reading for Democrats

Members of Congress take note: "Read the fine print" is the universal business-world admonition for a reason. That's the lesson from the sudden revelation that some banks have rushed through foreclosures on thousands of homes without reading the legal documents. As a result, authorities in dozens of states have put foreclosures on hold. If bank officials are obliged to verify the accuracy of documents they issue that affect tens of thousands of Americans, the same measure of accountability should apply to federal lawmakers whose votes impact hundreds of millions. Published October 5, 2010

EDITORIAL: Grading the governors

The ongoing economic crisis has been a test of leadership not only for the president and Congress, but also for the stewards of America's statehouses. Polls show the public holds the Obama administration in low regard for the tax and stimulus policies at the national level. According to a Cato Institute report released Thursday, however, a handful of governors has demonstrated a better way of managing budgets in tough times. Published October 4, 2010

EDITORIAL: Speech rights imperiled by Kagan

Defenders of the First Amendment are worried about the Supreme Court term that opened yesterday. With potentially explosive First Amendment cases on the docket, new Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan is in prime position to push odd and dangerous ideas about free speech. Published October 4, 2010

EDITORIAL: Islamic flag over the White House

Islamists say the Koran is destined to rule America. In fact, the Muslim takeover of the White House is not just an unfolding action plan but a directive from Muhammad himself. Published October 4, 2010

EDITORIAL: The cliche president

President Obama sat down last week with "Good Morning America" for a long and exclusive interview in which he announced that his administration was no longer working for "change" to solve America's problems. "My administration is going to specifically focus on training 10,000 new math and science teachers," he said. With a brutal midterm smackdown looming, Mr. Obama is desperate enough to break out the cliches. Published October 1, 2010

EDITORIAL: Bin Laden goes green

Osama bin Laden is best known as a jihadist extremist, but he's lately added "eco-warrior" to his resume. In a new tape posted on a terrorist website, the al Qaeda leader waves the emerald banner of ecology alongside the green battle flag of Islam. Published October 1, 2010

EDITORIAL: Holder is AWOL on military voting

The Justice Department is living down to its reputation for not caring about protecting voting rights of military personnel. With 20 full-time attorneys supposedly on the task, it has failed to do as much for military voters as a ragtag team of volunteer law students has accomplished. The department's inaction is suspicious. Published October 1, 2010

EDITORIAL: Beware the Cyberscare

The same people who brought you the global warming and Y2K scares have dreamed up a scheme to assert greater federal control over the Internet in the name of cybersecurity. According to Reuters news agency, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, intends to pass legislation on the subject authored by Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, and Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, West Virginia Democrat. The forthcoming effort will trade the freedom of an important communications medium for the illusion of safety. Published September 30, 2010

EDITORIAL: Obamacare’s health hazard

Bill Clinton predicted a year ago that Obamacare's passage would yield electoral gold for congressional Democrats. "The minute the president signs the health care reform bill," the former president told the Netroots Nation convention in August 2009, "approval will go up, because Americans are inherently optimistic." Last weekend, he admitted the prognostication had been a bit off. "First of all, the benefits of the bill are spread out over three or four years," Mr. Clinton explained to NBC's "Meet the Press." "And secondly, there has been an enormous and highly effective attack on it." Published September 30, 2010

EDITORIAL: Consumer finance czarina’s double conflict

Wealthy class-action lawyers can count on another friend in the Obama administration. The president recently tapped Elizabeth Warren as an end-run appointee to establish the new federal agency known as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The choice is raising eyebrows because, as Bloomberg News reported, Ms. Warren took $90,000 from a Miami plaintiffs' firm to serve as an expert witness in a lawsuit against major American banks, including Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase for alleged antitrust violations related to credit-card processing rates. Published September 30, 2010

EDITORIAL: Obama’s war on wealth

President Obama effectively has declared war on America's wealth creators. By refusing to extend fully the George W. Bush tax cuts, Mr. Obama and congressional Democrats are hoping their "tax the rich" rhetoric will carry the day. This sends an unmistakable message to investors and entrepreneurs: If you risk your capital and succeed, your government will punish you. It should come as no surprise, then, that this policy has led to a dramatic destruction of wealth. Published September 29, 2010