THE WASHINGTON TIMES

EDITORIAL: Pacific islands not sinking from global warming

Of all the apocalyptic imagery summoned by global warming's proponents, the most compelling has been the threat of coastal devastation from rising sea levels. In his best-selling work "Earth in the Balance," Al Gore argued that the selfishness of Western industrialization would obliterate small, impoverished countries. Published June 11, 2010

EDITORIAL: Fast track to the poorhouse

Each American's share of the total U.S. debt will grow to $60,000 in the next five years unless Congress and the Obama administration reverse their reckless spending habits. Treasury budget projections released last week show that red ink will swell to $19.6 trillion by 2015. If President Obama wins re-election in 2012, he could easily be responsible for doubling the national debt on his watch. It stood at $10.6 trillion when he took office, which is starting to sound quaint. Published June 11, 2010

1983 Chrysler Cordoba achieves antique status

Like anyone else in the market for a Chrysler Cordoba in 1983, Norman and Lillian Lee of Oxnard, Calif., could have purchased a plain model that had a base price of about $9,500. Instead, with the assistance of Harbor Chrysler-Plymouth salesman Gordie Williams, they opted for a crimson red beauty loaded with most of the available bells and whistles. Published June 10, 2010

Ford expands alternative-fuel conversion capability

Ford has just informed nearly 500 North American fleet customers that it will begin offering an alternative-fuels engine prep package for its 6.8-liter F-450 and F-550 Super Duty chassis cab. Published June 10, 2010

OnStar, Google partner to expand turn-by-turn navigation

OnStar and Google have reached an agreement that will let OnStar users search for and identify destinations using Google Maps and send those destinations to the Turn-by-Turn Navigation Service in their vehicles. Published June 10, 2010

Triumph introduces the 2011 Sprint GT

Five years after Triumph introduced the popular 1050cc Sprint ST sports touring bike, the British classic has introduced a new model with greater practicality and more emphasis on the touring aspect of "sports touring" and the Triumph Sprint GT. Published June 10, 2010

Political Scene

SEC imposes new 'circuit-breaker' rules Published June 10, 2010

Culture Briefs

"I'm listening to what I reckon is the saddest piece of classical music ever composed: Schumann's neglected Violin Concerto." Published June 10, 2010

American Scene

ALABAMA: Van der Sloot admitted lying Published June 10, 2010

EDITORIAL: Obama’s diplomatic flop

During the campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama made light of what he saw as his predecessor-to-be's lack of diplomatic skill. As Wednesday's U.N. Security Council vote on sanctions over Iran's nuclear program showed, Mr. Obama's team could learn a few things about diplomacy from George W. Bush. Published June 10, 2010

EDITORIAL: Holder runs from Wolf

The indefatigable Rep. Frank R. Wolf provided plenty of fodder for today's meeting of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The eight-member panel is scheduled to discuss a number of matters, including the ongoing investigation into the New Black Panther voter-intimidation incident. On Tuesday, the Northern Virginia Republican fired off 24 questions about the case to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. The congressman, and the commission, deserve answers. Published June 10, 2010

EDITORIAL: FTC dodges Drudge Tax questions

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) leaders are attempting to distance themselves from controversial proposals published in a May 24 working paper on "reinventing" the media. The report presents a suite of options through which government could step in and supposedly rescue journalism, most notably by imposing taxes. Published June 10, 2010

Political Scene

WHITE HOUSE: Picnic for Congress features state 'tastes' Published June 9, 2010

Culture briefs

Soccer leaders Published June 9, 2010

EDITORIAL: Kagan’s threat to gun owners

President Obama poses a real and present danger to the Second Amendment, and he's working to pack the Supreme Court with justices who will undermine Americans' gun rights. Published June 9, 2010

EDITORIAL: Obama team honors Walpin-gate transgressor

Only in the Obama administration would a public official sanctioned for a form of malfeasance be honored as a speaker by the same organization that sanctioned him. It helps, of course, when he is a self-proclaimed Friend of the First Couple. It also doesn't hurt that the administration already found it politically convenient to fire the inspector general, Gerald Walpin, who blew the whistle on his misdeeds. Published June 9, 2010

EDITORIAL: Abortion on base

U.S. military hospitals may soon become abortion mills. On May 27, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act that would overturn a long-standing ban on abortions performed in military medical facilities at home and abroad. The amendment was passed by a vote of 15-12 in a closed session. This is another example of a stealth measure that has become a commonplace tactic in a Democratic Congress bent on sneaking through unpopular legislation. Published June 9, 2010

EDITORIAL: Congress takes a swipe at debit card fees

Congressional leaders this week continue to hammer out differences between House and Senate versions of the financial regulatory bill, with aprovision introduced by Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, causing particular heartburn. Members privately express anger at being forced to choose sides between major retailers and the bankers, who are in up arms over "interchange rates" - the fees that make the credit- and debit-card system work. Consumers are left in the crossfire. Published June 8, 2010

EDITORIAL: Angry Man Obama

HBO's Bill Maher recently voiced his disappointment in President Obama's handling of the Deepwater Horizon oil-rig disaster. "This is where I want a real black president," the not-so-funny comic said. "I want him in a meeting with the BP CEOs, you know, where he lifts up his shirt where you can see the gun in his pants." Filmmaker Spike Lee also voiced his frustration with our unflappable president last week when he said, "If there's any one time to go off, this is it, because this is a disaster." Published June 8, 2010

EDITORIAL: Kagan’s ‘full faith’ in same-sex marriage

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has a dubious history when it comes to forcing states to accept marriages that contradict their own laws. As senators prepare for her confirmation hearings, one fundamental question that needs to be asked is: Would Ms. Kagan as a high court justice try to resurrect the same discredited legal theory she embraced in 1988 as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall? Published June 8, 2010