WATER COOLER

The Water Cooler is written by Kerry Picket and other Washington Times opinion page staffers.

• PICKET: Sen. Hatch - 'No surprise' Kimberlin is harassing conservative bloggers-Utah GOP'er had 'run-ins' with Kimberlin before

  By Kerry Picket — Published May 25, 2012 Comments

  Conservative bloggers are learning first hand what it is like to be harassed and intimidated. According to Michelle Malkin: (bolding is mine) "Over the past year, Aaron Walker (who blogged as “Aaron Worthing”), Patterico, Liberty Chick, and now Stacy McCain have been targeted by convicted Speedway bomber Brett Kimberlin because they dared to mention his criminal past or assisted others who did. The late Andrew Breitbart warned about Kimberlin and company. I have spoken directly with both Patterico and Aaron about their ongoing battles. The mainstream press, not just the conservative blogosphere, needs to hear and report their stories." "This is a convoluted, ongoing nightmare that combines abuse of the court system, workplace intimidation, serial invasions of privacy, perjury, and harassment of family members. McCain was forced to move with his family out of his house this week, and has just gotten a small taste of what Aaron and Patterico ...

• PICKET (VIDEO EXCLUSIVE): Manchin - Private sector better at picking winners and losers than gov't

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 24, 2012 Comments

  President Barack Obama went after presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney this week for Mr. Romney's work at Bain Capital, a private equity firm that restructured businesses that were facing bankruptcy. Mr. Obama attacked Romney's experience in the private sector, saying: "Now I think my view of private equity is that it is set up to maximize profits, and that's a healthy part of the free market." President Obama then added, "When you're president, as opposed to the head of a private equity firm, your job is not simply to maximize profits. Your job is to figure out how everybody in the country has a fair shot. Your job is to think about those workers who get laid off and how are we paying for their retraining." Obama then slammed Romney for campaigning on a business background. "The reason this is relevant to the campaign is because my opponent, Gov. Romney, his ...

• GREEN: Sucking Reagan's blood

  by Anneke E. Green — Published May 23, 2012 Comments

  How sensitive medical information was compromised remains an open question regarding the vial for sale that once reputedly held President Reagan's blood. According to the story accompanying the artifact for sale through PFC Auctions, a worker in the lab that processed the Gipper's blood sample in 1981 asked to keep the vial. Having been granted permission, the story goes, her family held onto it as an heirloom until her son sold it.George Washington University Hospital (GW), where Reagan was treated after John W. Hinckley, Jr's 1981 assassination attempt, initially said it was conducting an investigation into how this breach of medical privacy occurred. The results of its inquiry appeared to rest with GW's conclusion that its liability expired with its change of ownership in 1997.“They're just stonewalling now,” an official connected to the case told The Washington Times. “They're saying they aren't responsible for anything that happened before the change ...

• PICKET: NATO 2012 protest video gallery

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 22, 2012 Comments

  NATO 2012 Protest Video Gallery  

• GREEN: NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko resigns, White House mum on harassment charges

  by Anneke E. Green — Published May 21, 2012 Comments

  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko announced his resignation today after a drawn out controversy over his managerial style. The Washington Times reported earlier on the persistent allegations of Mr. Jaczko's bullying by fellow commissioners and NRC staff.  "Testimony of his peers revealed that Mr. Jaczko is prone to 'continued outbursts of abusive rage,' 'ranting at the staff,' 'raging verbal assault' and inspiring panic attacks in subordinates, particularly women. This was on top of an inspector general's report that mentioned staff complaints about Mr. Jaczko creating 'an intimidating work environment.' In the face of such evidence, Mr. Jaczko's defense that he's just 'passionate about safety' is pretty weak tea." The reason for his resignation is unclear. He is stepping down before the release of a second inspector general report rumored to be into allegations of Mr. Jaczko's misconduct. NRC spokesman Eliot Brenner told The Washington Times that ...

• PICKET: Was Chicago PD dealing with hackers for several days?

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 20, 2012 Comments

  CBS Chicago is starting to confirm that the Chicago Police Department's website has been hacked and taken offline: Authorities are investigating whether the City Of Chicago’s website is under a cyber attack, CBS 2 has learned. The main portal to cityofchicago.org was not accessible Sunday morning. “We are aware of the potential issue of the City of Chicago website and are working with the appropriate federal authorities to address the situation,” Office Of Emergency Management and Communications spokesman Pete Scales said. A posting on the website cyberwarnews.info, explains the hacking group called Anonymous started an “an operation toward the Chicago police department and its websites.” According to a Chicago Police citizen blogger, Second City Cop, who posted on May 17, the department has been dealing with a "virus waring" for a number of days:  We've been informed about "virus warning" type windows popping up on the Department computers lately. We're ...

• PICKET: (VIDEO) NATO protests expected to become larger today

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 20, 2012 Comments

  UPDATE:According to tweets from unidentified users, The Chicago Police Department's website was just taken down by the International web hacking group Anonymous. While the site is down, the cause is still unconfirmed...developing.   Around 2500 Anti-NATO protesters took to the streets of downtown Chicago on Saturday and played constant game of cat and mouse with local police. Police and protesters periodically had skirmishes along during the march that went from noon until late into the evening. According to reports, 14 protesters were arrested throughout the day. One particular contentious moment between protesters and police happened during the late afternoon at Washington and State street (video below).   Chicago officials are reportedly expecting more protesters to arrive in their city today, as fifty world leaders (including President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama) arrive. Watch the periodic live video stream of today's NATO protest events below:

• PICKET: NATO protesters charged with conspiracy to commit terrorist acts

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 19, 2012 Comments

  Three protesters who came to Chicago to protest the NATO Summit were arrested Wednesday night during a police raid werer charged with "possesing explosives to commit terrorist acts" reports CBS Chicago: Lawyers for Brian Church, 20, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Jared Chase, 24, of Keene, New Hampshire; and Brent Vincent Betterly, 24, of Oakland Park, Fla., insist the only thing inside that apartment was beer-making equipment. But Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said surveillance has proven that their plans were far more sinister, and could have hurt or killed people in Chicago. “These individuals charged today are self-proclaimed anarchists who traveled together from Florida to the Chicago area,” said Cook County State’s Anita Alvarez. “Their intent was to commit terrorist acts of violence and destruction during the NATO Conference.” Specifically, Alvarez said the group planned to attack police cars and four Chicago Police stations with “destructive devices.” The attacks ...

• PICKET: Gallup shows political and national climate comparable to one term presidential incumbents

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 17, 2012 Comments

  Gallup is showing some interesting numbers this week that average out the country's economic and political mood between January and May of this year and compares the time frame to recent past presidents. Gallup's final analysis of the charts below is: President Obama is running for re-election with Americans feeling about as dissatisfied with the country and the economy as they were in 1992 when George H.W. Bush lost. However, with a modest 47% job approval average in early May, his approval rating is nearly the same as in 2004 when George W. Bush won. This makes Obama's re-election prospects quite uncertain, but supports the results of Gallup's trial heat tracking showing Obama and Romney essentially locked in a statistical tie. Gallup discusses its findings further here        

• PICKET: S&P cautions California on its budget

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 16, 2012 Comments

  Four months after Standard and Poor's rating agency upgraded California's financial future from "stable" to "positive" the S&P is noting they could reverse that rating anytime soon if state lawmakers do not pass a solid budget this year. According to the L.A. Times: (bolding is mine) A final budget is due June 15, and lawmakers’ task has become increasingly difficult as the state’s deficit has swelled to nearly $16 billion. "We could change the outlook to negative or lower the rating if we believe the state's credit quality weakens through the budget process," said a report from Standard & Poor's. The ratings agency had upgraded California's financial outlook from "stable" to "positive" in February. That means California's credit rating of A-, the lowest of any state, is poised for improvement. California Governor Jerry Brown's spokesman Gil Duran bragged to me about the state's "positive" upgrade by Standard and Poor at the ...

• PICKET: Boehner to Obama - Tell Holder to cooperate with Issa on Fast and Furious

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 16, 2012 Comments

  House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, urged President Barack Obama on Wednesday to tell Attorney General Eric Holder to cooperate with the congressional investigation relating to the now defunct Fast and Furious gun walking operation. An aide from Mr. Boehner's office released the following: The Speaker participated in a friendly lunch meeting today with the President and other congressional leaders. The President began the meeting by laying out some of his policy goals, including his “to-do list” for Congress. The bulk of the meeting was spent discussing other issues, including the next debt limit increase and the looming expiration of current tax rates. In a discussion of the debt limit, the Speaker – who has warned that the growing debt is hurting U.S. job creation – asked the President if he is proposing that Congress pass an increase that does not include any spending cuts to help reduce the deficit. ...

• PICKET: (VIDEO) Bernie Sanders angrily defends so-called 'passed' year old Senate budget

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 15, 2012 Comments

  Senator Bernie Sanders, Vermont Independent, was approached by the Washington Times affiliated radio program America's Morning News and was asked why Senate Democratic leadership has not passed a budget for three years. Mr. Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats, answered angrily that the Senate passed a budget last year and blamed the trillions of dollar debt on billionaires "who want to cut" social security.

• PICKET: General tells U.S. troops at NATO Summit to behave

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 14, 2012 Comments

  The Illinois National Guard will be deployed at the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago to help with the security of the 50 world leaders who will be meeting there this week and according to memos obtained by CNN, the military is taking no chances in the wake of the Secret Service Scandal in Colombia. The memos detail rules of proper conduct for U.S. troops during the summit.: (bolding is mine)  "Military commanders routinely apply lessons learned from previous experiences. In this case, the recent events in Colombia highlighted to the leadership at USNORTHCOM the importance of ensuring that there is absolutely no confusion on what is expected from the military and DOD (Department of Defense) civilians supporting these important national security events," explained U.S. Northern Command spokesman John Cornelio. Jacoby, who oversees all troops in the continental United States, wrote "it is incumbent on all of you to perform your ...

• PICKET:(VIDEO EXCLUSIVE) SEC opens inquiry into JP Morgan's $2B loss

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 11, 2012 Comments

  The Volcker rule, a provision named for former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker in the 2010 Dodd-Frank bank reform legislation, could very well be used to scrutinize JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s $2-billion loss. The Washington Times Water Cooler blog asked Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro if the SEC would play any role in any federal investigations of JP Morgan regarding that loss.  "As you can imagine, regulators will be very focused on this," she said. The Volcker rule was intended to curb speculative trading by banks and was scapegoated as the reason for the country's economic downfall.  According to Bloomberg News, JP Morgan the loss happened after traders in the London-office altered a betting strategy. An executive told Bloomberg that JPMorgan Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon "wasn’t immediately told about their shift in strategy and didn’t know the magnitude of the losses until after the company reported earnings April 13."  

• PICKET: Fed gov to bullying victims - 'laugh it off'...'don't fight back'

  by Kerry Picket — Published May 11, 2012 Comments

  The biggest ally of any school bully is our federal government. It is amusing to see the Obama campaign pounce on a questionable 47 year-old story of a young Mitt Romney supposedly “bullying” a high school classmate. This story is especially suspicious given its timing, since President Obama just publicly supported marriage for same-sex couples. The Obama administration has made the issue of bullying a centerpiece of his first term. From the Department of Education to the Justice Department, the anti-bullying agenda of the White House has held more of a political tone to satisfy left-wing organizations than actually help bullying victims. What is the advice from the federal government if a child finds himself/herself being physically assaulted by a classmate on a regular basis? :(bolding is mine) Look at the kid bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try ...