The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
By Kerry Picket — Published November 18, 2009 Comments
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are:House Republicans are asking the AARP to retract the organization's health care endorsement, Democrats continue to lose independents, and a list of 100 things global warming has "allegedly" caused. The Hill: House GOPers ask AARP to retract endorsement of healthcare bill A report predicting House Democrats' healthcare bill might affect Medicare coverage has prompted some Republican leaders to ask the AARP to consider rescinding its endorsement of that legislation. Politico: Dems alarmed as independents bolt party Mounting evidence that independent voters have soured on the Democrats is prompting a debate among party officials about what rhetorical and substantive changes are needed to halt the damage. Opposing Views: 100 Things Global Warming is 'Allegedly' Causing Late for a party? Miss a meeting? Forget to pay your rent? Blame climate change; everyone else is doing it. From an increase in severe acne to all ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 17, 2009 Comments
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: The security around the 9/11 terror trial is being questioned, the Obama administration's focus on health care reform has distracted the White House and its allies from the country's unemployment problem, and conservatives are demanding an investigation of SEIU president Andrew Stern. Associated Press: Security threats inside and out for 9/11 trial Hot sauce and a comb were all an al-Qaida suspect in New York needed to nearly kill one of his guards nine years ago. The bloody episode suggests that security worries in bringing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other 9/11 suspects to trial here could be just as big inside the courthouse as outside. NY Post: Oh, right -- jobs But political calculations are always on politicians' minds. The two presidents were urging passage of legislation that has become increasingly unpopular as its provisions become more widely known. They ...
by Anthony Bowe — Published November 16, 2009 Comments
A little used prison in Thomson, Ill., located 150 miles west of Chicago, is emerging as the favorite setting to house suspected terrorists currently held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Proponents say the prison would reportedly bring thousands of jobs to Thomson, Ill., where the prison is located, while opponents say the security risk is far too great. From Tribune newspapers: "With Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and other key officials warm to the idea of a federal purchase of the prison, federal officials have stepped up investigations into turning Thomson into a super-maximum facility with a unit for former Guantanamo detainees. "'This has emerged as a leading option,' an Obama administration official said Friday night, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions."The official wouldn't say how many of the detainees could transfer to Illinois, describing it only as a 'limited number.' The official also wouldn't say ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 16, 2009 Comments
Not surprisingly, the American Medical Association took umbrage to our recent editorial titled "A proud legacy trashed." The response from AMA president Dr. J James Rohack barely addresses the issues our editorial put forth. For one thing, Dr. Rohack tries to explain away the declining membership of the organization, when addressing the issue of the low representation of practicing doctors who are currently members.: "The AMA's strength comes from the fact that it is not a partisan organization. It is the nation's largest physicians organization, and its policies represent all physicians through the AMA's House of Delegates - the nation's broadest, most inclusive assembly of physicians and medical students. Delegates representing every state and medical specialty debate and vote on AMA policies on behalf of their physician peers." The first sentence is laughable, as the advocacy coming out of the AMA in recent years is full of partisanship.: On hate ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 16, 2009 Comments
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was never mirandized, New York has Senator Schumer to thank for the NYC terror trials, and the CDC Task Force says that sex-ed is better than abstinence but won’t release full data to the public. The Weekly Standard: Miranda Rights for Terrorists When 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was captured on March 1, 2003, he was not cooperative. “I’ll talk to you guys after I get to New York and see my lawyer,” he said, according to former CIA Director George Tenet. TheConservatives.com: New York Has Schumer to Thank for Terror Trials And beyond all that, it appears that the terror trials to take place in New York City can be laid largely at his feet. While most elected officials have made clear they didn't want terror trials to be held in their states, Schumer seemed to welcome ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 13, 2009 Comments
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: A British politician believes his countrymen should be given a personal carbon allowance, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Ct.) falls behind possible challengers for 2010, and Sen. Harry Reid might have to think about packing up his office in Washington as well. Telegraph:Everyone in Britain could be given a personal 'carbon allowance' Lord Smith of Finsbury believes that implementing individual carbon allowances for every person will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. American Thinker: Put Chris Dodd on the 'Most Endangered Incumbent' list Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd now trails the CEO of the WEE (World Wrestling Entertainment), Linda McMahon by 7 points Rob Simmons, the former Congressman, and likely the strongest candidate for the GOP in the race, leads Dodd 49-38. TheConservatives.com: Time for Harry Reid to get his Gold Watch? The candidates who'll ...
by Anthony Bowe — Published November 12, 2009 Comments
Senator Linsey Graham (R - S.C.) was censured by an executive Republican Party committee in Charleston County on Monday for his support of legislation Republicans on Capitol Hill have generally fought against. The censure resolution cited Senator Graham for helping pass a “cap and trade energy bill, bailing out banks, and granting amnesty for illegal aliens.”From the Post and Courier: “The resolution mentions Graham's cooperation with U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on a bipartisan energy bill, and his support for the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program and the time he called some opponents of immigration reform "bigots.""'U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham -- in the name of bipartisanship -- continues to weaken the Republican brand and tarnish the ideals of freedom, rule of law, and fiscal conservatism,' the resolution reads.“Bennett said the resolution passed unanimously by a voice vote among about 50 of the party's 104 executive committee members. “She said party faithful ...
by Anthony Bowe — Published November 12, 2009 Comments
Opening remarks in the criminal theft trial of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, a Democrat, delivered Thursday. According to The Baltimore Sun, the prosecution played a slideshow with images of receipts allegedly to have been accumulated by the Mayor after using gift cards originally intended for the needy. Dixon's attorneys focused their remarks on discounting upcoming testimony from Ronald H. Lopscomb, a developer who is also Dixon's boyfriend. A second trial for perjury charges against Ms.Dixon has been set for March 1. The New York Times reports: "A plea deal is not likely because Ms. Dixon would be required by the Maryland Constitution to step down from office if convicted of any felony or misdemeanor related to her official duties. Ms. Dixon, a divorced mother of two, would also become ineligible for her roughly $83,000 annual pension." Baltimore bloggers comment:Live Wire: Live blogging inside courtroom of Dixon theft charges ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 12, 2009 Comments
New York’s 23rd Congressional District race supposedly concluded last week when conservative candidate Doug Hoffman conceded the race to Democrat Bill Owens, when the Hoffman campaign was told it was down 5,335 votes with 93% of all the county precinct votes tallied. However, the Post Standard, a local paper in Syracuse, is reporting that after recanvassing all the ballots, NY-23’s race has tightened even further. Reporter Mark Weiner found that the 11-county district recanvassing has narrowed Owens lead over Hoffman to 3,026 votes. A little over 10, 000 Military and absentee ballots have yet to be touched. The Washington Times talked to Hoffman campaign spokesman Rob Ryan about the peculiar circumstances.: “Part of the reason we conceded when we did was the figures we were getting from the boards of elections. We thought we were down 5700 votes, and we conceded. The military ballots and the absentee ballots were postponed due ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 12, 2009 Comments
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are:Recanvassing shows that the NY-23 race has tightened even after Bill Owens was sworn in, Medical marijuana gets support from the American Medical Association, and Sen. Jack Reed (D - RI) manages to find constitutionality in the health care mandate. Syracuse.com:Recanvassing shows NY-23 race tightens even as Rep. Bill Owens is sworn into House seat But Hoffman’s concession -- based on snafus in Oswego County and elsewhere that left his vote undercounted -- set off a chain of events that echoed all the way to Washington, D.C., and helped secure passage of a historic health care reform bill. LA Times: Medical marijuana gets a boost from major doctors group The American Medical Assn. on Tuesday urged the federal government to reconsider its classification of marijuana as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use, a significant shift that puts the ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 11, 2009 Comments
The Supreme Court's disastrous 2005 Kelo v. City of New London decision sparked a property rights movement across the country about local governments around the nation who seize private property for the reason of "economic development." As a result of the court decision, Susette Kelo's land was given to private developers working on high-end projects in the surrounding area of the coroporate facility for the drug manufacturer Pfizer. Ms. Kelo's home and other dwellings were bulldozed over in the end. Pfizer recently announced, however, it plans to vacate its research and development facility in New London, Connecticut and move to nearby Groton. The Hartford Courant reports that the pending loss of Pfizer's headquarters, "could also complicate New London's effort to redevelop the Fort Trumbull area... " The Courant references the Kelo decision and the so-called redevelopment Fort Trumbull was supposed to have as a result of the high court's decision.: ...
by Anthony Bowe — Published November 11, 2009 Comments
Republican Governor Jodi Rell announced that she will not seek reelection when her term expires in 2010. Rell has enjoyed relatively high poll numbers during her term, even through state budget difficulties. Her decision has sent the state's GOP scrambling to find a candidate with enough name recognition to win the office in a largely Democratic state. Rells planned retirement adds additional drama to the 2010 gubernatorial elections when 37 contests will decided the political landscape across the nation.Connecticut bloggers comment on Rell's announcement and the 2010 election: CT News Junkie: Following announcement Rell's approval rating spikes. "A new poll released just one day after she announced she wouldn’t run in 2010 shows Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s approval rating shooting back up from its all time low of 59 percent." Connecticut Bob: Jodi Rell is a nice lady. “Just because I'm a guy who writes a blog that is ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 11, 2009 Comments
Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: UPS is trying to get FEDEX reclassified under federal law, Pro-Abortion House Dems solidify opposition to the conference report with the Stupak amendment, the Constitutional contempt of the health care mandate. Reason.TV:UPS vs. FEDEX: Ultimate Whiteboard Remix So now UPS is trying to get FEDEX reclassified under federal law as a way of screwing a competitor. That's horrendous, but it also makes a sick kind of business sense. Red State: Pro-Abortion House Dems Solidify Opposition to Conference Report with Stupak Amendment More than 40 lawmakers vowed to oppose the final healthcare bill if the House language on abortion is not removed. Town Hall: A Minority View: Constitutional Contempt Later on, Pelosi's press spokesman Nadeam Elshami told CNSNews.com about its question regarding constitutional authority mandating that individual Americans buy health insurance. "You can put this on the record. That is not a ...
by Anthony Bowe — Published November 10, 2009 Comments
Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao may become synonym on Capitol Hill for "lonely vote." During the narrow passage of the House's healthcare reform bill on Saturday, Cao was the only House Republican to vote in favor of the bill. Cao is a Louisiana freshman congressman residing over a resoundingly Democratic congressional district that includes New Orleans. He came to office last year by defeating nine-term incumbent Rep. William Jefferson after Jefferson was indicted on federal corruption charges. Jefferson was later convicted on federal bribery charges after the FBI found $90,000 dollars in his freezer. The Times-Picayune reports that Cao was heavily lobbied by the Obama White House, but his ultimate decision hinged on abortion legislation associated with the bill. "Ultimately, after nearly a dozen hours of debate on the controversial health-care plan, the House approved, 240-194, an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., and endorsed by the U.S. Conference of ...
by Kerry Picket — Published November 10, 2009 Comments
David Frum nails it today. A favorite target of conservatives (including myself at one point), Mr. Frum gets it right on his blog post about how our tip-toeing around the issue of racial pro-filing resulted in the Fort Hood disaster. Here are two excerpts. But again – the alternative to ethnic profiling is not declining to react to suspicious behavior by a Muslim person lest we somehow corroborate a stereotype. Not all Muslims are terrorists. Indeed, hardly any Muslims are terrorists. But when authorities begin to receive credible information that one particular Muslim might be dangerous – especially if that person wears the uniform of the United States – it beggars belief that they would hesitate to act. Yet hesitate they did. Too bad Hasan didn’t try to smuggle a bottle of water aboard an aircraft. Then of course they’d have thrown the book at him. Indeed. The folly of ...
