Obama: 'There's silence at this point' during bin Laden raid
President Obama recalled that there was "silence" inside the White House Situation Room when the now-famous photo was snapped of the president and his advisers watching the operation that killed Osama bin Laden.Â
Arianna Huffington: Using bin Laden in Obama campaign ad âdespicableâ
Huffington Post founder and media giant Arianna Huffington said Monday that she agreed with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney that it was wrong to use the killing of Osama bin Laden in a campaign ad.
Boehner, former Presidents G.W. Bush, Clinton fundraise for Flight 93 memorial
Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) are joining forces to help raise the remaining funds needed to build a memorial honoring the lives lost on United Flight 93.
The National Park Foundation announced Monday the two former presidents and leader of the House Republicans will host a fundraiser in Washington, D.C., on May 15, according to The Associated Press.
Romney warns 'regulators just multiplying like proverbial rabbits' on stump in NH
Mitt Romney decried "regulators just multiplying like proverbial rabbits" while rallying with New Hampshire fisherman Monday morning, as the presumptive Republican nominee continued to hammer President Obama over his economic record.
The former governor of neighboring Massachusetts said regulations from government bureaucrats were placing unnecessary burdens on fishermen and small-business owners across the country.
"Small business has really felt like it's been under attack," Romney said. "Regulators just multiplying like proverbial rabbits and making it harder and harder for enterprises to grow."
Freshman Rep. Amash âdominatedâ House GOP in Twitter challenge
A freshman House Republican is running away from the pack in this year’s GOP New Media Challenge, and according to his office, Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) is doing it all himself.Â
There’s no one behind the scenes writing Amash’s Facebook posts or tweets, according to his office â€" Amash maintains his Facebook and Twitter accounts himself.
This year, Amash took the House Republicans’ third annual push to increase members’ engagement on social media as a challenge to ramp up his Twitter engagement and keep building on his already thriving Facebook outreach.
Romney makes secret stop to grieving police station
Romney's campaign made no mention of the trip to reporters and the presumptive Republican nominee apparently did not discuss politics at all while visiting the station.
“There was no mention of votes, he didn’t talk about any political issues,†said current Police Chief Tara Laurent to ABC News, which first reported the stop. “He kept his remarks exclusively to offering condolences to the officers here.â€
McCain on Bin Laden raid: 'The thing about heroes, they don't brag'
“I say any president, Jimmy Carter, anybody, any president would have, obviously, under those circumstances, done the same thing. And to now take credit for something that any president would do is indicative of take over campaign we're under -- we're -- we're seeing…So all I can say is that this is going to be a very rough campaign," McCain told Fox News in an interview set to air Monday night. "And I've had the great honor of serving in the company of heroes. And, you know the thing about heroes, they don't brag.â€
Those remarks largely mirror a similar claim made by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney earlier Monday. McCain has endorsed Romney's bid for the White House and serv! ed as one of his top surrogates on foreign policy issues.
GOP lawmaker mocks new Obama reelection slogan
Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) took a shot at President Obama's new one-word campaign slogan Monday, pointing out its similarity to that of cable news station MSNBC.
Obama unveiling new one word slogan 'Forward' - I guess they'dhave to pay MSNBC for licensing rights if it was 'Lean Forward' #GoFigure
â€" Billy Long (@auctnr1) April 30, 2012
Rep. King: Obama should not campaign on bin Laden success
Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) on Monday called it “wrong†for President Obama’s campaign to “dwell†on the successful raid last year that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.
“I from the start said President Obama as president had a tough decision to make and he made it. I give him full credit for that,†King, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told conservative Laura Ingraham on her radio show.
“He’s entitled to mention it in the campaign in a quick way. ... make it one sentence,†King continued. “To be dwelling on it, to be somehow saying Obama did it and [Mitt] Romney wouldn’t, is wrong.â€
Don't let GSA scandal taint our federal workforce
It is virtually impossible to find anyone in Washington who does not think the now-notorious GSA Western Regions Conference was an inexcusable waste of money. As described by the GSA Inspector General in his lengthy report, the shenanigans surrounding the actions and conduct of some of the managers and planners of the event were nothing short of outrageous.
While I share the outrage over the excessive spending and nature of that particular conference and I have supported bipartisan action in the House to increase transparency and place limits on future federal conferences, I also believe we must not allow this scandal to taint our dedicated federal workforce or the important missions of GSA and other federal agencies.
Action required on influenza research
In the sobering annals of disaster prevention, genetic manipulation of the H5N1 influenza virus is looming as a seminal case. As has been widely reported, laboratory experiments have rendered the highly virulent avian strain transmissible among ferrets, strongly suggesting that it would be transmissible among humans as well. The potential is seriously alarming. The 1918 H1N1 strain is believed to have killed some 20 to 100 million people worldwide with a case fatality rate of 2- 20 percent, disproportionately young adults. The naturally occurring H5N1 virus has so far infected only about 600 people but half of them have died. If the virus could achieve efficient transmissibility while retaining anything like its current case fatality rate, it could inflict global disaster of unprecedented proportions.
Officer sues Capitol Police for challenging her fitness
A Capitol Police officer has filed suit against the department for restricting her duties and challenging her fitness for the job following the suicide of her husband.
On April 27, Judy Gordon filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking damages and lost wages after the department put her on administrative duty and blocked her scheduled overtime last year.
According to a copy of the complaint obtained by The Hill, Gordon was approved for 240 hours of federally mandated Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) time, which the department provides to officers to deal with chronic or recurring conditions.
In her paperwork, Gordon provided medical certification that she experienced “intermittent periods of severe and incapacitating periods of depression†following her husband’s death in October 2010.
During a shift at work in July 2011, Gordon was told to report to her supervisors, who told her ! her police powers were to be revoked pending a fitness for duty exam, the complaint stipulates. Gordon was limited to administrative duty and was not allowed to work scheduled overtime shifts as a result.
When pressed for a reason as to why her duties were limited, a supervisor reportedly said, “What if she’s experiencing this severe depression and decided to pick up something?â€
In her complaint, Gordon alleges that a member of department management instead intentionally found fault with her FMLA request because it was originally granted without his knowledge.
Gordon was subsequently subjected to more than 900 written questions and an interview with a department therapist before she was found fit for duty and her police powers reinstated, the complaint adds.
Just two months later, however, Gordon’s sister passed away. Shortly thereafter, in October 2011, Gordon was asked to participate in an active shooter training course ! during daytime hours, which differed from her usual night shif! t work s chedule.
The death of her sister and the anniversary of her husband’s suicide left Gordon “not in the best mental condition,†and required her to seek an appointment with her therapist that coincided with the scheduled training activity.
Gordon requested that her training be rescheduled. Prior to this, she had not used any of her pre-approved FMLA time nor had she sought any other accommodations related to her therapy, the complaint asserts. Her request was originally denied, but later granted.
According to the complaint, though Gordon met the requirements for FMLA time off, she was deprived of wages she would have earned working overtime and subjected to a fit for duty exam, “the record of which will be detrimental to her ability to obtain salary increases, promotions and/or transfers.â€
As such, Gordon is seeking nearly $1,000 in damages for lost wages and expenses resulting from the department’s actions, as well as th! e removal of the fit for duty exam and medical documentation from her personnel file.
Spokespeople for both the Capitol Police and the Labor Committee declined to comment on the matter, stating they do not discuss pending litigation.
GSA scandal fuels distrust of the government
As a long time member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (Chairman from 1997-2002) no one is more familiar with the true extent to which this town can envelop itself in fervent devotion to scandal. In the wake of this past week's first round of Government Services Administration (GSA) scandal hearings, the lines have been drawn, and with the precise choreography of Kabuki theater we can see individuals throughout the District devouring every salacious detail and associated vagary, entrenching themselves in their respective positions on the matter. As we all engage in this time-honored and well-rehearsed Capitol tradition, we must not become so enthralled with the cult of scandal that we lose sight of what the actions of the Government Services Administration says about the culture of big government, this Administration, and most importantly, the current state of this country.
Rep. West: WHCA dinner guests 'perpetuate the manipulation and deception of our country'
Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) was one of the few members of Congress to snag a ticket to this weekend's White House Correspondents Association dinner, but the Tea Party freshman was not impressed by the proceedings.
The congressman took to Facebook on Monday to denounce those "laughing and living it up" at the annual dinner while "our Constitutional Republic is eroding."
"While the President laughs and dines, our Constitutional Republic is eroding and my countrymen are suffering. In this election year, it is sad to think that some of those who were sitting in that ballroom Saturday night laughing and living it up, are helping to perpetuate the manipulation and deception of our country," West wrote.
Judge Andrew Napolitano, Sarah Palin and Rick Perry should form a new Federalist Party
Ron Paul has brought a sea change in American politics. Without Paul there is no Tea Party of substance. It is merely a populist howl without vision or direction and we have heard it all before. But Paul brought substance: states’ rights, constitutional government and sound money. Ideas which hadn’t been broached in either party this past century. These ideas have been amplified by Texas Gov. Rick Perry in his important book, Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington, and on Judge Andrew Napolitano's pioneering show on constitutional law, "Freedom Watch.†The Judge is, as he calls himself on occasion, the "night watchman" â€" an angel devoutly guarding our freedom as we sleep. That his show actually ran on prime time every night of the week for the past couple of years is tribute to the changes occurring in America. But for the moment, those times have stalled.
America's profligate greed
While the world is finally witnessing the fundamental flaws with the EU â€" namely, a unified currency system combined with a dispersed political framework (meaning financial and political decisions cannot be adequately coordinated) â€" the problems were greatly exacerbated by the reduction in liquidity and the risk aversion of investors that followed in the wake of the U.S. subprime industry meltdown.
When the bubble burst in the small European nations, they, unlike America, could not just print more money. They had to go to the EU central bank, hat in hand, and seek a bailout from the stronger economies in Europe such as Germany and England. It quickly became a political fiasco. The European central bank imposed drastic austerity measures on the populations of the PIGS â€" measures that have proven to be politically disastrous and caused conflict and unrest even in England, one of the wealthiest countries in the EU.
Dem: 'Preposterous' to suggest Obama would attack Romney's faith
DNC Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was responding to Sen. Hatch's charge that Obama would use Mormonism against Romney.
Obama ad touts first term successes, unveils new campaign slogan
A new web video entitled "Forward" looks to highlight Obama's accomplishments, contrasting them with the challenges he inherited.
Obama gets laughs and 'amens' for remarks at Easter Prayer Breakfast
Obama drew laughs at one point while quoting Jesus as saying, “In this world, you will have trouble.â€
Hillary won't campaign for Obama
Secretaries of State generally don't stump for presidents to not risk any sort of partisan inference while serving.
Rep. Clyburn: Obama should campaign against Supreme Court if health law falls
"We’ve seen presidents run against Congress and we’ve seen presidents run against the Supreme Court," warned Clyburn.
Poll: Obama pulling away from Romney in battleground states
Obama holds a significant lead in twelve key swing states, aided by his 18 percent lead among women voters.
Santorum: I'll stay in race until Romney wins 1,144 delegates
Santorum’s resolve to stay in the race could push the bitter contest until the Republican nominating convention.
IRS not investigating Nikki Haley for tax fraud
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's office provided IRS documentation that she is not facing investigation for tax fraud.
Biden: GOP super-PACs will 'carpet-bomb' Obama in campaign
The vice president said Republican-affiliated super-PACs could raise between $400 million and $800 million and tip the election.
Gibbs: Ad saying Romney wouldnât have ordered bin Laden raid ânot over the lineâ
The top Obama adviser defended an ad suggesting Romney would not have launched the raid to capture bin Laden.
Bill Clinton, Obama team up at fundraiser to hammer Romney
"He's got an opponent who basically wants to do what they did before, on steroids," said Clinton Sunday.
Franken: I won't let student anti-discrimination bill languish in the Senate
Sen. Al Franken pledged to pass his bill to curb discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender public school students.
GOP lawmakers: We're ready to hold Holder in contempt of Congress
Rep. Chaffetz said a letter is ready; Rep. Gowdy says Holder has until Memorial Day to comply with document request
Club for Growth urges Republicans in House to vote against student-loan bill
The opposition of the influential conservative group could complicate Speaker Boehner’s plan to pass the legislation on Friday.
Dem lawmaker: Speaker Boehner 'feeling the heat' on student loans
Rep. Van Hollen blasted Republicans for playing a “cynical game†and “trying to fool people to get through November.â€
Romney campaign aide claims auto bailout was Romney's idea
One of Mitt Romney's top advisers said President Obama's decision to bailout Chrysler and General Motors was actually Romney's idea.
For Obama, last yearâs correspondentsâ dinner is tough to top
As President Obama spoke at last year's dinner, final preparations for the mission to kill Osama bin Laden were already underway.
Report: Gingrich to exit race on Wednesday
GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich will end his bid on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., according to a report from CNN.
The news network reports that a source close to the former House Speaker says he will exit the race on Wednesday, contrary to earlier indications that he would stop campaigning on Tuesday.
Biden to 'dull as hell' fundraiser crowd: 'Pretend you like me'
"The dullest audience I have ever spoken to. Just sitting there, staring at me," Biden said at a campaign fundraiser.
Ryan to be met by Catholic protesters, âGOP Jesusâ at Georgetown lecture
Catholics United is organizing the gathering in response to cuts Rep. Paul Ryan's budget would make to social welfare programs.
Gingrich to suspend campaign next Tuesday
A spokesman said Gingrich hoped to secure a speaking spot at the convention and contribute to drafting the party platform.
Brennan: Obama will find âappropriate balanceâ in dispute over Chinese activist
The top counter-terrorism advisor said Obama will balance support for an escaped Chinese dissident and the need to maintain good U.S.-China relations.
D.C. budget autonomy bill put forth in Senate
In a bipartisan move, several senators introduced a bill to give the District of Columbia greater control over its budget.
Boehner accuses Obama of 'picking fake fights'
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) accused President Obama of "picking fake fights" with congressional Republicans.
"He is diminishing the presidency by picking fake fights and going after straw men every day," Boehner said in a recorded interview on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday.
Boehner said the push for the "Buffett Rule," which would have required millionaires to pay a minimum tax rate, was a "gimmick."
Diller calls for rewrite of US telecommunications law
“The laws we have … do not address the reality of this new force,†Diller said, referring to the Internet.
Key witness continues testimony against former Sen. Edwards
Andrew Young, the witness and former Edwards aide, had pretended to have fathered the child Edwards had with his mistress.
Postmaster general: No post office closing frenzy after May 15
The U.S. Postal Service will not immediately close facilities after a self-imposed moratorium expires next month, its top official said
Obama camp targets Romney's 'back to the future' foreign policy
Obama’s team is readying to attack Romney’s foreign policy, with a new video and speech by Biden later today.
Gingrich hints poor Delaware result could lead to exit from race
Gingrich said Monday he would have to "reassess" his bid if he fails to place well in the state.
RNC shows off its Obama 'war room'
Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus showed off the GOP's offensive strategy in a behind-the-scenes interview at the RNC's headquarters.
Romney a 'closet prankster,' aide says
Eric Fehrnstrom said there is a side to Mitt Romney that the public doesn't see on the campaign trail.Â
Hugh Hefner warns of GOP âwar on sexâ
Playing off Democrat's charges of a “war on women,†the Playboy founder slammed "repressed conservatives... pounding on America's bedroom door."
Ann Romney: Support from women makes her confident of Nov. win
Romney said Monday she's confident "we are going to win" because of the passionate support she sees from female voters.
Huntsman: 'Of course' I'll vote for Mitt Romney
Jon Huntsman stood behind the presumptive Republican nominee Monday, saying "of course" he would vote for Mitt Romney in a general election.
Former Santorum campaign manager joins Romney campaign
Michael Biundo, the former campaign manager for Rick Santorum, has joined Mitt Romney’s campaign and will act as the Deputy Coalitions Director.
Jimmy Carter 'comfortable' with Romney in the White House
Former President Jimmy Carter said he expects President Obama to win reelection, but Mitt Romney would be his top choice on the Republican side.
Cyber protection act too broad, infringes on our privacy rights
This week is “Cybersecurity Week†in the House of Representatives, and members will vote on a handful of bills intended to protect cybersecurity.
Obama joins Jimmy Fallon in 'slow jam' of the news
President Obama surprised the audience at "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" Tuesday with his "slow jam" of the news, a recurring segment on the show.
Cain explains 'aww, shucky ducky' comment on 'Daily Show'
Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain explained the true meaning behind his words "aww shucky ducky" on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" Tuesday night.
Intel-sharing bill is a big step forward
This past fall, U.S. intelligence officials unveiled a report to Congress on economic espionage that shocked many in business and government circles.Â
Secure infrastructure networks now
Two years after the 9/11 attacks, the Northeast and parts of the Midwest experienced one of the largest, most widespread blackouts in U.S. history.
Report: Rubio gets police protection after threat
U.S. Capitol Police and the West Miami Police Department are investigating a threat against Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and have provided him with additional police protection.
McCaskill: Top super-PACs are singling me out
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Monday that big-name conservative super-PACs have singled her out and are trying to stop her from winning a second term in the Senate.
Bachmann says sheâs âworking behind the scenesâ to unite GOP
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) declined to officially endorse presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney but said she is “working behind the scenes†to unite the Republican Party.
Romney campaign claims auto bailout was his idea
One of Mitt Romney's top advisers said Saturday that President Obama's decision to bailout Chrysler and General Motors was actually Mitt Romney's idea.Â
"[Romney's] position on the bailout was exactly what President Obama followed. I know it infuriates them to hear that," Eric Fehrnstrom, senior adviser to the Romney campaign, said.
"The only economic success that President Obama has had is because he followed Mitt Romney's advice."
RNC ad hits Obama over Jimmy Fallon appearance
The Republican National Committee looked to draw a contrast between Mitt Romney’s victory speech on Tuesday night, and President Obama’s appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.â€
Trump: Crossroads ad against Obama 'one of the worst commercials I've ever seen'
Donald Trump on Friday slammed a new commercial from American Crossroads, saying the ad's suggestion that President Obama was the "biggest celebrity in the world" would actually help the president.
Carville hits back at Romney for âstealingâ his line in campaign speech
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out a fundraising letter on Wednesday from former Bill Clinton aide James Carville, hitting Mitt Romney for spinning Carville’s famous campaign slogan.
Emanuel: 'If it was up to Mitt Romney, we wouldn't have an auto industry'
Chicago Mayor and former Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel blasted Mitt Romney Monday night, saying the presumptive Republican nominee's economic policies "actually led to this crisis we've had."
Napolitano: No breach to presidentâs security in Colombian prostitution scandal
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said President Obama’s security wasn’t breached when Secret Service agents allegedly brought prostitutes to a Colombia hotel ahead of the president’s visit.
Clinton jokingly announces run for president of Malta at Time 100 Gala
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began her speech at the Time 100 Gala on Tuesday with a joke mocking recent speculation that she might run for president in 2016.
DNC chairwoman: 'Entirely reasonable' for Boehner to fear losing the House
DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) said Tuesday that it was "entirely reasonable" for Speaker John Boehner to express doubts about the GOP's ability to hold the House in November's elections.
Romney looks to play offense with college crowd in Ohio
Mitt Romney addressed students at Ohio's Otterbein University on Friday as the Republican candidate looked to appeal to young voters, a demographic that President Obama's campaign team has targeted as a key part of his reelection bid.
Ann Romney advocates 'SNL' appearance for Mitt
Ann Romney on Thursday said she favors her husband accepting an open invitation to appear on "Saturday Night Live," and added that she would be open to a cameo appearance on the show as well.
U.S. should focus on diplomacy and development in Iraq
On March 21, the Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing to discuss the current security situation in Iraq.
Â
Subcommittee Chairman Steve Chabot noted Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s efforts to arrest Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on terrorism charges as well as his removal of Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq without regard for procedures established in the Iraqi constitution.Â
Boehner has 'traded some voice mails' with Romney
House Speaker John Boehner has not talked to Mitt Romney despite endorsing him and helping to solidify his standing as the likely GOP presidential nominee last week, the Republican leader revealed in an upcoming interview.
"He called and I called him back. We've kind of traded some voice mails," Boehner said in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union†set to air Sunday. CNN released portions of the interview on Friday.
Europe is collapsing
Europe is on the brink of collapse.
The prime minister of the Netherlands just resigned over the issue of austerity. President Sarkozy of France will probably lose his election to the socialist candidate Francois Hollande over the issue of austerity. The grand deal to save the euro and the European economy is about to collapse. The economies of Spain and Italy are falling under their own weight and cannot achieve the austerity targets agreed upon by the rest of Europe.
Europe's economic collapse will have a negative impact on the U.S. economy. There is no one left to bail out Europe, if they don't solve their own internal problems.
Biden to 'dull as hell' fundraiser: 'Pretend you like me'
The vice president was speaking to Turkish and Azerbaijani donors about the potential of the region as a democratic and economic force when he noticed he wasn't getting much of a reception.
“I guess what I’m trying to say without boring you too long at breakfast â€" and you all look dull as hell, I might add. The dullest audience I have ever spoken to. Just sitting there, staring at me. Pretend you like me!" Biden said.
Account for the cost of carbon emissions
While American politicians worry about how high gas prices are perceived by voters, Mexico is actually doing something to free their country from risky fossil fuels. Our southern neighbors are poised to approve ambitious climate change legislation, any day now, that will give them an edge in the race to produce renewable energy and create green jobs, while reducing carbon pollution.
Unfortunately, in the United States, efforts to tackle climate-related issues have stalled, even if the impacts of inaction, such as more severe and more frequent extreme weather events, have not. Last year, 47 of the 50 states were forced to declare a state of emergency in response to climate-related weather disasters, racking up $72 billion dollars in damages.
Mitt Romney would cause a recession; Ron Paul would cause a depression
In my Elizabeth Warren column, I referred to the war of the worlds about the future of the U.S. economy. Well, the dark side in this war is led by Mitt Romney, the man who likes firing people, claims that vulture capitalists are job creators and recently criticized the housing policies of a great man, his father, George Romney. The even darker side is led by Ron Paul, whose reactionary economics would bring America back to Austrian economists from a previous century, would cause a depression for America, and have nothing to do with the Constitution or the Founding Fathers.
Judge rejects releasing photos of bin Laden body
A federal judge on Thursday rejected a watchdog group's request that pictures be released of Osama bin Laden's corpse.Â
District Judge James Boasberg sided with the Obama administration and the intelligence community in denying Judicial Watch's request that photos and videos of bin Laden's body be released.
"A picture may be worth a thousand words," District Judge James Boasberg wrote in his decision, according to Reuters. "Yet, in this case, verbal descriptions of the death and burial of Osama Bin Laden will have to suffice, for this court will not order the release of anything more."
How Newt Gingrich destroyed Rick Perryâs political career
I'll be glad to see Gingrich go. He has never done anything to advance our American condition except to inspire bile and national hostility and divisiveness. He sees all disagreement as war. His life in politics has been a shadow of Civil War regional hostility advanced to other strategies. To paraphrase Clausewitz: To Gingrich, politics is war by other means.
He has brought a mini-dark age to conservatism. When Gingrich first brought his childish shutdown stunt to Congress, it brought new relevance to militias. Advancing Alabama Gov. George Wallace’s initiative, Gingrich helped turn aspects of Christian religion into a hostile political movement (an abomination to the Christ). He has turned the Tea Party into a boorish hoot that has lost all perspective. But worst of all, he destroyed the political career of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
A French Spring and a new enlightenment for jobs and justice
The increasingly likely victory of Francois Hollande in the French presidential election would be the shot for economic justice and jobs that will be heard around the world. It would be the repudiation by one of the world's leading nations of the unjust economics of the 1 percent that is championed by Sarkozy in France, Merkel in Germany, Cameron in Britain and Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and George W. Bush in the United States. A Hollande victory would bring a French Spring.
Hollande leading France would end what I called "Midnight in Paris" after his triumph in the first round of voting, and begin a new French Spring that would elevate France to a rejuvenated position of world leadership. It would end the right's Euro hegemony dominated by the conservative economics of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and would reject the "government of the banks" and the "government of the 1 percent" that created and continues the financial catastrophe of our time! s.
Obama bashes Romney, GOP as 'being in a time machine' on women's issues
The president's re-election team has made a push for female voters a key priority in his campaign strategy, and Obama sought to portray his legislative successes on health care as a boon for American women.
"This contraception fight in particular was illuminating. It was like being in a time machine," Obama told the crowd, many of whom had purchased tickets that cost $1,000 to attend. "Republicans in Congress were going so far as to say an employer should be able to have a say in the health care decisions of its female employees. You know, for a party that prides itself on being rabidly anti-regulations of almost any kind, for folks who claim to believe in freedom from government interference and meddling, it doesn’t seem to bother them when it comes to a woman’s health."
Game on: Romney pivoting to general-election mode
The race is on, and in a dead heat, as I described in my column this week. The focus for Mitt Romney is not only on shoring up support among conservatives who supported his rivals during the primary season, but on his pivot to a general-election electorate. Romney faces the greatest challenge appealing to female voters and Latinos, as polls currently show him far behind President Obama with both groups.
During the primary campaign, Romney used the issue of immigration to draw contrasts between himself and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, as well as with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.). Romney not only pledged to veto the DREAM Act, but said Arizona's new, controversial immigration law was a "model" for the nation. He also characterized Perry's support of in-s! tate tuition for children of illegal immigrants as "a magnet."
GOP Rep. Blackburn, actor Adrian Grenier 'completely agree' on TSA
Actor Adrian Grenier wasn't tweeting policy when he complained about the Transportation Security Agency this week, but Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) "completely" agrees with the TV and film star.
Earlier this week, Grenier complained on Twitter about a security pat-down from the TSA. "If we sacrifice freedom 4 safety & we sacrifice both," he tweeted Sunday.
"I completely agree with you," replied Blackburn, a long-standing critic of the TSA.
I completely agree with you @adriangrenier. What could #TSA possibly have against A! quaman?
â€" Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 26, 2012
Romney, Obama campaign trade barbs as general election intensifies
Mitt Romney's campaign manager blasted President Obama's campaign effort as "like one of those gyrating, intermittent lawn sprinklers, spewing out attacks in seemingly random directions" in a memo released to reporters Friday, drawing a sharp rebuke from the president's reelection team and underscoring the acceleration of the presidential campaign since Romney effectively clinched the nomination earlier this week.
Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades issued a memo Friday morning mocking the president's record and trying to frame criticism from Obama's campaign team as undisciplined.
"Without the ability to run on a record of achievement, the incumbent is reduced to a campaign based on scattershot attacks on Governor Romney in particular and Republicans in general," Rhoades said. "The Obama campaign is like one of those gyrating, intermittent lawn sprinklers, spewing out attacks in seemingly random directions, hoping to get somebody wet somewhere but ! hoping even more to talk about anything but the unemployment rate, federal debt, gas prices, or rising health insurance premiums."
Bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table
The Taliban’s recent multi-pronged attacks, coming just a month after suspending talks with the U.S. is a stark reminder that peace negotiations remain a long shot at best, escalating an increasingly contentious debate over whether the insurgent group has any serious intentions of reaching a political settlement. Given the unpredictable nature of the enemy, adopting either policy -- cease to participate, or stubbornly pursue peace talks -- is irresponsible and extremely risky. Before making any decision, we must first understand why the Taliban might not be vested in reaching a compromise at this point in time. Only then the Afghan government could craft strategies that would strengthen its leverage in any serious peace talks and maintain security in case the enemy abandons negotiations all together.
Romney, Obama campaign managers trade barbs as general election intensifies
Mitt Romney's campaign manager blasted President Obama's campaign effort as "like one of those gyrating, intermittent lawn sprinklers, spewing out attacks in seemingly random directions" in a memo released to reporters Friday, drawing a sharp rebuke from his counterpart on the president's reelection team and underscoring the acceleration of the presidential campaign since Romney effectively clinched the nomination earlier this week.
Romney campaign manager Matt Rhoades issued a memo Friday morning mocking the president's record and trying to frame criticism from Obama's campaign team as undisciplined.
"Without the ability to run on a record of achievement, the incumbent is reduced to a campaign based on scattershot attacks on Governor Romney in particular and Republicans in general," Rhoades said. "The Obama campaign is like one of those gyrating, intermittent lawn sprinklers, spewing out attacks in seemingly random directions, hoping to get somebody! wet somewhere but hoping even more to talk about anything but the unemployment rate, federal debt, gas prices, or rising health insurance premiums."
The false choice of student loans and prevention
The House proposal to subsidize student loans by eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund, scheduled for a vote Friday, is just a continuation of political maneuvers designed to prioritize politics at the cost of health. America cannot afford to sacrifice the Prevention and Public Health Fund.
Affordable Care Act opponents have tried to pit much-needed infrastructure fixes and popular programs against the Prevention Fund as a means of undermining the ACA more broadly, from Medicare payments for doctors to tax relief for small businesses. Now they’re using student loan subsidies to attack the Fund.
Young people desperately need  reasonable loan rates to make sure they can afford college. Congress knows that we all benefit when more young people go to college. We can’t have engineers unless we’ve invested in the infrastructure that allows students to take math and science classes. We won’t have doctors when we need them in the future if we canâ! €™t help them afford medical school now. Education is an investment that pays offâ€"and that’s why we must create and resource the infrastructure today.
Buffet Rule is a political scam
President Obama recently rolled out a new “Buffett Rule†tax hike proposal. Will his Buffet Rule raise enough money to pay for the overspending of the Bush-Obama years? Not according to Congress’ official scorekeeper, the Joint Committee on Taxation. It projects that the Buffett Rule will raise just over $30 billion in tax revenue over the coming decadeâ€"less than one-tenth of one percent of all federal revenues over this period. It’s a rounding error, not a serious tax proposal. The Buffett Rule would also apply to successful small businesses that pay taxes in the individual tax system. Because the Buffett Rule tax hike won't bring in any new federal revenues to speak of, President Obama's $6.7 trillion in projected deficits will still have to be paid forâ€"making the Buffett Rule little more than a stunt. He won't tell you this before the election, but a second Obama term will feature a massive tax hike on working families, not just "the rich."
This ! proposal would require all income earned over $1 million to face a tax rate of 30 percent. This is a political stunt which pretends to ignore the reality of how steeply progressive our current tax system is.
Banks not lending, but not willing to let credit unions lend either
Small businesses account for 60-65% of jobs created during an economic rebound. However, hiring continues to be abysmal in large part due to the inability of small businesses get adequate access to capital for investing and expanding operations. In this upside-down real estate market, depressed home prices mean that small businesses cannot get home equity loans, forcing them to go to banks for capital. But the banks aren’t lending. Last year, banks rejected 60% of small business loan applications, and they reduced small business loans by 20% during the last recession. On the other side, credit unions increased loans by 40% during the last recession, but their lending has been capped by an outdated law that suppresses small business access to capital and deters smaller credit unions from serving these businesses.
To fix this, Congress is considering the Credit Union Small Business Lending Bill, S.2231, which raises the current credit union lending cap from 12! .25% to 27.5% of assets. For small businesses, increasing the lending cap means more capital; for workers, it means more jobs; and for the economy, it means more investment and increased economic output. The increased lending is predicted to generate $13 billion in investments and 140,000 new jobs, as well as produce other significant indirect benefits to the overall economy.
Follow Friday: @RepGeoffDavis
Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) may have become a true Twitter believer last month when extreme weather hit his home state. Twitter has become a useful tool in situations where real-time communication matters but coordination can be a challenge. Davis talked about his own involvement in confronting the crisis through Twitter in this week's Follow Friday Q&A.Â
{mosads}Q: When did you join Twitter?
A: My official account’s first day was Jan. 17, 2011.  While I was not an early adopter, I decided to join as my staff and I saw the ways that Twitter became such a popular and useful way to connect with constituents and communicate in real-time. My weekly column this week actually reviewed some of the many ways that I have been able to use Twitter to be a more effective representative.
Q: What do you see as the most significant purpose of Twitter for you?
A: My Twitter feed is primarily work-related, so I find it useful for receiving feedback from constituents on legislative matters, keeping the pub! lic informed about resources available to them, and communicating my activity on the public’s behalf in Washington and Kentucky. The Stop Online Piracy Act and the REINS Act are good examples. From time to time though, my Twitter followers will see a tweet regarding personal interests of mine â€" for example, cheering on my alma mater before the Army-Navy game last fall.
PHOTO: Today is 112th #ArmyNavy game. #GOArmy! yfrog.com/mgtdnaj
! â€" Geoff Davis (@RepGeoffDavis) December 10, 2011
Q: Example of a “best†Twitter moment?
A: In early March, the real-time nature of Twitter proved its use for us in Kentucky. A mammoth outbreak of severe weather and tornadoes affected the district, and my Twitter feed and others became a resource for gathering information about the storms and relief efforts. Individuals as varied as a Kentucky meteorologist and a California Red Cross volunteer appreciated the help in spreading the word.
Q: Example of a “worst†Twitter moment?
A: I play things pretty close to the vest when it comes to social media, so I have managed to avo! id a “worst†moment on Twitter. If I had to pick something though, I would probably say the early months of figuring out how to use Twitter and the lingo that goes with it involved a learning curve.
Follow Davis on Twitter @RepGeoffDavis, where he currently has 2,156 followers and is looking for more this week as a contender in the Twitter round of the GOP's New Media Challenge.Â
I invite you to share your views about #Congress' activity. Please RT this tweet, follow my feed, and engage your government. #tcot #gop
â€" Geoff Davis (@RepGeoffDavis) April 26, 2012
Previous "Follow Friday†Twitter profiles have included Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), Mike Honda(Calif.), Jim Himes (Conn.), Rush Holt (N.J.), Jared Polis (Colo.), Judy C! hu (Calif.), and Jackie Speier (Calif.) and Republican Reps. Bob Latta (Ohio), Glenn Thompson (Pa.), John Shimkus (Ill.), David Schweikert (Ariz.), Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.), Billy Long (Mo.), Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.), as well as the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
A tight race to the finish
In 1976, I was a full time speechwriter for President Ford. By June 1, he had not locked up the nomination, and was trailing Jimmy Carter in the polls by 33%. After a good acceptance speech at the Republican Convention in August, he was behind by 10%; after the first debate with Carter, the race was even. Though Ford eventually lost, this story illustrates how volatile the electorate can be. It is no different in 2012. As I write, a CNN Poll shows Mitt Romney behind Barack Obama by 10%; but the CBS/New York Times Poll shows the race dead even. So between now and the election, what can these two candidates do to improve their odds of winning? To answer this question and handicap the race, I focus on four major factors.
First, President Obama is going to need a large lead in the polls to win. He has run behind his predicted poll numbers in every race he has been in. He ran behind his poll numbers against Hillary Clinton in the primaries of 2008; he didn’t beat ! John McCain by nearly the margin predicted in the polls in the general election. Thus, if Romney is only 5 or 6% behind in the polls, he has a real shot at winning. Advantage Romney.
Second, each candidate will have an important choice to make when it comes to selecting a vice presidential nominee. But President Obama has a slight advantage, and here is why. The Republican Convention comes first. So if Romney is doing well in the polls, and has made a smart choice for a running mate, Obama can dump Vice President Biden, and pick a fresh new face that might improve the president’s odds of winning. It hasn’t been done in a while, but Franklin Roosevelt dumped two vice presidents, John Nance Garner and Henry Wallace, during his presidency. Advantage Obama, if he dumps Biden.
Obama campaign spokesman accuses Romney of 'cold war mentality'
President Obama's campaign spokesman blasted Mitt Romney for a "Cold War mentality" on national defense ahead of a speech Thursday where Vice President Joe Biden was expected to hammer the Republican challenger on foreign policy.
First lady shares 'fantasy' of just walking 'out the front door'
It's hard to sneak out of the White House, especially if you're the first lady, Michelle Obama told a room full of children Thursday during the White House's "take our sons and daughters to work day."
Crossroads ad attacks Obama's 'celebrity' presidency
A new ad released Thursday by the conservative super-PAC American Crossroads seeks to use President Obama's "cool" status against him, appealing to the youth vote by asking how America's "biggest celebrity" has helped them find jobs.
Michelle Obama would 'absolutely not' run for president
First lady Michelle Obama said Thursday she would “absolutely not†run for president.
“Absolutely not. No,†she said to laughter. “I think one of the things you learn about yourself as you get older are what are your strengths and what are your interests. And for me it’s other stuff that is not being the president.â€
Obama campaign targets Romney's 'back to the future' foreign policy
The Obama campaign is winding up for an attack on Mitt Romney over foreign policy, releasing a new web video on Thursday with a speech by the vice president planned later in the day.
The Obama campaign has some confidence in their foreign policy credentials, often joking that President Obama's success is so obvious it could go on a bumper sticker: "Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive."
ATF: 70 percent of guns found in Mexico come from US
Nearly 70 percent of all guns found in Mexico came from the U.S. over the past four years, according to data released by the federal government on Thursday.
More than 68,000 of the 99,691 firearms that were recovered between 2007 and 2011, and submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for trace testing, were either made in the U.S. or legally brought into the U.S. at one point, according to the agency.
Both gun-rights supporters and opponents have used the ATF’s numbers in years past to argue for their cause.
AFT: 70 percent of guns found in Mexico come from US
Nearly 70 percent of all guns found in Mexico came from the U.S. over the past four years, according to data released by the federal government on Thursday.
More than 68,000 of the 99,691 firearms that were recovered between 2007 and 2011, and submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for trace testing, were either made in the U.S. or legally brought into the U.S. at one point, according to the agency.
Both gun-rights supporters and opponents have used the ATF’s numbers in years past to argue for their cause.
Burma: Donât lose the endgame
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it is time to relax sanctions on Burma, and the business community is cheering. They promise that U.S. business engagement will bring rule of law and human rights to Burma.
Not so fast. We’ve heard these arguments before, and from the same business actors. Let’s not forget U.S. sanctions led to political reform in Burma. Now that reform has begun, it is important not to relax our leverage too soon, lest we squander the precious and hard-fought gains for Burma’s human rights and democracy activists.
Improve productivity in America
Every year companies should fire the bottom 5 percent of their workforce. Both the company and the employee will benefit from this policy. The company benefits because it replaces the least productive employees with more productive employees. The employees benefit because they are in a position where they are the runt of the litter and suffer psychologically from having low self-esteem as a result of being the least productive. Most of these employees would benefit from being in new jobs that can take advantage of their strengths. In the new jobs they will eventually make more money and have higher self-esteem, which leads to better productivity.
Bachmann edges closer to Romney endorsement
Rep. Michele Bachmann is still playing coy about a potential endorsement in the presidential election, but the Minnesota Republican is dropping hints that she is edging closer to backing presumptive nominee Mitt Romney.
"I haven't come out with an endorsement, but I have said that I want my voice to be a voice of unity and that's my goal," Bachmann said on Mike Huckabee's radio show, according to CNN. "It appears that our nominee is Mitt Romney and I will get behind that nominee."
The Tea Party darling added that she was ready to "pull in and help unify our party."
Gingrich: 'I'm going to look at how I can be helpful'
Newt Gingrich began the first day of his final week on the campaign trail to dwindling crowds, but said he planned to "campaign through October" in support of Republican efforts.
"I'm going to look at how I can be helpful, because I suspect people will still show up to hear me," Gingrich told voters in North Carolina, according to NBC News. "Callista and I are going to campaign through October."
The former House Speaker went on to acknowledge that "the campaign will go bye-bye."
Fraud by illegal immigrants destroying childrenâs lives
Illegal immigrant workers not only take jobs from American workers, they also damage the future of millions of American children through fraud and identity theft.
It’s an issue that will not go away if our southern border is sealed or Mexican citizens decide the United States is no longer a desirable destination, as a recent Pew Hispanic Center study suggests. Forty percent of illegal immigrants are visa overstays who come from around the world. That percentage will only rise if the recent Pew Hispanic Center study is correct. Illegal immigrants need fraudulent documents to obtain employment no matter where they come from.
Children are particularly susceptible to identity theft.
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen on Joel Osteen: 'Wow!'
Legislators can get excited about big names visiting Capitol Hill, too.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) tweeted a picture Thursday of her meeting the previous evening with Joel Osteen.
Wow! Met @JoelOsteen last night. His words r truly inspiring! twitter.com/RosLehtinen/st…
â€" Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) April 26, 2012
EU climate chief âcuriousâ to see Obamaâs plan
President Obama’s pledge in Rolling Stone magazine to make the case for action on global warming during the 2012 campaign didn’t escape the eyes of Europe’s top climate official.
Connie Hedegaard, the European Union’s climate commissioner, flagged the interview on Twitter Thursday.
“Pres. Obama is increasingly concerned about climate change. So am I: curious to see his election platform,†she said on the social media site, and linked to the interview.
Donât SOPA cyber
The House of Representatives has dubbed this week “Cyber Week.†Today and tomorrow, they will vote on a handful of cybersecurity bills. Unfortunately, none of the proposals that will be considered include important provisions on a key aspect of any effective cyber bill: information sharing.
The battle over information sharing legislation harkens the ghosts of SOPA. That bill, which resulted in a groundswell of internet-driven backlash, showed how volatile internet privacy and censorship issues can become on Capitol Hill. In a matter of days, companies such as Google, Wikipedia, and Facebook killed legislation that previously looked to be on an easy road to passage.
Many believe that the same actors who joined forces last winter to freeze SOPA may join together this spring to drown a critical piece of national security legislation.
Illegal immigration is a serious threat to Americaâs national security
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court justices heard arguments regarding Arizona’s immigration law. The way I see it, Arizona is simply trying to enforce our basic immigration laws that make it illegal to be in our country without a visa or proper citizenship. With nearly 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, it is clear that our system is broken and the federal government needs to enact and enforce strict immigration laws in order to protect the citizens of our country. The problem with illegal immigration has gone on too long, and the Arizona law is an attempt from states to address a problem that the federal government has not.
The law would allow state and local law enforcement in Arizona to enforce federal immigration statutes, but it has been struck down at the district and appeals court levels. This hearing is a product of the Obama Administration filing a legal challenge against the new Arizona immigration law, originally claiming it is unjust because! it will lead to “racial profiling.†However, the Obama Justice Department is now arguing the law violates the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which states that the Constitution, federal laws and treaties supersede state laws.
Federal investment in innovation drives leadership in space
In a Hill editorial on March 27, Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) stated that since the retirement of the space shuttle last year, America has fallen behind in the battle for the ultimate high ground â€" space. He pointed to China’s plans for an increased number of rocket launches and its ambitions for more sophisticated Earth satellites and exploration of the Moon in stating that NASA is falling behind. These metrics, however, do not define the high ground or our nation’s technological capability to efficiently utilize this domain. Preeminence in space, and the economic and national security implications that follow, are not simply measured in terms of a number of rocket launches, but rather! by the depth and breadth of a nation’s space capabilities and the skill and expertise of personnel that flexibly adapt these capabilities to new missions and new frontiers.
This century will be won by those who innovate, seek breakthroughs and develop new technologies and new industries. Reaching for grand technological challenges, engineers and scientists across this country stand on the cusp of dramatic advances in materials, information technology, energy and biomedical science. These breakthroughs provide lasting societal benefits and are a catalyst to America’s high-tech economy. The aerospace sector is no different. According to a December 2011 report of the Aerospace Industries Association, U.S. aerospace sales marked their eight consecutive year of growth and U.S. aerospace exports are up 12 percent with a positive trade balance of $57.4 billion â€" the largest trade surplus of any U.S. manufacturing industry. In aerospace, we lead the world. This industr! y is a job-creator, a technological innovator (e.g., GPS, CMOS! imaging sensors, stealth technology, unmanned aerial vehicles and the Weather Channel) and provides a critical advantage to our nation’s economy and security. The aerospace sector is driven by new ideas, innovation and technology, and NASA is the lifeblood of many of these innovations.
Marco Rubio runs for vice president, sans teleprompter
Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, has a bright and potentially brilliant future but is making a major mistake appearing to run for vice president. His foreign-policy speech at Brookings turned into a fiasco when he lost a page of his prepared remarks and looked almost helpless asking for someone to find the missing page. At some point soon I might write a column about Rubio which would not be unfriendly (see my columns about Huntsman), but Rubio is not even close to being ready for the presidency, the vice presidency or a national campaign. The chances that Mitt Romney chooses Rubio for the ticket are about the same as the chances the College of Cardinals calls me to Vatican City to serve as the next pope.
Violence Against Women Act helps restore lives
Our Senators must act now to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the landmark achievement in the movement to end violence against
women and girls. VAWA revolutionized the way violent crimes against women are prosecuted and prevented, reshaped the way victims receive services and transformed the way communities respond to survivors.
Authored by then-Senator Joseph Biden and signed into law in 1994, VAWA was the first federal legislation to acknowledge domestic violence and sexual
assault as crimes. It created the first federal funding stream to support rape crisis centers across the country. VAWA provided federal resources to
encourage coordinated community responses to combating violence, and it saved money while saving lives: nearly $12.6 billion in averted social costs in its first six years alone.
Secret Service investigating report of new prostitution scandal
The Secret Service is investigating reports that agents were involved in a second prostitution scandal â€" this time in El Salvador â€" a day after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told lawmakers her department believed the brewing scandal in Colombia to be an isolated incident.
Seattle television station KIRO-TV interviewed a government contractor in El Salvador who said that he worked with the Secret Service in advance of President Obama's trip there in March of last year.
The contractor said he, about a dozen agents and a handful of military residents went to a San Salvador strip club where they drank heavily. According to the contractor, some in the party paid for extra access to a "VIP section" where they received sexual favo! rs.
In the world of innovation, the future is now
Today is 12th annual World Intellectual Property Day, when we celebrate the creators, innovators, and dreamers who dazzle us with their products and ideas and make our lives richer. Smart phones, lifesaving medicines, and drought resistant crops all started as the germ of an idea in someone's imagination. These ideas and the products they spawn are what's called intellectual property.
Fundamentally, intellectual property rightsâ€"embodied in patents, trademarks, and copyrightsâ€"are designed to promote innovation by incentivizing businesses and creators with the guarantee of legal protection for their creations. When a strong IP rights system is in place, innovators and creators can secure the resources needed for the research, production, and distribution processes. When the enforcement of IPR is considered unreliable, however, their ability to bring new products and creations to the market is threatened.
Iranian cyber threat cannot be underestimated
As the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, Iran has successfully attacked U.S. interests for three decades, most notably in Beirut in 1983 and at Khobar Towers in 1996, when it killed a combined 260 of our servicemen. It seems willing to do anything to accomplish its goal of securing a nuclear weapon. Last fall, it was revealed that the Iranian government had sponsored a terrorist attack to assassinate the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States in Washington, D.C. This brazen attack, and the growing, unconventional and enterprising Iranian threat, should surprise no one.
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Today, we face the latest threat from an emboldened Iran: a cyber attack. While most grasp the cyber threat posed by China and Russia, few are aware that Iran has increased its cyber capabilities, as evidenced by a recent $1 billion investment in new technology.
The return of France
If the socialist candidate wins the election in France next week, as The Washington Post’s David Ignatius says he is likely to do, it will shift the paradigm of Europe. It will change everything. Specifically, it could shift leadership in Europe from Germany to France. Or more likely, it could begin a power contention between France and Germany; a struggle for the soul of Europe. Because now that France has challenged austerity it brings respect, acceptance and leadership to the countries that have in the recent brief history complained. That would be Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, which France can begin to assert European leadership to. France brings status and a legitimate program of opposition to these countries by the repudiation of Sarko and the election of Socialist leader Francois Hollande, not only to France but to these other countries. While Germany would retain leadership of others. Until now, a few of us Euro deniers referred to the EU as! Greater Germany. Now two realms emerge: Greater Germany and Greater France.
GOP Senate candidate: Nugent 'a patriot,' Secret Service investigation 'a concern'
John Raese, the West Virginia Republican challenging incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), called rocker Ted Nugent a "patriot" and said a Secret Service investigation into controversial comments he made about President Obama were "a concern."
Poll: Obama leads in swing states, Romney makes inroads
President Obama leads in 12 battleground states that will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2012 election, but Mitt Romney has made inroads among independents, according to the latest poll from Purple Strategies.
Americaâs cyber threat: Why we need to act now
We have been fortunate that up until this point, cyberattacks in our country have not caused a cataclysmic event that has brought physical harm to Americans. But that is not for a lack of effort on the part of those who mean to destroy our way of life â€" every day nations and “hacktivist†groups penetrate our public and private computer networks.
Status quo a danger to US infrastructure
Just over two months ago, the House Homeland Security subcommittee that oversees cybersecurity unanimously approved the Precise Act, legislation requiring the relatively few companies that run our nation’s critical infrastructure, such as the electric grid and water systems, to ensure their computer networks meet minimum safety standards. Just as the airline industry must follow Federal Aviation Administration safety standards, the companies that own and operate the infrastructure on which the public most relies should be accountable for protecting their consumers when confronted with a significant risk.
Axelrod: 'Silly' to bring what Obama ate as a child into campaign
David Axelrod, a top adviser to President Obama's reelection campaign, said Wednesday it is "silly" to bring something Obama did as a child into the current political debate.
"I thought it was a little absurd to talk about what the president had done as a 10-year-old boy," he told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell. Axelrod was referring to recent criticism prompted by a description from Obama's 2007 memoir Dreams of My Father of the various foods â€" including dog meat, snake meat and roasted grasshopper â€" he ate as a child in Indonesia.Â
Keeping the momentum on combating malaria
Midway through the 20th century, America rallied to defeat an enemy that threatened lives and weakened our economy.
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The culprit in question is likely not who you are guessing.
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It was malaria â€" a disease which continues to affect millions of lives around the world each year, particularly young children. Today, on World Malaria Day, America’s success at defeating the disease on our own soil serves as a reminder of what is possible when American ingenuity, hard work, and leadership is unleashed. It’s a history lesson worth heeding.
Slow jam
I was in bed last night well before the Jimmy Fallon show came on, so I had to wait until this morning before watching the president slow-jam the news.
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I laughed out loud.
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You got to give President Obama credit. As president, he is pretty damn funny.
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Still, and I hate to be a spoilsport, but I have to ask the question: Do you really want your commander in chief to be the joker in chief?
Ending federal duplication finds immediate savings
Office of Management and Budget Spokesman Kenneth Baer recently acknowledged a long and disturbing trend when he said, “Wasteful duplication of programs and overlap of effort has been around for a long time, as programs keep getting added without realizing what is already there.â€
Mr. Baer is right. But just because wasteful duplication has been around a long time, doesn’t mean it has to last forever. We’ve introduced a bipartisan, commonsense solution to this longstanding problem. The country is on the verge of bankruptcy. Congress can no longer afford to be ignorant of existing federal programs while proposing new duplicative programs that will be paid for with the billions of dollars borrowed from China.
RNC, Romney campaign team up to blast Obama as '#NotFunny' on Fallon
Mitt Romney's campaign is firing back Wednesday on President Obama's Tuesday appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." According to the campaign, Obama is #NotFunny for "slow jamming" his message about student loans while youth unemployment is double the national rate.
The Republican National Committee first used the Twitter hashtag in a web video that criticized Obama for the appearance. The video contrasts Obama's humorous interview with a speech Romney gave the same evening following his wins in five Repub! lican primaries.Â
Congress cannot afford to punt on Social Security
When we introduced one of the first bipartisan Social Security reform plans well over a decade ago, we were concerned about the future of the program. At the time the system was running large and growing surpluses, but we could already see the demographic storm on the horizon. We were worried that delaying action would narrow our choices as we looked to bring the system into balance.
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With the newest Social Security Trustees report hot off the presses, it’s now clearer than ever that we missed our best opportunity to reform the program. Gone are the large surpluses of the 90’s and 2000’s, and here to stay are large and growing deficits which will inevitably drain the trust fund dry if left unchecked.
Rohrabacher: Clinton 'should have stood up' to 'prima donna' Karzai
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) said Wednesday that she thought Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "should have stood up" to Afghan President Hamid Karzai when he denied the congressman entry to the country because of critical comments she made about the country's government.
"I think that she should have stood up for that, but however, she asked me to do that and I complied with her wishes," Rohrabacher told CNN. "I thought she was asking me in a respectful way, but she was having to deal with this corrupt prima donna who heads that country and realizing that, look, members of Congress should be over there to see if the dynamics are such that we're not just wasting people's lives and money, and there are changes that need to happen for us to be able to succeed."
Poll: Obama now leading Romney in Arizona
A second straight poll is showing a tight race between President Obama and Mitt Romney in Arizona, further underscoring the possibility that the state â€" long considered safe Republican territory â€" could be up for grabs in November.
Obama won the support of 42 percent of registered voters versus 40 percent who say they will vote for Romney, according to a Rocky Mountain Poll released Wednesday. That's the inverse of a Merrill/Morrison Institute poll earlier this week that had Romney up by two points; both surveys are well within their respective margins of error.
Arizona is one of the few places Obama can play offense after his commanding victory in 2008, and the president has already indicated that targeting Latino voters and the southwes! t will play a major part in his campaign strategy.
What I saw in Burma
Actress and human rights activist Emma Thompson and her adopted son Tindy recently traveled to Burma with ActionAid Executive Director Joanna Kerr for a first hand look at the situation in that country. While there, Thompson, who has been a supporter of ActionAid for over 10 years, met with many people across the country, including Aung San Suu Kyi, freed political prisoners, diplomats, government reformists, young people, women's rights groups and the people ActionAid reaches in the country. What follows are excerpts from Thompson’s travel diary.

Tuesday
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On the way to Yangon (Rangoon) we read many articles about Aung San Suu Kyi, or The Lady as she is known.
I wonder about the possibilities for development under a military dictatorship. The human rights record in this country has been so appalling for so long, none of us can quite imagine what or how anything gets done.
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The reason ActionAid is welcom! e in a country which admits far fewer international charities than most, is on account of its excellent work in 2008 after a cyclone called Nargis hit the country, killing 150,000.
ActionAid had been working in Burma since 2006, developing young leaders through what they call the Fellowship Programme. These young people were able to get into devastated communities and help to rebuild them.
The question of what to call this country is a vexed one. Exiles, not wishing to accept the name given to their beloved home by the junta, call it Burma. But we are told everyone who lives there now calls it Myanmar…
The Buffet Rule will help restore the American Dream
In 1944, George Bernard Shaw wrote, “A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.†Perhaps it was this sentiment that governed Warren Buffet’s thinking when he stated, “There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.â€
Mr. Buffet then asked all the folks in his Omaha, Nebraska office, mostly secretaries or clerks, to calculate their effective tax rates. He also calculated his own. He found that with no personal tax planning and simply paying what the IRS code requires, his tax rate was significantly less than his employees.
The foundation of the proposed Buffet Rule is the basic principle that no household making over $1 million annually should pay a smaller share of their income in taxes than hardworking middle class families.
For example, in 2008, the top 400 richest Americans â€" all making over $110 million in a single year â€" paid o! nly 18 percent of their income in taxes. By contrast, many working and middle class families pay closer to 30 percent.
Transparency and accountability can bring back trust in Congress
Being a policy maker from Illinois, where four governors have spent time behind bars â€" as have two of my predecessors â€" I quickly learned that it is impossible to lead or make tough decisions without the public’s trust. The American people have to be able to trust the government to spend their tax dollars wisely.
The GSA’s frivolous spending on commemorative coins and conference yearbooks is a slap in the face to taxpayers everywhere. Considering actions like these, it comes as no surprise that trust in government is at an all time low. A CNN/ORC poll from September 2011 revealed that only 15 percent of Amer! icans trust the federal government to do what is right, down from 25 percent in September 2010. The pre-Watergate era, during which a majority of Americans said they trusted government, feels like ancient history.
Let Rep. West speak to NAACP
I carry no brief for Florida Rep. Allen Westâ€"as I wrote just last week for The Root, the Republican congressman’s recent cheap shot at his Democratic colleagues, describing “78 to 81†of them as “communist†at a constituent town hall meetingâ€"was, among other things, “just plain lazy.†The pander hearkened back to the ‘50s-era scare-politics of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and sent a message to constituents that they needn’t take him seriouslyâ€"because thus far, he’s long on insults and woefully short on solutions.
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But if West is lazy, thenâ€"franklyâ€"so is the Martin County, Florida chapter of the NAACP: because just like West’s constituents should be able to expect more out of him, the members of the local NAACP should be able to expect that their leadership won’t cut off a! ccess to Westâ€"or any other politician who’s looking to engage them.
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Unfortunately, that’s exactly what they did.