INSIDE POLITICS
The Washington Times' political blog.
Latest Blog Entries
Graham cuts loose, calls Clinton 'blind and deaf,' Hagel 'unqualified'
Sen. Lindsey Graham has never pulled punches when it comes to criticizing the Obama administration, but the conservative South Carolina lawmaker's rhetoric has been especially biting in recent weeks.
McCain: Hagel will be confirmed as defense secretary
Sen. John McCain, one of the leading opponents of President Obama's nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the new defense secretary, said Sunday that it's likely Mr. Hagel will be confirmed, but that he still doesn't believe he's qualified for the post.
Schumer: 'Progress' on background checks, less so on assault weapons ban
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said Sunday that a bipartisan group that has been crafting a plan regarding background checks for gun sales has made progress, but he appeared less bullish on the prospects of a ban on so-called assault weapons.
Gen. Allen's NATO commander nomination on hold
The White House said Friday President Obama has put the nomination of Gen. John Allen on hold as the general decides whether he wants to take on the role of NATO supreme commander.
Obamas dine out for Valentine's Day
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama celebrated Valentine's Day Thursday with dinner out at MiniBar, a Jose Andres restaurant known as a tough place to get a reservation. The menu price is $225 per person, beverages not included.
Kerry: Sequester will 'seriously impair' safety, security at U.S. diplomatic facilities
If across the board spending cuts known as the sequester go into effect on March 1, their impact would "seriously impair" State Department efforts to "enhance the security of U.S. government facilities overseas and ensure the safety of thousands of U.S. diplomats," Secretary of State John F. Kerry wrote to Congress this week.
New NRA ad: 'Welcome to Barack Obama's middle class'
The National Rifle Association is out with a new ad Thursday taking President Obama and others to task over gun control, specifically targeting a proposed ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Boehner to Senate Dems: Make my day by acting on Obama's liberal agenda
Seeking to strengthen his position in the fiscal battles on Capitol Hill, House Speaker John A. Boehner challenged the Senate to act on the liberal agenda that President Obama laid out in his State of the Union address.
N.Y.'s Cuomo: Fracking decision 'too important' to rush
Under fire for delaying a decision whether to allow fracking in his state, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended his handling of the situation on Wednesday.
Obama and Japan's prime minister discuss N. Korea's nuclear test
President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wednesday are consulting about the appropriate steps to take in response to North Korea's test of a nuclear device at an underground site this week.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., others arrested in Keystone pipeline protest at White House
Climate change activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was one of dozens arrested Wednesday in front of the White House during a protest against completion of the massive Keystone XL pipeline project.
Illegal immigrant tells Congress not to call him illegal
Jose Antonio Vargas, an illegal immigrant and former reporter, scolded a congressional panel on Wednesday, saying that he should not be called illegal, and saying it is an insult to his family who brought him here.
Obama renominates contentious labor board picks
In a provocative move, President Obama Wednesday re-nominated two controversial Democratic candidates to the National Labor Relations Board just weeks after a federal court invalided their recess appointments to the posts.
Climate-change solutions must be a bipartisan goal, Obama insists
Following up on his inaugural address, Mr. Obama devoted a lengthy passage of his speech to his intention to combat climate change, asking Congress to pursue a "bipartisan, market-based solution" and threatening executive action if it did not.
Obama insists his health care law will save money, a claim sure to draw GOP ire
President Obama on Tuesday said his signature health-care law is saving money for the nation, a claim that is sure to draw the ire of Republicans who are hoping to scale back the law despite the president's reelection and the Supreme Court's decision to uphold its key reforms.
