WATER COOLER
The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
Latest Blog Entries
PICKET: Iranian Christian pastor's possible execution captures international attention
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani leads a network of Christian house churches in Iran and was convicted for apostasy by Iranian authorities for being a Christian with Islamic ancestry and must therefore recant his faith in Jesus Christ. According to reports, he has been given three different chances to do this since his hearing on Wednesday and he has refused.
PICKET: Sharpton on Obama in '07 - 'He never came off as a fighter'
Before Rev. Sharpton eventually supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign, he was taking pot shots at the future president himself. Reverend Al Sharpton attacked Congressional Black Caucus Members Reps. Maxine Waters, California Democrat, and Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri Democrat and CBC chairman, on Wednesday for their criticism of President Barack Obama recently. Rev. Sharpton said both lawmakers were originally Hillary Clinton supporters in 2008, so it should not be surprising that both made callous remarks towards the president.
PICKET: (AUDIO) Sharpton suspicious Democratic forces pushing for Hillary 2012
Rev. Al Sharpton excoriated Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday who have been critical of President Barack Obama. He went after Rep. Maxine Waters, California Democrat, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri Democrat, as 2008 Clinton supporters who were never supporters of President Obama in 2008, so it should not be surprising that both members of Congress are critical of the president today.
PICKET: (video) Sharpton attacks CBC Obama critics - Hypocritical Waters, Cleaver sat out marches
National Action Network's Reverend Al Sharpton took aim at Rep. Maxine Waters, California Democrat, and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri Democrat, when I asked the MSNBC host at a press conference on Wednesday about the CBC lawmakers' critical remarks about President Barack Obama recently.
PICKET: (video) OMB Director Jack Lew runs from questions on Solyndra
Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Jack Lew refused to answer questions about Solyndra on Tuesday when he was asked if he let Energy Secretary Steven Chu there were concerns from OMB about loaning more tax payer money to the now defunct solar panel maker company Solyndra.
PICKET: ZOGBY - Cain leads in new poll; Perry Plummets to 18%
Presidential candidate Herman Cain has shot up in Zogby's latest poll ahead of Texas Governor Rick Perry.
PICKET: AttackWatch death watch
Is the Obama campaign quietly pulling the plug on AttackWatch?
PICKET: Cain - DOJ is 'supposed to be about justice not politics'
Presidential primary candidate Herman Cain sees a Justice Department under a Cain administration would actually "put justice back into the role of the Department of Justice." The recent Florida straw poll winner spoke with me on Saturday about his thoughts President Obama's Justice Department and what he would like to see in a Justice Department if he were elected president.
PICKET: Freed American hikers thank Hugo Chavez, Noam Chomsky, Cindy Sheehan; raise suspicion about purpose of trip
Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the now freed American hikers who were held in an Iranian prison after being convicted for espionage, appeared before cameras and reporters in New York on Sunday and gave prepared statements about their detentions in Iran.
PICKET: Bachmann campaign stays focused on Iowa...says endorsements of other camps now are 'hokey'
Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, appears to be fading into the GOP primary background at the moment and her debate performance in Orlando did not seem as if it would improve her status in the polls right now. Gallup currently has her at 5 percent, in fourth place, eight points behind Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican. Her team, campaign manager Keith Nahigian and spokeswoman Alice Stewart argue, though, that the race is still early and the campaign believes the race is only about Iowa right now.
LIVE Analysis of Tonight's GOP Debate
GOP Debate Live-blogging
PICKET: Romney picks up the pace and new endorsements
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has found his stride in the GOP presidential primary horse race, according to Gallup's latest numbers.
PICKET: Dem Congressman - 'If it takes lawsuits to get work opportunities, then so be it'
The push from federal lawmakers to protect the unemployed from discrimination has heated up considerably since Congressman Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican, went to the the floor of the House last week and highlighted a portion of President Barack Obama's jobs bill that prohibits employers from discriminating against potential employees as a result of one's un-employed status.
PICKET: Obama blows U.N. photo op
MSNBC posted an interesting group photo of leaders from various nations at the Open Government Partnership event at the United Nations on Tuesday in New York City. The White House is probably not happy now.
PICKET: Food and beverage industry regulations coming from Capitol Hill soon
The Breast Cancer Fund is about to launch a campaign against kids' canned food. Parents on a budget, who are told to take fast food off their children's diet plans, now must contend with the canned food police. In this case, the Breast Cancer Fund has a new report warning consumers about toxic levels of bisphenol A, or BPA in the lining on canned children's foods. Thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency, BPA is the new scary chemical that is on the verge of being eradicated from all food and beverage packaging.
