WATER COOLER
The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
Latest Blog Entries
PICKET: Wasserman Schultz resigns from House Judiciary Committee
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Democrat, submitted her resignation as a member of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
PICKET: Obama jobs bill makes the unemployed a new protected class
Rep. Louie Gohmert, Texas Republican, went to the House floor last Tuesday and broke down parts of President Barack Obama's jobs bill. One particular section Rep. Gohmert highlighted was the "prohibition of discrimination in employment on the basis of an individual's status as unemployed."
PICKET: Florida Congressman proposes bill to make traveling with firearms easier
Congressman Cliff Stearns, Florida Republican, has proposed legislation that would allow any fire arm owner who is also a conceal carry permit holder in his own state to cross state lines within the country and not be considered to be breaking the firearm carry laws of another state.
PICKET: House votes to rein in NLRB power
The House passed legislation on Thursday that would restrict the National Labor Relations Board from keeping U.S. companies from opening their businesses in different locations. The GOP backed bill is in response to the NLRB's seeking action against the plane maker Boeing, after the company opened a plant in South Carolina, a right to work state.
PICKET: Dems ignored NY-9 warnings from 2010 Weiner v. Turner mid-term race
Former Democratic New York Congressman Anthony Weiner may have been able to defend his district from going Republican during his 2010 mid-term re-election against Republican Bob Turner, but that did not mean the New York 9 Congressional District was not already becoming increasingly frustrated with the Obama administration and Democrats on the hill. A number of clues were sprinkled about within that particular race, which were later ignored by Democrats in the midst of another Weiner re-election in November 2010. I covered the Weiner-Turner race last year. The combination of the power of Mr. Weiner's incumbency and the fact Mr. Turner made first-timer campaign mistakes helped Weiner immensely but taught Turner how to be a successful candidate for the district the second time around.
MILLER: Herman Cain calls NY-9 election “earth breaking” for Jewish vote
The former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza said that the Democrats failed to keep sex-scandal tainted Anthony Weiner’s seat because of President Obama’s Israel policies. “It says to me -- in neon lights -- that the Jewish community in that district does not like this administration’s position and treatment of Israel. That in itself is earth breaking,” he said in an interview with The Washington Times.
PICKET: NY-9 special election wrap up
Congressman-elect Bob Turner, New York Republican, pulled out an unbelievable victory over Democrat Assemblyman David Weprin in New York's 9th Congressional District on Tuesday night. The district has been represented by Democrats since 1923 and Mr. Turner first ran for the 9th CD during the 2010 mid-term elections against former Congressman Anthony Weiner.
PICKET: AP calls NY-9 for GOP's Turner
In an upset special election, Republican Bob Turner defeated Democrat Assemblyman David Weprin for New York's 9th Congressional District seat, according to the AP. The seat was held by former Congressman Anthony Weiner who resigned this summer following a scandal on Twitter.
PICKET: Turner Campaign - Weprin supporters posing as 'Jews for Jesus for Turner' and calling Jewish households
Turner campaign spokesman William O'Reilly told me their campaign suspects that Weprin supporters are calling Jewish households in New York's 9th Congressional District and posing as "Jews for Jesus for Turner."
EXCLUSIVE- PICKET: Turner campaign concerned with voter fraud issues in NY 9...looks to impound ballots after polls close
Turner campaign manager E. O'Brien Murray told me Tuesday afternoon their campaign is concerned that the close race in New York's 9th CD could very well be tainted by voter fraud from the David Weprin camp, and the Turner campaign does not want to be blind-sided.
PICKET: CNN Tea Party debate brings up new issues for Republican voters to ponder
"I walked into that debate thinking I knew who I favored in the very beginning, and by the very end I walked out completely undecided again," said a Florida tea party activist to me after last night's CNN Tea Party Express debate in Tampa.
PICKET: CNN debate prefaced by poll showing Perry with lead
Republican candidates for the White House will be debating in Tampa tonight. CNN and the Tea Party Express will be hosting this debate at the Florida State Fair Grounds. CNN released a poll early Monday morning showing where the GOP candidates (announced and un-announced) currently stand.
PICKET:(video) Rep. Carson: Still extremists on the hill
Congressman Andre Carson, Indiana Democrat, spoke with Washington D.C.'s radio program America's Morning News on Monday about his controversial remarks almost two weeks ago regarding tea party activists and lawmakers on the hill who support them.
PICKET: Liberal polling group - 'Turner poised for big upset' in NY-9 race
The Democratic leaning Public Policy Polling group released numbers on Sunday night on New York's 9th Congressional District special election between Republican businessman Bob Turner and Democratic Assemblyman David Weprin.
PICKET: Obama top counter terrorism chief: National security threat can be too 'hyped'
A number of 9/11 day scares regarding detainments, "tense moments" on airlines and airports have been reported today. The Drudge Report has highlighted these moments with the banner of President Obama's speech. President Obama is quoted as saying, "America does not give into fear." Interestingly, though, Mr. Obama's own top counterterrorism advisor talked about people who "hype" the national security threat to PBS last week.
