WATER COOLER
The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
Latest Blog Entries
PICKET: (VIDEO) Obama '08: We're going to make social security solvent forever
On the 2008 campaign trail, President Barack Obama promised social security would remain solvent forever under his administration, yet he is threatening to withold social security checks this year if the federal government defaults after the August 2 debt ceiling deadline.
PICKET: (VIDEO) Geithner and Lew dodge questions on Social Security myths and threats
The Obama administration has already threatened to withhold social security checks if the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2, but does not to talk about cutting back on government jobs instead or whatever happened to the Social Security trust fund Democrats so often referred to.
PICKET: Omaha public school stimulus money teaches kids to stop 'being a color-blind' society
Public schools in Omaha spent $130,000 in federal stimulus money on cultural diversity books for all 8,000 school staffers including: teachers, administrators, and even janitors that teaches that a color-blind society is not enough to end racism.
PICKET: Issa urges SEC to probe possible insider trading activity around DoED policy
The Department of Education has been under fire by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as well as non-profit organizations ranging from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) to Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) since DoEd proposed and eventually published the Gainful Employment rule this year.
PICKET: Movie review site Rotten Tomatoes lists Palin film as 'science fiction & fantasy'
A popular movie review website lists the new Sarah Palin film as both science fiction and fantasy.
PICKET: Light bulb ban repeal bill fails in the House
The Hill reported on Monday that the House bill headed to the floor today that would repeal the ban on incandescent light bulbs would 'likely' go down in defeat, as it would be a vote under suspension and therefore require a 2/3 majority in order to pass the lower chamber.
PICKET: (VIDEO) Immelt to Chamber on job creation: 'The people in this room can do more too'
The Obama administration's job's czar, General Electric's Jeffrey Immelt, addressed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday and discussed job creation ideas to the Chamber's audience at the annual jobs summit. Mr. Immelt's speech was relatively defensive and placed most of the onus on private sector businesses to take the first step towards creating jobs.
PICKET: (video) Rep.Tim Scott: Obama side-stepping Congress over debt-ceiling is 'impeachable act'
Congressman Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican, spoke to his constituents on Thursday about the debt ceiling debate in Washington. He talked about the constitutionality of the president bypassing the Congress over the debt ceiling issue.
VERNUCCIO: MD union finds sneaky way to force non-members to pay up
The move by AFSCME in Maryland to begin collecting dues from non-members recently is indicative of union organization drives across the country. Unions in the private sector have been atrophying for years and now make up less than seven percent of the workforce. Government union membership on the other hand has been sky rocketing.
PICKET: (video) Flashback: Reid and Obama explained their '06 debt ceiling vote was 'political'
Here are two interesting clips from earlier this year of President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, talking about why they voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2006, yet feel differently today about their votes from five years ago.
MILLER: (video) Bachmann will vote against debt ceiling
Rep. Michele Bachmann, GOP presidential candidate, announced that she will vote against raising the debt ceiling. In a TV campaign ad, the Minnesota Republican said that she will not support any increase in the current $14.3 borrowing limit.
PICKET: (video) Van Jones slams Norquist's taxpayer protection pledge
Former Obama administration Green Jobs Czar Van Jones spoke to the Washington Times on Wednesday after he addressed a Campus Progress audience in Washington. We asked him why he took issue with the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge that many Republicans sign before running for office.
PICKET: Does Newt have a path for 2012?
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination, continues to hit snags in his quest. While most right of center political observers will give Mr. Gingrich his due as an intelligent individual...an "ideas man," the Georgia Republican's campaign for the presidency is routinely dismissed as more than long shot by both Republican activists, leaders, and former Gingrich aides
PICKET: Paul Ryan tweets out to Obama: Pick a time and place and debate me
Amidst a frenzy of suggested Twitter questions for President Barack Obama to answer this afternoon at his Twitter townhall, Congressman Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican and author of the GOP budget plan, tweeted out a challenge to the president.
PICKET: House sub-committee announces hearing on child deaths due to maltreatment
Casey Anthony, the Florida mother who was accused of first degree murder among other charges, was found not guilty in the killing of her two-year-old daughter Caylee Marie. Many continue to believe Ms. Anthony at least neglected Caylee, given the evidence submitted during the trial period and it looks like the federal government may have something to say about cases similar to the Casey Anthony story a week from now on July 12.
