Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Inside the Beltway: John Kasich tells voters ‘I’m an unorthodox politician because I’m normal’
"I'm John Kasich. I'm an unorthodox politician because I'm normal. I'm a normal guy that has big job. I don't think of myself as anything particularly special. I'm a happy person. I like myself. I'm comfortable with myself. And I'm pretty normal in an abnormal profession." Published March 24, 2015
Hillary Clinton: 72 percent of Americans say she’ll run for president, only 42 percent want her to
Will she, or won't she? Three-fourths of Americans say Hillary Clinton will run for president, but only 42 percent want her to. So says a new poll that parses out the ever-complicated presidential landscape. Published March 24, 2015
Ted Cruz described as ‘first top tier conservative since Reagan’ by Richard Viguerie
A seismic shift? Things will change now that Sen. Ted Cruz has entered the White House race, some say. "Every Republican candidate for president will have to move significantly to the right, starting with Jeb Bush and Scott Walker. So say Richard Viguerie, a longtime conservative maven. Published March 23, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Grover Norquist, Dan Stein headline ‘unprecedented’ immigration forum
A heads-up for those who fret about the border wars: A pair of heavyweights will duke out the finer points of immigration. Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform, and Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, encounter one another on Thursday, each bolstered with distinct ideas and much mettle. Published March 23, 2015
March Madness: Big ratings, big bets plus a national taste for gnocchi, fajitas and sweet potato pie
There's a high rolling culture at work here: March Madness has produced record-breaking TV ratings and $900 million in revenue for the NCAA. Americans will also bet $9 billion on the tournament - and appease their taste for a certain cuisine as well. Published March 23, 2015
Perfect presidential candidate: Americans want ‘Someone willing to change Obama’s policies’
"If you could create the perfect candidate to succeed Barack Obama as president, what would their background be and what would they think?" asks CNN polling director Jennifer Agiesta, who has a new survey that reveals this: "Most Americans say they would like a candidate who's a seasoned political leader, someone with an executive background, and someone who’s willing to change Barack Obama's policies." Published March 22, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Ted Cruz critics line up following his presidential declaration
When Republican presidential posturing turns into definitive action, the critics come out like clockwork. It happened last week when Donald Trump announced he had formed a presidential exploratory committee and was immediately met with accusations he was disingenuous, unqualified or seeking publicity. Now it is Sen. Ted Cruz's turn. Published March 22, 2015
The Right SIde Forum: What’s next with conservative host Armstrong WIlliams
"The Right Side Forum," an hourlong conservative news and talk show hosted by columnist Armstrong Williams, will ask this question on its next broadcast: "Is homosexuality a choice?" Published March 19, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Prince Charles, Camilla visit White House, Republicans talk imperial presidency
Stand back, now. "The Rise of the Imperial Presidency" was the official theme for the Republican National Lawyers Association gathered to celebrate the august organization's 30th anniversary with a conference and private reception, plus a bristling guest list that included Sens. Bob Corker, Rob Portman, John McCain and Orrin Hatch; Rep. Susan Brooks; former Attorney General John Ashcroft; and former FCC Chairman John Wiley, among others. Published March 19, 2015
Watergate lives: $125 million renovation on Watergate Hotel embraces scandal, retro luxury
One of the most elite and storied properties in the nation's capital is not a monument or museum. It is the Watergate Hotel, once the scene of clandestine moments, scandal, political upheaval, hearsay and 1970s glamor. Following a $125 million renovation, the new Watergate Hotel is set to re-open this summer. Published March 19, 2015
2016: Over half of likely voters say Democrats ‘should look for a fresh face’
Most likely voters think the Democratic Party should look for a presidential newcomer in 2016, says a Rasmussen Reports poll released Thursday. Fifty-four percent of all likely U.S. voters believe Democrats should "look for a fresh face to run for president in 2016 rather than promote a candidate who has already run in the past," the survey says. Published March 19, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Donald Trump trumps critics with newest bid for president
It is inevitable political theater: Donald Trump has formed an exploratory committee for a presidential campaign, and like clockwork, the Democratic National Committee couldn't wait to capitalize on it. Mr. Trump made his announcement with customary flourish and candor, fascinating fans and annoying rivals. Published March 18, 2015
News organizations retool operations, go for ‘obsession journalism’ and niche news
Just as the public gets comfortable with such journalism staples as trending stories and viral news comes a new phenomenon: "Obsession journalism." The media may be annoying, but news organizations are racing to redefine their turf and content to stay afloat in an unforgiving and highly competitive marketplace. Published March 18, 2015
Donald Trump launches presidential exploratory committee: ‘Americans deserve better’
Donald Trump has formed an exploratory committee for a presidential campaign, and has done so with typical big city flair. "I have a great love for our country, but it is a country that is in serious trouble. We have lost the respect of the entire world. Americans deserve better than what they get from their politicians – who are all talk and no action! I have built a great company, created thousands of jobs and built a tremendous net worth with some of the finest and most prestigious assets in the world – and very little debt! All Americans deserve the same opportunity," Mr. Trump said in a a statement released Wednesday. Published March 18, 2015
Homeland security: McCaul warns digital frontier ‘like the Wild West’
A Texas Republican offers a dire description: "As I speak, government computer systems are being hacked, proprietary data is being stolen from American companies, and the computers of private citizens are being compromised. And most of it is being done with impunity. Criminals, hacktivists, terrorists, and nation-states have managed to exploit our networks by staying at the cutting edge of technology. In the meantime, our defenses have lagged behind," Rep. Mike McCaul told an audience at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Published March 18, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Larry King: A man who actually listens
Veteran broadcaster Larry King is in the nation's capital for a fancy fete on Wednesday to honor his long career — 58 years and counting — and review the parade of people he has interviewed over the decades. Indeed, Mr. King, 81, has sat opposite some 50,000 luminaries, including seven presidents, politicians, actors, athletes, media mavens, the famous and the infamous. Published March 17, 2015
Astrobiology: Library of Congress to explore the implications of extraterrestrial life
Space, the final frontier for academia? On Wednesday and Thursday, the Library of Congress will focus on revelations in astrobiology, and there's a big title: "Astrobiology and the Religious Imagination: Reexamining Notions of Creation, Humanity, Selfhood, and the Cosmos." For the uninitiated, astrobiology is a multi-disciplinary field which deals in extraterrestrial matters, asking "How does life begin and evolve? Is there life beyond Earth and, if so, how can we detect it? What is the future of life on Earth and in the universe?" Published March 17, 2015
Larry King’s secret of success: ‘ ‘Just a regular guy” who asks one-sentence questions
For a man who has interviewed seven presidents and 50,000 assorted luminaries over a career spanning decades, Larry King has a simple rule for success. "What I do, I've been doing for 58 years. I'm not doing anything differently now than I did in 1957 when I started. I take my curiosity - and I make a living with it," Mr. King said in an interview with The Washington Times. Published March 17, 2015
Inside the Beltway: 54 percent of federal video surveillance footage goes unanalyzed
Smile for the cameras, which continue to catalog life as we know it in the name of security. But new research finds that 54 percent of video surveillance at federal agencies never gets examined, this according to "Video Vortex," a new MeriTalk analysis that tapped the opinions of 151 security managers and IT analysts from the federal and Defense communities. Published March 16, 2015
Hillary Clinton emails: 65 percent of Americans ‘closely’ following the controversy
It's not the vast right wing conspiracy ramping up rumors and hearsay into a perfect storm of lousy press for Hillary Clinton. Americans themselves are tracking the unfolding controversy over Mrs. Clinton's use of private emails during her time as Secretary of State: 65 percent say they are "closely" following the story; 78 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of Democrats agree, says a new YouGov poll: Published March 16, 2015
