Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Turf war brewing: Libertarian Party proclaims they’re the only ‘real deal’
Many Americans say they're Libertarians, including tea partiers. But there's only one official Libertarian Party - founded in 1971 and throwing themselves a big convention in Columbus beginning Thursday. The organization claims to be the only "real deal" in a very crowded field. So don't go using their name in vain. Published June 26, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Libertarians strut stuff, defend turf
The big day has arrived for the official Libertarian Party, which now reports that its numbers have increased by 11 percent in the last year. It's convention time. Published June 25, 2014
Fed up: 90 percent of Americans now give Congress a negative review
It looks like the nation is still in throw-the-bums-out mode, and on both sides of the aisle. How vexed are voters vexed with Congress? One new poll says all: 90 percent of Americans give the entire U.S. Congress a negative job review. Everyone seems on the same page here: 89 percent of Republicans, 87 percent of Democrats and 95 percent of independents agree. Published June 25, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Behold, it’s a White House ‘Day in the life’
Brace for it. The White House has readied a new feel-good tactic to appeal to American voters, and it goes public in 24 hours when President Obama fires up Air Force One and journeys to Minnesota for a two-day visit that includes a public event, a private fundraiser and something called a "day in the life." Published June 24, 2014
Drone Journalism: CNN closes in on overhead coverage
It was inevitable. In the endless competition between news organization for an audience, some are now exploring best practices for journalism drones. That’s right. It's what's overhead that counts. CNN and the Georgia Institute of Technology have formed a joint research initiative to ferret out opportunities that unmanned aerial vehicles - UAVs - present for media organizations. Published June 24, 2014
Inside the Beltway: 24 hours into the Obama/Clinton ‘Blood Feud’
It's been 24 hours since "Blood Feud: The Clintons Vs. The Obamas" arrived on the nation's bookshelves, to be teased about and fussed over by fans and critics alike for its often startling news about both first families, and the unexpected acrimony between them. Published June 23, 2014
The crisis goes global: International charity to help America’s illegal border children
Beleaguered Border Patrol agents who have become the sudden caregivers to thousands of unaccompanied minor children arriving daily on the Southwestern border of the U.S are getting some help from a charity with a strong international presence. Save the Children, a charity founded in 1919 and now active in 120 countries, announced Monday it had begun working to ease the situation "now overwhelming border control institutions ill-prepared to meet the basic needs of such large numbers of unaccompanied children." Published June 23, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Still no winner in the Iraq blame game
Journalists, politicians and pundits are now in full parlor game mode, examining who is at fault — or not at fault — for the uncertain future of Iraq. Published June 22, 2014
Record breaker: Kevin McCarthy becomes least tenured floor leader in U.S. House history
Well, it's an official record. A painstaking study of more than three-dozen House majority and minority leaders finds that Rep. Kevin McCarthy, with less than four full terms under his belt, "has the least experience of any floor leader in the chamber's history by more than a year - and nearly 10 years less than the average leader," says the University of Minnesota "Smart Politics" report. Published June 20, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Miss Mitt yet?
"Mitt Romney? Well, at least he still looks the part," says one New England-based voter who is not surprised with a few startling numbers out of New Hampshire. Garnering 24 percent of the support among likely GOP voters, Mr. Romney led a list of 14 potential Republican presidential hopefuls by a mammoth margin in the Granite State. Published June 19, 2014
Talking about Iraq? Why you should say ‘ISIL’ - not “ISIS’
For the news media, tracking terrorism demands accuracy and consistency lest the public get confused. From The Associated Press, which rules on journalistic grammar - or the lack thereof - comes news that "ISIL" rather than "ISIS" is the best term for the al Qaeda splinter group leading Sunni militants in Iraq. Published June 19, 2014
Ready - or NOT - for Hillary: why she’s not likely to run in 2016
Yes, she has a mammoth marketing machine, a carefully crafted resume and sparkling approval ratings. But is Hillary Rodham Clinton really going to run for president? One school of thought says she’s simply holding a place in line for a Democratic dream team to come, thereby engaging the public with some good political theater. Published June 19, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Seeking the big prize — a Republican majority
The nation's capital gets a big dose of faith, freedom and determination when the three-day Road to Majority Conference gets underway. Organized by the Faith & Freedom Coalition, it opens with much ado Thursday, drawing some 2,000 conservative activists. Published June 18, 2014
No kumbaya here: U.S. is now the 101st ‘most peaceful’ nation on earth
The planet is not a peaceful place, and the U.S. no longer ranks in the top 100 most peaceful nations. It stands at No. 101, according to the annual Global Peace Index, a complex analysis that quantifies the relative peacefulness of 162 nations. Published June 18, 2014
Chicago-style: Bill Clinton to fundraise for Rahm Emanuel
There are some in Chicago who still entertain the notion that Mayor Rahm Emanuel will somehow end up in the 2016 presidential race, either in the lead role himself, or as a vice presidential running mate of Hillary Rodham Clinton. This week, however, Mr. Emanuel's thoughts are with Bill Clinton. who journeys to Chicago on Friday to headline a fundraiser for his former senior adviser Published June 18, 2014
Inside the Beltway: ‘Time for Obama to be president’
It is an odd juxtaposition. News coverage now includes such alarming headlines as "The Battle of Baghdad" and "Will ISIS plan a 9/11-style terror plot against the US?" — even as the press scrambles to follow a restless White House and a president engaged in fundraisers, photo-ops and, to date, 176 golfing expeditions. Published June 17, 2014
Forget the power lunch: D.C. proclaimed top ‘foodie’ mecca
So no more prime steak, loaded potato and wedge salad with blue cheese dressing - while policy talk rages at some back table? Some say the nation’s capital is pulling back from its culinary traditions. Published June 17, 2014
Monica Crowley named as Washington Times’ Online Opinion Editor
Monica Crowley, a longtime contributor to Fox News Channel and host of a nationally syndicated talk show, has been named Online Opinion Editor of the news organization, reporting to The Times' Opinion Editor David Keene, beginning June 23. Published June 16, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Behold candidate George Clooney
Hollywood on the Potomac: It is the stuff of fabulous dreams in the foreign press. Multiple overseas news organizations have become convinced that actor George Clooney is going to run for office in California, and possibly end up in the White House with a British first lady by his side. Journalists have already penned the script. Published June 16, 2014
What discord? Pollster says support for the tea party now ‘the norm for Republicans’
Democratic operatives would do well to soft pedal the "tea party is dead" narrative for now. New poll numbers reveal that the tea party mantra of fiscal sanity, less government and lower taxes could be the very backbone of the Republican Party itself. Published June 16, 2014
