Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Inside the Beltway
There's a reason why even he-man Texas Gov. Rick Perry is leery of incoming presidential candidate debates, perhaps: "Politician" is one of the scariest jobs in the nation, say thousands of Americans asked to rank professions according to such factors as "imminent danger," "public speaking" and " potential humiliation." Politician is No. 15 on the list, after such careers as exterminator, stand-up comedian, animal control officer and stunt person - all of which might showcase workplace skills that politicians might need, come to think of it. Published October 27, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Republican presidential hopeful Gary E. Johnson is "presidential" in his own fashion. He's no Mitt Romney, but then, sometimes Mitt Romney is no Mitt Romney, either. Published October 26, 2011
Inside the Beltway
ObamaCare may not be a popular topic at the moment, but ObamaHair is proving to be a crowd pleaser on the never-ending White House campaign trail. Published October 25, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Vegas, Hollywood - another day, another White House showbiz moment to promote President Obama's most public-pleasing policies, not to mention his 2012 re-election campaign. Published October 24, 2011
Inside the Beltway
As a complex week full of discord looms, consider "President Reagan's Favorite Macaroni and Cheese," a recipe shared by "Mrs. Ronald Reagan, Washington, D.C., Wife of the President" in a spiral-bound community cookbook published by the American Cancer Society's Northern Virginia division in 1983. Published October 23, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Incivility does not connote power or political prowess. Republican presidential hopefuls should remember that petty potshots - while amusing to the press - do not wear well with the weary, worried American public. Democratic strategists can easily exploit such moments as a symbol of (a) Republican disunity (b) Republican boorishness (c) Republican immaturity. And alas. Polished, studied Mitt Romney has abandoned is steady behavior by sparring with Texas Gov. Rick Perry; the rivals grappled before 5.5. million prime-time viewers on camera at the Republican debate in Las Vegas, and now duel with scathing campaign ads. Published October 20, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Political theater pays off. Published October 19, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Mitt Romney's height could win him the 2012 presidential nomination. Just blame it on "caveman instincts to ensure survival" that are ingrained in the American public. Published October 18, 2011
Inside the Beltway
The inner workings of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement are emerging: Is it a spontaneous grass-roots group aglow with 1960s-style righteousness or a well-organized machine with much infrastructure? Published October 17, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Polished, agile Mitt Romney is a pollster's darling. Published October 16, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Forget the President Obama mask. The most "sought after" adult Halloween costume of 2011 are Angry Birds. Published October 13, 2011
Inside the Beltway
The mainstream media has a crush on Mitt Romney. Wooed by his studied civility, canny debate and polished oratory, the press is reveling in the Romney brand, which has a valuable shelf life in an endless campaign. Published October 12, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Gentleman crooner and conservative stalwart Pat Boone is in the nation's capital on Wednesday to be feted by no less than 40 members of Congress for his steadfast support of the 60 Plus Association, a non-partisan seniors advocacy group with a free enterprise, less government, lower taxes approach to myriad issues. Published October 11, 2011
Inside the Beltway
The ongoing Wall Street protests get such cozy press. Published October 10, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Quick quiz: Who's behind "Women Working For Change"? Progressives and hippies? This upcoming political training conference was organized by Project GOPink. Published October 9, 2011
Inside the Beltway
"Is the Hank Williams Jr. incident a parallel to the Dixie Chicks?" asks Radio-Info.com, an insider site for the radio industry. Published October 6, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Though she's not running for president, Fox News founder Roger Ailes still drew gleeful reactions from liberal journalists for explaining his decision to hire Sarah Palin as a contributor because, "She was hot and got good ratings." Published October 5, 2011
Inside the Beltway
They're bowing out of one debate, anyway. Republican hopefuls Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman Jr. have decided to boycott an upcoming presidential debate on Univision after news emerged that the Spanish language network allegedly tried to strong-arm Sen. Marco Rubio. Published October 4, 2011
Inside the Beltway
The American public, apparently, has a taste for power fiction, tinged with terrorism and intrigue, with an old school, rough and tumble journalist as its hero. Published October 3, 2011
Inside the Beltway
Former "green jobs czar" Van Jones hopes to ally the progressive cause with the middle class, using a page or two from the tea party playbook, perhaps. Published October 2, 2011
