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Joseph Curl

Joseph Curl

Joseph Curl covered the White House and politics for a decade for The Washington Times. He can be reached at josephcurl@gmail.com and on Twitter @josephcurl.

Columns by Joseph Curl

Terry McAuliffe (left) makes nice with rival Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II after their final governor's debate Thursday at Virginia Tech. (associated press)

CURL: Virginia voters: Time for something futile and stupid

On Nov. 5, Virginia will hold its Tuesday Night Football game. Might be on Spike. Check your TV listings. Why the Land of Presidents holds its gubernatorial elections in off years — no presidential or congressional races on the ballot — is anyone's guess. Maybe state lawmakers want to see just how few voters will go to the polls. Published November 3, 2013

First, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius went to a gala in Boston instead of testifying about the Healthcare.gov rollout debacle. Then she went to Phoenix to assure America that she was working "24/7" to get her $634 million website up and running. (Associated Press)

CURL: Step 1: Fire Kathleen Sebelius

Imagine you're on a jet, flying to Los Angeles. You look out the window to see the engine on fire. In full panic, you see the pilot pulling on a parachute. "Sorry folks, not my problem," he says, and leaps out the door. That's Kathleen Sebelius. Published October 27, 2013

Virginia gubernatorial candidate, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, gets a hug by former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during a campaign rally, Women for Terry, at the State Theater in Falls Church, Va. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. Clinton formally endorsed her family friend's bid for Virginia governor, marking her first public campaign event since departing the State Department in February. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

CURL: Anatomy of Ken Cuccinelli’s losing campaign in Virginia

The more he spoke, the more he seemed surprised by his lack of success in a state that is still more red than purple, despite two wins by Barack Obama. And he seemed shocked by the mendacious campaign of his opponent — absolutely shocked. Published October 20, 2013

** FILE ** This combination of photographs shows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio as they leave the White House separately in Washington, Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, after a closed-door meeting between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders to negotiate the framework for a deal on the fiscal cliff. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

CURL: Throw the &#$@%* bums out

Let's say you run a widget factory. You've got two shipping foremen — Mr. Red and Mr. Blue. One handles East Coast orders; the other, West Coast orders. You pay them a lot — a lot. But they're worth it. They get the job done. Until they can't. Published October 13, 2013

** FILE ** President Obama signs the health care bill at the White House in Washington on March 23, 2010, flanked by smiling supporters from the House and Senate as well as Victoria Reggie Kennedy (behind Mr. Obama's right shoulder), widow of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was a champion of the legislation. (Associated Press)

CURL: Welcome to Obamacare — fax us your money!

On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed the non-ironically named Affordable Care Act. That was 915 days ago. From the moment the last of the 22 pens he used to sign the bill into law left the parchment, the federal government has been gearing up — and, of course, collecting cash — for Day One, non-ironically set 915 days in the future, Oct. 1, 2013. Published September 29, 2013

** FILE ** President Obama delivers remarks about the ongoing situation in Syria in the Rose Garden of the White House on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013, in Washington. Mr. Obama said that he has decided the United States should take military action against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack but that he will seek congressional authorization for the use of force. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

CURL: The president thinks you’re stupid (and so do ) …

... the vice president, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, everyone in Congress (even the dumbest guy there, Al Franken), the Supreme Court, the Washington media — enough, you get the picture, right? You're Stupid. Published September 8, 2013

Martin Manley (martinmanleylifeanddeath.com)

CURL: On the life and death of one man

One day not long ago — Jan. 1, 2012, to be exact — Martin Manley set a New Year's resolution unlike any other: "To explore the idea of committing suicide sooner rather than later." Published August 18, 2013

** FILE ** President Obama reacts as he misses a shot while golfing on the first hole at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs, Mass., on the island of Martha's Vineyard on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

CURL: Amateur Hour (once again) starring Barack Obama

Awhile ago, my exasperated wife said: "Why don't you take a week off from bashing the president and write about something else? Anything else." And I said: "I want to, but he won't let me. Published August 11, 2013

** FILE ** President Obama pauses as he speaks at the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington on Friday, July 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CURL: Obama picks scab off America’s racial wound

President Obama, America's first half-black, half-white president, went to the White House podium last week to address the nation's most racially divisive case since Rodney King. But he wasn't there to calm the country. Published July 21, 2013

President Obama symbolic visit last week to the "Door of No Return," through which African slaves are said to have passed as they boarded ships for the Americas, most likely was a rubbish chute on Senegal's Goree Island, Britain's Telegraph newspaper reported.

CURL: Obama stands at his own ‘door of no return’

The White House has a team of people — you taxpayers foot the bill, of course — that spends its days thinking of the best way to portray the president in the most favorable light. ("Maybe we should snap him riding a bike in Hawaii?" "Let's snap him playing hoops!" "His 122nd round of golf? No cameras please.") Published June 30, 2013