WATER COOLER
The Water Cooler is written by Washington Times staffers.
Latest Blog Entries
First lady Michelle Obama has lingered in lovely Hawaii for a few days to celebrate a noteworthy birthday - her pending 50th on January 17. And Mrs. Obama's transport home when the time comes? The question has been posed to White House press secretary Jay Carney.
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Pollsters who concentrate on politics rarely go into sports issues. Not so Public Policy Polling, a North Carolina-based group that typically concentrates on state and national elections and the proverbial horse race. Their exception is an annual survey of attitudes about the NFL, posed to more than 700 registered voters nationwide.
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The old, weird drug culture from the days of Timothy Leary and 1960s hippie clans has taken on a new identity - and a major newspaper is involved. Welcome to "The Cannabist" - a splashy news site created by The Denver Post, and dedicated to the art and culture of marijuana.
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A little something for January? The Republican National Committee has conjured up a wish list of President Obama's goals for 2014 - all conveniently included in free e-cards for GOPers who want to share the sentiments with family and friends. And maybe a few foes, perhaps.
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In a world of complex baby names, parents have rediscovered the appeal of Isaiah and Judith. "Who wouldn't like to go back to old traditions at some point?" asks BabyNames.net, a website that helps expectant mothers and fathers navigate the myriad name choices for their offspring.
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The nation gets emotional this time of year for myriad reasons. They are fierce about their own traditions. But one thing is for sure, though there are some cultural dynamics at work, the vast majority of Americans celebrate Christmas. As in 90 percent.
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Inquiring minds want to know: who do the nation's esteemed lawmakers work for? It looks like the freewheeling group works for nobody. The vast majority of Americans — 90 percent — say elected officials in Washington behave "like they don’t have a boss." So says a Fox New poll released Thursday. Only 7 percent overall say the lawmakers behave as if they were "employees of the American public."
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It's was an event at the very nexus of politics, media, broadcast, tenacity and holiday spirit. That would a gathering Thursday evening hosted by conservative columnist, commentator and entrepreneur Armstrong Williams at the Monocle, the historic eatery not two blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
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We already know the "2013 Lie of the Year" as determined by Politifact, the fact checking watchdog.
Now we must address the "2013 Worst Quotes of the Year" from the Media Research Center.
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It's official: ethical standards differ between Republicans and Democrats. An unusual Gallup poll asked respondents to rank the honesty and ethics of 22 professions; the findings reveal that party identification even influences one's sense of trust, the pollster says.
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George W. hipster? Behold, a headline of note, and proof that time marches on: "How George W. Bush evolved from the uncoolest person on the planet to bona fide hipster icon," comes from Vanity Fair. The magazine suggests that the arbitrators of taste now beam warmly upon the former president.
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Michael Savage's four-year-old battle with Britain continues. The popular talk radio host has wrangled with the British government for quite a while - seeking to have his name removed from a list of 16 "undesirables" banned from the country on May 5, 2009. Now, he has received an invitation from Britain's Oxford Union to participate in a debate. Will he go?
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Is there such a thing as a "moral abortion"? The Huffington Post says yes.
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Daily diary entries by President Reagan, White House schedules for each year of his presidency, photos, videos, an audio quote of the day - these are among the offerings of the official "Ronald Reagan app", launched Wednesday by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.
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Despite all the kumbaya talk about compromise and optimism afoot on Capitol Hill, not everyone is happy with Sen. Patty Murray, Washington Democrat, and Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin Republican - who have carefully maneuvered their federal budget deal through the political landscape. Grassroots fiscal conservatives will have none of it. Period.
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