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Jennifer Harper

Jennifer Harper

jharper@washingtontimes.com

Jennifer Harper wrote the daily Inside the Beltway column for The Washington Times.

Articles by Jennifer Harper

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Jeb Bush shouldn’t be written off just yet

Dozens of dire press accounts declared Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush to be down and out following the raucous candidate debate on Wednesday. Gleeful journalists declared Mr. Bush as "toast," in "agony," "free falling" -- and even "dead." The candidate, however, remains calm and carries on, off to Iowa for a major economics symposium this weekend, then to New Hampshire for multiple campaign stops.

October 29, 2015
Rep. Paul Ryan at the U.S. Capitol (AP Photo)

Inside the Beltway: Paul Ryan: The youngest House Speaker in 150 years

The jury is still out on likely House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan. Is he a good conservative, not conservative enough or Republican in name only? Hatchet man or healer? Mr. Ryan appears to be the panacea the party prays for, described by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus as "the right person at the right time." The opposition is also pleased; Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer called Mr. Ryan bright, industrious and even "outstanding" this week.

October 28, 2015
John Densmore, the iconic drummer for The Doors, will stage a fundraiser for Bernie Sanders on Wednesday in Los Angeles. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: John Densmore, Doors drummer, to help Bernie Sanders raise campaign funds

The chances are good that Democratic hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders was a fan of The Doors, the iconic rock group famous for "Light My Fire" and other anthems for the young and restless of the 1960s, and many who followed. John Densmore, who was drummer for The Doors from 1965-1973, is a fan of Mr. Sanders. On Wednesday, Mr. Densmore hosted a campaign fundraiser for the candidate in Los Angeles, centered around the first public screening of the independent film "Window of Opportunity," which follows the weekend high jinks of corporate fat cats and their deadly financial misdeeds, this according to advance production notes.

October 26, 2015
Ronald Reagan (Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library)

Inside the Beltway: The Reagan legacy wars continue

Historian Craig Shirley had already written four books on Ronald Reagan when "Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan" was published two weeks ago -- an unprecedented look at the 40th president's years after he left the White House.

October 25, 2015
Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Vladimir Putin gets a 90 percent approval rating

Consider that Russian President Vladimir Putin now enjoys a 90 percent approval rating, this according to the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, which deems the number to be a "historical high," and credits "Russian air strikes on terrorist positions" as the primary driver. Meanwhile, President Obama's rating currently lingers around 45 percent, prompting his critics to recommend he no longer "lead from behind" on the world stage.

October 22, 2015
The next GOP presidential debate is next week, prompting host network CNBC to define the lineup — and who stands where. (CNBC)

Inside the Beltway: Ed Klein on Hillary: ‘She is like Houdini’

The endless campaign trail, the Benghazi hearings -- they will challenge Hillary Clinton even if the news media continues to provide the Democratic presidential front-runner with flattering and often protective coverage, says Ed Klein, a veteran journalist and author of "Unlikeable: The Problem With Hillary." He says the press often shields Mrs. Clinton, cobbling together a sympathetic image for the candidate even when public opinion polls suggest voters aren't buying the narrative. The role of determined "survivor" could also come into play now that Vice President Joe Biden has opted out of a White House run.

October 21, 2015
The majority of Americans say the nation would be safer if more people carried concealed weapons, following training and a background check. (Washington Times/Andrew Harnik)

Inside the Beltway: Gallup says 56% of Americans believe concealed carry makes the nation safer

Here's a news bulletin that might not appeal to Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire and former New York mayor who has spent $50 million in the last year on public advocacy calling for stricter gun control laws. "A majority of Americans, 56 percent, believe that if more Americans carried concealed weapons after passing a criminal background check and training course, the country would be safer," reports Frank Newport, director of the Gallup Poll.

October 20, 2015
A Forbes magazine analyst says Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton are now worth $230 million, including $5 million in speaking fees, through May 14. The analyst said their fortune doesn't include equity gains. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Chunk of change: Bill and Hillary Clinton now worth $230 million

Someone finally did all the math to discover that Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton are now worth an estimated $230 million. Forbes magazine analyst Dan Alexander assessed the couple's sources of income in the last 14 years; it was the former president, he says, who brought in 80 percent of it as public speaker, author and consultant.

October 18, 2015
The Libertarian Party is in training for 2016, with new campaign outreach and a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates to gain entrance into the sanctioned debates as a third party.

Inside the Beltway: Libertarians declare they are ‘the party of principle’

The Libertarian Party is ramping up its political clout for the 2016 presidential race. The increasingly feisty organization has already sued the Commission on Presidential Debates to gain a place on the national podium -- and now bill themselves as "The Party of Principle: Minimum Government, Maximum Freedom."

October 15, 2015
"I wish to strengthen the presence of The Washington Times in the heart of D.C. so that The Times can forge stronger ties to better report on and inform American leadership," said Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. (Associated Press)

Washington Times reaches profitability after 33 years, $1 billion in losses

Some said it could never be done. Ever. But it's done. The Washington Times announced Wednesday it achieved in September the first profitable month in its 33-year history, successfully transforming a traditional money-losing print publication into a leaner multimedia company with diverse revenue streams and a growing national audience.

October 14, 2015