Right Turn: January 2, 2011 - January 8, 2011
Friday question
It was an eventful week as the Republican House majority took charge and battles over the debt limit and ObamaCare heated up. Which elected official had the best week, and why? Answers must be in by 6:00 p.m. ET on...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 4:00 PM ET |
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Friday question
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Czar legislation
The plethora of Obama-appointed czars, who are not subject to Senate confirmation, has rankled conservatives and others wary of an overreaching executive branch. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and 28 other House Republicans, in response to that concern, have introduced a...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 3:00 PM ET |
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Obama White House
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Gitmo documents demanded
House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) is not the only lawmaker demanding information from the Justice Department. Yesterday, Eli Lake reported: Senate Republicans are pressing the Obama administration for documents that outline procedures used in releasing terrorism-suspect detainees from the...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 12:00 PM ET |
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Democrats need a new argument to save ObamaCare
In an extraordinary poll out today -- isn't timing everything in life? -- Gallup finds that a plurality (46 percent) of those surveyed favor repeal of ObamaCare. A GOP staffer e-mails: "Imagine if they polled repeal AND replace! It seems...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 11:38 AM ET |
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Obamacare
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Crony capitalism
Big Labor and Big Business are teaming up to protect Big Government. As Greg Sargent put it yesterday, in describing the budding alliance between the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce: "The two groups rarely agree on anything, and frequently...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 11:15 AM ET |
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Obama White House
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Paul Ryan leads the charge
Raising the debt ceiling, as I noted yesterday, is a test for Republican leaders: Do they, to borrow a phrase, hold the country hostage and threaten a default on the debt, or do they use the opportunity to extract serious...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 10:00 AM ET |
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Budget
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Did HSBC mislead the U.S. about doing business in Iran?
Last month, I reported that HSBC bank was continuing to do business in Iran. In addition, after I had contacted its spokesman for comment, the bank decided to pull an ad touting the prevalence of women filmmakers under that despotic...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 9:30 AM ET |
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Iran
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Morning Bits
When you cozy up to despots, they get the impression you're a pushover. "The United States has lodged a 'strong protest' with the Vietnamese government over the attack on a U.S. diplomat by police in central Vietnam, a State Department...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 7, 2011; 7:45 AM ET |
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Morning Bits
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Raising the debt ceiling
This morning I chided Sen. Jim DeMint on his purported refusal to raise the debt ceiling. As Allahpundit has has pointed out, not raising the ceiling is the strategy recommended of Fox News host and well-known zealot Glenn Beck. It...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 3:30 PM ET |
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Budget
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EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Lamar Smith issues first DOJ oversight letter
Right Turn has obtained the first oversight letter from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued to the Justice Department. While he was in the minority, Smith labored, largely unsuccessfully, on the committee to convince the Democratic chairman to...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 1:46 PM ET |
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House GOP
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What would it cost to repeal ObamaCare?
Democrats and liberal pundits have made the argument that repealing ObamaCare would be a budget-buster. This is incorrect on two levels. First, Republicans would replace ObamaCare with something else; the decision is not ObamaCare vs. nothing, but, rather, ObamaCare vs....
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 1:00 PM ET |
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Obamacare
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Interview with Phil Cox of the RGA
Phil Cox is not a household name, but as the new executive director of the Republican Governors' Association, he may have as big a role as any Republican in sustaining the GOP's momentum and keeping the money flowing to Republican...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 12:12 PM ET |
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How much help are we getting from India on Iranian sanctions?
Last week, I praised the Obama administration for bolstering our relationship with India, noting that we had secured India's co-operation in "tighten[ing] the web of sanctions around Iran." But it's not clear if that enthusiasm was premature. The Wall Street...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 12:00 PM ET |
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Iran, foreign policy
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There is no peace deal to be had, even with Hillary Clinton's help
Of late, former Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller has grown skeptical of the "peace process," suggesting that it is akin to a cult. The peace process is perpetuated, he has argued, by an unsupportable "dogmatic creed." He seemed to...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 10:00 AM ET |
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Israel
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Exploiting the Democratic split on earmarks
Greg Sargent wrote last night: "Is Nancy Pelosi openly siding against Harry Reid, and with the House GOP, on earmarks? That's what Eric Cantor says he took from a conference call he had with Pelosi and Obama today. According to...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 9:15 AM ET |
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House Democrats, House GOP
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Stalling on filibuster reform
For ever-hopeful liberal bloggers, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's introduction of a filibuster reform measure yesterday was a sure sign, yes indeed, that the Democrats are serious about filibuster reform. But are they? Reid could have staged a vote, but...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 8:30 AM ET |
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Senate Democrats
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Morning Bits
Don't miss the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform's Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2010. My favorite: "Restaurant sued for failing to offer artichoke-eating instructions." Well, by gosh, that sounds like a tort to me! Don't forget to bookmark the new,...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 6, 2011; 7:45 AM ET |
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Morning Bits
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Bad news day for Democrats
On top of the official passing of the gavel from Nancy Pelosi to John Boehner, Democrats had this bit of rotten news to ponder: In 2010, 31% of Americans identified as Democrats, down five percentage points from just two years...
By
Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 3:35 PM ET |
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House GOP
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Speaker Boehner hits a home run
John Boehner has benefited from low expectations. Liberals scoffed at the idea that he would be an adequate rival to the president. Republicans had their own doubts. But in his maiden speech, he did about as well as a pol...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 2:30 PM ET |
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House GOP
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It's a big day
It's hard to overstate the cheery mood of conservatives today as John Boehner ascends to the House speakership, the new House majority assumes power and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gets fresh troops. It is not arrogance or braggadocio. Perhaps...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 2:15 PM ET |
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House GOP, Obama White House
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Supposedly non-existent death panels removed from ObamaCare
The New York Times reports: The Obama administration, reversing course, will revise a Medicare regulation to delete references to end-of-life planning as part of the annual physical examinations covered under the new health care law, administration officials said Tuesday. The...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 1:24 PM ET |
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Obamacare
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Personnel versus policy
Ezra Klein, after citing Bill Daley's relationship with the business community, remarks on on the potential selection of Daley as chief of staff: It's frankly slightly insulting to business leaders to say that their relationship with the White House relies...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 12:00 PM ET |
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Obama White House
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Do elected Republicans care who wins the RNC chair?
Ben Smith and others have reported that Speaker John Boehner made some calls to RNC committee members on behalf of Republican National Committee chair hopeful Maria Cino, but that he didn't make a hard sell. Boehner's office declined to provide...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 10:38 AM ET |
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RNC
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Reconsidering filibuster reform
I've been admonished by a smart Republican who e-mails me about my opposition to the proposed change in the filibuster rule: I kind of like what the Democrats want to do. The filibuster is entirely a tool of restraint, it...
By
Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 9:50 AM ET |
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Senate Democrats, Senate GOP
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Why doesn't the left like 'ObamaCare'?
A number of readers have complained that I use the term "ObamaCare" when referring to the Affordable Healthcare Act. I find this odd, since liberals are apparently very happy with the "historic" legislation and are welcoming a debate on the...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 9:15 AM ET |
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Obamacare
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Is there consensus emerging on filibuster reform?
The filibuster-reform minuet has begun. Democrats have been talking "reform" for a little while -- namely, a three-part proposal from New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall to modify, but not eliminate, the Senate filibuster. But all of the sudden, now that...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 8:30 AM ET |
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Senate Democrats, Senate GOP
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Morning Bits
In other words, he drives the left batty. "[Senate Minority Leader] McConnell, 68, is owlish, phlegmatic, and gray, and often looks bothered, as though lunch isn't agreeing with him. He has been described as having "the natural charisma of an...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 5, 2011; 7:45 AM ET |
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Morning Bits
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The Putin oil connection
Anne Applebaum notes the correlation between the political ascendancy of Vladimir Putin and the rise in oil prices, asking whether the fortunes of Putin aren't affected by the fluctuation in oil prices. ("Is this analysis too simplistic? Sure it is....
By
Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 3:15 PM ET |
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foreign policy
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500 Americans ask for clemency for Jonathan Pollard
A letter signed by 500 rabbis and other prominent Jewish and non-Jewish religious leaders has been sent to the president urging release of Jonathan Pollard. The letter reads as follows: We, the undersigned over five hundred religious and communal leaders...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 1:20 PM ET |
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American Jews, Israel
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No time to 'engage' North Korea
Former United Nations ambassador and potential 2012 presidential contender John Bolton writes in the Wall Street Journal: President Obama's North Korea policy has come to an entirely predictable dead end. Having for two years correctly resisted resuming the six party...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 12:26 PM ET |
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foreign policy
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Evaluating Russian 'reset'
Critics of Obama's reset policy argue that Obama has given up too much and gotten too little from Russia. A case in point is the crackdown on Russian dissidents in the wake of START ratification. Eli Lake reports: Russian authorities...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 11:45 AM ET |
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foreign policy
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Mitch Daniels's (boys and) girls?
As we begin 2011, the Republican 2012 contenders begin some pre-announcement posturing and their supporters hope to push along the more reluctant candidates. A case in point is Students for Mitch Daniels, which has launched a sharp-looking website on behalf...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 11:00 AM ET |
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2012 campaign
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The size of government matters
As he did in his debate last month with Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), David Brooks in his column today advances the proposition that the size of government is not as important as what government does. He writes: The crucial issue...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 10:15 AM ET |
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economy
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RNC Chairman's Debate winners
Yesterday's debate was not the most scintillating political happening, in large part because all four challengers for chairman of the Republican National Committee said virtually the same thing. That, however, doesn't mean there weren't winners. First, Grover Norquist and Tucker...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 9:00 AM ET |
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RNC
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Conservative tweaking of the left
Greg Sargent seems not to have understood Bill Kristol's dry wit. Greg writes: Kristol has a post up making the case that Obama has finally caved to the right's attacks and has grudgingly conceded America's greatness. The evidence? Kristol notes...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 8:43 AM ET |
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foreign policy
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Morning Bits
Former president George W. Bush does more for the cause of democracy in Belarus than the current Oval Office occupant has. "Peaceful postelection protests ended in violence after Belarusian security forces cracked down on demonstrators, beating and arresting hundreds of...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 4, 2011; 7:45 AM ET |
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Morning Bits
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The RNC Chairman's Debate (Part 2)
Matters got a little more heated when the candidates were grilled on the party's 72-hour GOTV (get-out-the-vote) effort. Steele (rhetorically) squirmed slightly, defending his own tenure, which was widely criticized for falling down on GOTV programs. He said that rather...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 3:00 PM ET |
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RNC
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The RNC Chairman's Debate (Part 1)
The room at the National Press Club where today's Republican National Committee Chairman's Debate is taking place is packed, with many of the familiar faces from the blogosphere, right and left, in attendance. A rule of thumb: If the attendee...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 1:58 PM ET |
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RNC
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Brzezinski's wild take on China
Zbigniew Brzezinski fancies himself a "realist" in foreign affairs. But his outlook (for example his notion of an imposed peace deal in the Middle East or, worse, his suggestion to shoot down Israeli planes en route to attack Iran) evidences...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 12:46 PM ET |
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foreign policy
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The New Black Panther case and liberal spin
Over on The Plum Line, Adam Sewer unfortunately repeats much of the misinformation concerning the New Black Panther case. Let's take them in order. Adam asserts: "Republican congressmen Lamar Smith and Darrell Issa are literally accusing the Obama administration of...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 12:37 PM ET |
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Setting the stage for the RNC race
Americans for Tax Reform and The Daily Caller are hosting a debate today for the contenders for the Republican National Committee chairmanship. Michael Steele and the four remaining challengers are slated to take part. It comes as no surprise that...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 11:30 AM ET |
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RNC
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Will GOP chairmen conduct meaningful oversight?
Democrats had predicted -- hoped, really -- that Republicans would fire up a host of nonsensical investigations of the Obama administration, thereby demonstrating the GOP's hyper-partisanship and unfitness to govern. But reality should be dawning on Democrats and the media...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 9:30 AM ET |
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House GOP
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Friday question answered
A number of readers came up with excellent advice in response to my question about what the president should say and not to say in his State of the Union address. The single best suggestion came from stevendufresne, who urged...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 8:39 AM ET |
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Friday question
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Morning Bits
Does it matter when a Republican senator often criticized by the base (Lindsey Graham) dubs another establishment-type Republican (Mitt Romney) as the front-runner in the 2012 race? Does it upset the left when the president sounds like a conservative on...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 3, 2011; 7:40 AM ET |
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Morning Bits
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Is Eric Holder playing dumb on a Justice Department scandal?
With Attorney General Eric Holder, one never is certain whether he is disingenuous or simply badly informed. He counseled the president that there was no choice but to disclose detainee abuse photos. The advice was wrong, and the recommendation was...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 2, 2011; 2:20 PM ET |
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law
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The Cole controversy won't go away
You can expect that Republican congressmen and senators when they return this week will continue to decry the recess appointment of James Cole to the post of deputy attorney general. There is no doubt that recess appointments are constitutionally-authorized; but...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 2, 2011; 9:30 AM ET |
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law
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Morning Bits
Joe Miller starts 2011 without his futile Senate race challenge. China starts 2011 where it left off. "With the New START treaty ratified, the Obama administration can turn its attention to the real source of nuclear instability among the great...
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Jennifer Rubin
| January 2, 2011; 7:55 AM ET |
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Morning Bits
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