Water Cooler

The Water Cooler is written by Kerry Picket and other Washington Times opinion page staffers.

• Dems ‘recovery summer’ destined to fall

  Gong towards the official end of summer this weekend, Democrats scramble to re-work their failed economic message known as “recovery summer.” While the private sector added 67,000 jobs, it is only a drop in the bucket. As usual, the administration and its friends in Washington over-promised under-delivered on any strategy that could help improve America’s economic environment. Published September 3 2010

• VIDEO - Walpingate judge to AG Holder: I've got your back

  Above is the video of the Vassar College speech this year at which U.S. District Court Judge Richard Roberts and Attorney General Eric Holder traded deep, hearty, extravagant compliments interspersed with much jocularity about their decades of close friendship -- as referenced in today's Washington Times editorial. Published September 2 2010

• Oil rig explosion follows judge's ruling to overturn drilling ban

  Another oil rig explosion in the Gulf Coast of Mexico happened today 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana. Published September 2 2010

• Off the beaten path online: Tax dollars for Muslims...

  Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: Tax dollars for Muslims, Olbermann sarcastically ‘thanks’ Bush for starting troop withdrawal, Joe Miller's upset win spurs tea party challenge to GOP. Published September 2 2010

• Author David Limbaugh discusses new best selling book, 'Crimes Against Liberty'

  David Limbaugh, an attorney and nationally syndicated columnist, just released his fourth New York Times best seller titled Crimes Against Liberty (Regnery Publishing, Inc.). Mr. Limbaugh, brother of radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, also saw his book reach number one on the New York Times list on Wednesday. I spoke with David Limbaugh on Wednesday about his new book and his thoughts on the Obama administration and their allies on the Hill. Published September 2 2010

• Obama's Iraq speech reverts to domestic policy agenda

  President Barack Obama, in his speech on Tuesday night on the Iraq war mission and pull out troops, attempted to play both sides and it came off pretty miserably. He did not seem comfortable giving an argument for a war he campaigned against, but he found ways to slip in liberal Democratic issues, which had little to do with the accomplished mission in Iraq. Published September 1 2010

• Who wants peace?

  In light of the murder of four Israelis, Netanyahu should boycott today's peace talks. Published August 31 2010

• Joe Miller: McAdams is a 'dyed in the wool leftist'

  Joe Miller, Alaska Attorney, and Republican Senate candidate, continues to wait out the final results of his close Republican primary race against incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Mr. Miller is part of a group of conservative Republicans this election season who have been endorsed by former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and overcame insurmountable odds against establishment politicians in both parties. They have been ostracized by liberal media outlets as either irrelevant or too extreme, but with more of these candidates proving critics wrong, a potential new GOP freshman class could very well shake things up on Capitol Hill. Published August 31 2010

• Off the beaten path online: Democrats seek separation from Nancy Pelosi...

  Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: BP’s imbalanced, uncharitable funding, Democrats seek separation from Nancy Pelosi, Pennsylvania court: Guardians can't pull the plug on mentally disabled people. Published August 31 2010

• BP Ignores Charities in Favor of Government

  BP still can't get it right. Rob Bluey of the Heritage Foundation reports that BP is funneling aid money through government rather than through charities that do a better job with it. Published August 31 2010

• Video: White House refuses to say if Obama will credit Bush on Iraq

  As troops pull out from Iraq, President Barack Obama will address the United States tonight on the U.S.'s engagement in the middle eastern country. Published August 31 2010

• Miller confident of victory in final ballot count

  The final hours of the Alaska Republican Senate primary between Senator Lisa Murkowski and attorney Joe Miller could be coming to a close tomorrow. The incumbent, Ms. Murkowsi, appeared blind-sided and did not realize how in danger her seat truly was until it was too late. Almost one week after primary Tuesday passed, about 20,000 absentee ballots need to be counted. As of Monday evening, Joe Miller leads Ms. Murkowski by a 1,600 votes. Published August 31 2010

• Cornyn tells Miller NRSC will remain neutral

  When I last spoke to the NRSC communications shop on Thursday, I was told the NRSC would support Senator Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican. If her challenger, Republican Joe Miller won the primary, though, the NRSC would then support Mr. Miller. Published August 30 2010

• Off the beaten path online: Mosque developer has long rap sheet...

  Today's Water Cooler lineup of off the beaten path online stories are: Brewer blasts Obama over submission to UN specifying AZ immigration law, Maine wind farm not soothing to all ears, Mosque developer has long rap sheet. Published August 30 2010

• EPA's Jackson: We'll make more regulations on emissions

  Democrats on the Hill have not been successful at passing a climate change bill yet and many believe such legislation will not be possible unless the bill is put forth during a lame duck session following the November mid-term elections. In the meantime, the Environmental Protection Agency's Lisa Jackson appears to be looking for ways to legislate climate change regulations if the Congress cannot deliver a bill. In an interview with NPR's Liane Hansen on Sunday, Ms. Jackson talked about what the EPA plans on doing in the absence of climate change legislation. Published August 29 2010