In the history of mankind, many republics have risen, have flourished for a less or greater time, and then have fallen because their citizens lost the power of governing themselves and thereby of governing their state. TR
Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta resigned Friday, a day after it was revealed that some 22 million people – millions more than had previously been admitted – had their data hacked by what is believed to be Chinese attackers. Beth Cobert, the U.S. Chief Performance Officer and a deputy director at the Office of Management and Budget, will take over as acting director
Here’s how to think of the Hillary Clinton email saga. It’s difficult, in a way, because emails are not tangible things. They’re a form of organized electricity. Lighter than air. Like thoughts that can float away, or in this case, be erased in an instant. To better understand what she did, let’s go back to a time before there were emails. Let’s go back to
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest Monday repeatedly asserted that the Obamas threw their 500-person White House bash Saturday “on their own dime,” but it remained whether a sizable tab was nevertheless picked up by taxpayers. Earnest’s assertion would appear to suggest that the Obamas paid for the food and the alcohol. But Earnest was unable to say whether the event was catered or whether
Sometimes there is just your normal, everyday spin at the White House. And sometimes, things become truly Orwellian. That was the case Thursday when White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest tried to claim that the decision to increase U.S. forces in Iraq by up to 450 troops and to begin basing forces at another air base was reflective of the success of President Obama’s strategy. That’s
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest Thursday ruled out ground troops in Iraq, saying the United States is not responsible for the security situation in the country. The blunt statement relinquishing responsibility comes as pressure grows for President Obama to step up the U.S. commitment to the country in the wake of the spectacular loss to ISIS – or ISIL – of Ramadi, a city of one million that is
No, really. You’re not misreading the headline. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest Tuesday exculpated Obama’s Iraq strategy and instead blamed Iraqi leaders’ failure to integrate their armed forces for the dramatic loss of Ramadi to ISIS. Earnest said: What we have indicated all along is that it will require a multi-sectarian force to succeed against ISIL. And the reason for that is Iraq is
This is one from last week, which everyone missed. It’s an exchange in the White House briefing room between a reporter and White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest: Q Jeb Bush said yesterday that “ISIS didn’t exist when my brother was President.” He has a point, doesn’t he? MR. EARNEST: No, I don’t think that he does. We’ve sort of been through the history here. Q
More than a week after an attempted terrorism attack in Garland, Texas that could have killed dozens of citizens had it succeeded, there has been no statement of condemnation from the president. What exactly does this lack of seriousness about the attack say to those planning future assaults against U.S. targets and free speech? The White House response should have been sure, bold, and unequivocal,
One moment of unintended – and unnoticed – levity occurred near the end of the White House briefing Tuesday, when White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest claimed that President Obama has been “a president of the United States that for the last six and a half years has scratched and clawed to protect the interests of middle-class families all across the country.” Not sure about
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest Thursday signaled a change in U.S. policy toward ransoming hostages of terrorist organizations, suggesting the United States government may soon tolerate people attempting to ransom their kidnapped family members and even help with the process, though government funds would not be used. A review underway of U.S. hostage policy, ordered by President Obama, is expected to recommend that families be free to try
The White House Thursday indicated that incredibly – or maybe not so incredibly – it is not the least bit concerned that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may have been influenced by foreign officials and businessmen donating to the Clinton Foundation and paying her husband for speeches, and that it doesn’t care that she apparently broke her agreement with President Obama to disclose Foundation
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest Tuesday was unable to launch a serious counterargument to Hillary Clinton’s claim that small business creation in the United States has “stalled out” under President Obama. Notice how he tried to dodge the question and, when ABC news reporter Jonathan Karl wouldn’t let him get away, went to the fallback strategy – blaming Republicans. Earnest also employed the familiar tactic