Top of the Ticket

IRS tea party targeting "scandal" does not live up to the name

By David Horsey — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Now that more extensive, dispassionate reporting has been done about the "scandal” at the IRS, it is abundantly obvious that what is being called “targeting” of tea party organizations and other conservative groups was the result of bureaucratic confusion, not political conspiracy.

By firing IRS boss, Obama buys into GOP's rush to judgment

By David Horsey — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

On Wednesday, President Obama fired the head of the Internal Revenue Service, the first sacrificial lamb brought down after the alleged “targeting” of conservative political groups by the IRS. Obama declared, “Americans are right to be angry about it.” Call me out of step, but I am angrier that the president is joining the rush to judgment.

The real scandal: IRS gives tax exemptions to political partisans

By David Horsey — Wed, 15 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

The revelation that conservative political groups seeking tax-exempt status were singled out for special attention by Internal Revenue Service bureaucrats has given Republicans their best cudgel yet to beat on the Obama administration. But as the outrage revs into high gear, let me offer a contrarian perspective: As inept as the IRS may have been in the way they processed applications for 501(c)(4) status, the bigger scandal is that the IRS grants the tax-exempt designation to so many overtly political organizations, treating them as if they are no more engaged in partisan politics than the Girl Scouts.

Partisan political bubbles distort Benghazi facts

By David Horsey — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

How you feel about Benghazi very likely has everything to do with your political leanings. If you think the Obama administration is covering up a scandal bigger than Watergate, you are almost certainly a Republican. If you think Republicans in Congress are simply trying to gain political advantage by exploiting the terrorist attack against the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last Sept. 11, you are very likely a Democrat.

Ridiculous Republican rhetoric undermines Benghazi probe

By David Horsey — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

Republicans could make an easy hit on the Obama administration by highlighting the State Department’s apparent bureaucratic blundering during and after the deadly terrorist attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last fall, but they refuse to settle for such a small political prize. Instead, they have got themselves all steamed up and snarling about heinous, impeachable offenses that are figments of their imaginations.

Will voters still love Chris Christie when he's not so fat?

By David Horsey — Thu, 9 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is worried enough about an early death due to obesity that, two weeks ago under a fake name, he checked himself into a hospital and had lap-band surgery on his stomach. It is being reported that having his tummy tied has already cut his food intake enough to help him shed 40 pounds.

Permanent imprisonment at Guantanamo betrays American values

By David Horsey — Tue, 7 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

One hundred prisoners held in the American detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are engaged in a hunger strike -- a desperate attempt to get the attention of President Obama, who was elected in 2008 having promised to shut the place down. Not only did Obama fail to close the facility, his administration has neglected to appoint anyone to oversee repatriation of the 86 current prisoners who have been cleared for release.

Exercising 2nd Amendment rights, Kentucky 5-year-old kills sister

By David Horsey — Fri, 3 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

This week, a 5-year-old Kentucky boy was playing with the mini-rifle he had gotten as a gift and ended up shooting and killing his 2-year-old sister. Apparently, even kindergartners have a right to keep and bear arms that shall not be infringed.

Time to wake from the American Dream and face retirement reality

By David Horsey — Thu, 2 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

The retirement plans of more and more Americans are about as connected to reality as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Grim is exactly what it is going to be for these folks when, in their 70s, their 401(k)s have petered out, they have no pensions and no income except what they get from the tottering Social Security system.

The hawks are squawking about Obama's rubbery red line in Syria

By David Horsey — Wed, 1 May 2013 05:00:00 PDT

The hawks are squawking. Congressional conservatives and the right-wing media are blasting President Obama for going soft on the Syrians.