Billy Hallowell « Washington Hotlist

$642.5 billion defense bill is approved by House May 19, 2012
The House approved a bill Friday that would provide $642.5 billion in defense spending for the next fiscal year, despite a veto threat from the White House, which objected to a series of provisions that would limit the president’s authority and challenge administration policies. Read full article >> […]
Walter Pincus
Featured Advertiser May 19, 2012
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Biden on West Virginians’ vote for felon Keith Judd: ‘I don’t blame people’ for frustration over economy May 18, 2012
Why did four-in-ten Democratic primary voters in West Virginia earlier this month cast their ballots for felon Keith Judd over President Obama? To hear Vice President Biden tell it, it’s because those voters are taking out their frustration and anger about the economy on Obama. Read full article >> […]
Felicia Sonmez
Scott Brown raising money off Elizabeth Warren Native American questions May 18, 2012
Scott Brown raising money off Elizabeth Warren flap, Al Gore is dating, and George W. Bush is returning to the White House (for a portrait). Make sure to sign up to get “Afternoon Fix ” in your e-mail inbox every day by 5 (ish) p.m! Read full article >> […]
Rachel Weiner
North Carolina same-sex marriage amendment: Confusion over domestic partner benefits May 18, 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Mecklenburg County commissioner Bill James survived his own primary race on May 8. But it was the marquee fight over Amendment One that topped his agenda the following day. It was predicted that the change to the state constitution, with its broad language proclaiming “marriage between one man and one woman … the only domestic legal union t […]
Mary C. Curtis
Mitt and Ann Romney each give $75,000 to Romney Victory Fund May 18, 2012
Republican candidate Mitt Romney and his wife have each given $75,000 to the Romney Victory Fund, the joint fundraising group that collects money for his presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee, campaign sources said Friday. Read full article >> […]
Dan Eggen
Mitt Romney plans restful break after busy week May 18, 2012
Mitt Romney wrapped up a very busy week (Iowa, Florida, New Hampshire) with a very short speech (barely nine minutes) Friday afternoon in New Hampshire. On Saturday, the former Massachusetts governor will spend the day opening his Wolfeboro, N.H., home on Lake Winnepesaukee. Read full article >> […]
Nia-Malika Henderson
Birtherism isn’t dead May 18, 2012
Discussion of President Obama’s place of birth died down significantly when he released his long-form birth certicate. But birtherism still lives, even if it no longer gets as much attention. Nationally, conservative bloggers have seized an opportunity to raise the issue. In some places disbelief in Obama’s America origins is still strong, and politicians ar […]
Rachel Weiner
Wisconsin recall slipping away from Democrats May 18, 2012
Just two and a half weeks remain in the recall of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), and momentum seems to be firmly on the GOP’s side. All three polls out this week show Walker leading Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (D) by between 5 percent and 9 percent. Perhaps more illustrative, though, are the candidate’s personal favorability and approval numbers. Read full […]
Aaron Blake
Following Obama meeting, France’s Hollande promises different approach to Afghan aid May 18, 2012
President Obama welcomed new French President Francois Hollande to the White House on Friday, an initial meeting that came as world leaders feel a renewed sense of urgency to contain the European debt crisis. Read full article >> […]
David Nakamura

The Mortgage Bailout, Deficits & Earmarks Galore

The BlogWatch is a weekly piece that is published on the non-partisan web site Facing Up to the Nationâ€™s Finances. Stay tuned for more weekly, non-partisan fiscal recaps brought to you by Billy Hallowell and Facing Up.

It would be impossible to commence this edition of the Facing Up BlogWatch without mentioning Public Agenda’s insanely [...]

BlogWatch: Social Security in Peril, Candidate Avoidance & Other Budgetary Debacles

The BlogWatch is a weekly piece that is published on the non-partisan web site Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances. Stay tuned for more weekly, non-partisan fiscal recaps brought to you by Billy Hallowell and Facing Up.

With the discussion primarily focused on both the Democratic and the Republican national conventions, the blogosphere has [...]

Yay, Nay or Present: Barack Obama’s Insanely Maniacal Method of Jumping Hurdles to Avoid the Truth, Whilst Flip-Flopping Under the Rafters

How much longer will the American public entertain Barack Obama’s inexperience? When you listen to the left’s most prominent talking heads, it’s as though they’ve been hypnotized by Big Brother, as they rabidly work to convince their fellow countrymen (and women) that Obama is the most qualified of all candidates to run for the American [...]

Palin: A Brilliant Pick, Indeed

Sarah Palin, while an unlikely pick, is really shaking things up. And while Stephen Nichols, my colleague at Static News, is adopting recent democratic talking points in his statement that her candidacy could be disastrous, I couldn’t disagree more. America is built upon ingenuity. Our nation has often been led by individuals without extensive experience [...]

BlogWatch: Porkbusting, Earmarks Unlimited & Biden’s Fiscal Record

The BlogWatch is published by Billy Hallowell each week on the Facing Up to the Nation’s Finances web site. With budgetary issues on the burner this election season, be sure to check www.facingup.org for information on how you can better understand public policy opinions as well as public opinion on America’s fiscal issues. After [...]

Special Interests Pour in Convention Dollars

Both Barack Obama and John McCain have issued lofty statements regarding their efforts to reduce the influence that lobbyists have on the hill and throughout the American political system. But, while the candidates often speak candidly of reducing the impact that special interests have in Washington, there are still a number of unaddressed loopholes. Despite [...]