In the Loop - Afflicting official Washington since 1993

Posted at 05:57 PM ET, 08/29/2012

Is Obama endorsement from pot group smoke and mirrors?

By Emily Heil

An organization that says it represents the medical marijuana industry endorses Obama — but many marijuana activists say they’ve never heard of the group.

By Emily Heil | 05:57 PM ET, 08/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:04 PM ET, 08/29/2012

Republican hot spots are ghost towns

By Emily Heil

Looking for a Republican? They’re hard to find in Washington this week.

By Emily Heil | 05:04 PM ET, 08/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:43 PM ET, 08/29/2012

Chuck Schumer pens letter clearing muddied waters on tap vs. bottled debate at inauguration

By Emily Heil

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) pens a letter to D.C. water officials assuring them that inauguration attendees will be offered D.C.’s finest.

By Emily Heil | 12:43 PM ET, 08/29/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 08/28/2012

Adm. McRaven cites John Wayne flick as inspiration to join special operations

By Emily Heil

In a memo telling special forces members to shut their traps, the architect of the bin Laden raid reveals his inspiration.

By Emily Heil | 03:00 PM ET, 08/28/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:01 PM ET, 08/24/2012

Obama names OMB official to lead paperwork-reduction group

By Emily Heil

President Obama names OMB official Lisa Brown to head a group tasked with paperwork reduction for executive nominees.

By Emily Heil | 04:01 PM ET, 08/24/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 04:59 PM ET, 08/23/2012

Ryan Crocker, former ambassador, charged with DUI, leaving the scene in Washington state

By Emily Heil

Crocker was arrested in Spokane Valley after an incident in which he allegedly hit another car with the 2009 Ford Mustang convertible he was driving, AP reports.

By Emily Heil | 04:59 PM ET, 08/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:55 PM ET, 08/23/2012

Israel trip turns congressional travel into campaign issue in North Carolina race

By Emily Heil

Lawmakers’ rowdy romp in Israel makes congressional travel a campaign issue, at least in one North Carolina race.

By Emily Heil | 02:55 PM ET, 08/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:09 PM ET, 08/23/2012

Eric Holder’s use of FBI plane questioned by GOP lawmakers

By Emily Heil

Congressional Republicans want to know more about his use of FBI jets.

By Emily Heil | 02:09 PM ET, 08/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:08 AM ET, 08/23/2012

The teen delegate; gathering storm for RNC; and candidates need mainstream media (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, the teen delegate; gathering storm for RNC; and candidates need mainstream media.

By Emily Heil | 10:08 AM ET, 08/23/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:14 PM ET, 08/22/2012

Eric Holder’s summer of international travel

By Emily Heil

AG Eric Holder has been racking up frequent flier miles on international travel.

By Emily Heil | 05:14 PM ET, 08/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:23 PM ET, 08/22/2012

GSA’s penny-pinching strategies: What, no coupon-clipping?

By Emily Heil

The agency follows lavish spending with ideas to save a few bucks.

By Emily Heil | 02:23 PM ET, 08/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:07 PM ET, 08/22/2012

Former Gitmo detainee finds slice of freedom at Albanian pizza shop

By Emily Heil

A former Guantanamo Bay detainee finds a new life making pizza in Albania.

By Emily Heil | 12:07 PM ET, 08/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:11 AM ET, 08/22/2012

Capitol Hill homeless man mourned; poetry lessons for Romney; and storm-watching at the RNC (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, a Capitol Hill homeless man mourned; poetry lessons for Romney; and storm-watching at the RNC .

By Emily Heil | 10:11 AM ET, 08/22/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:47 PM ET, 08/21/2012

Nudist lobby says Yoder’s dip gives them a boost

By Emily Heil

IN THE LOOP | Not everyone is unhappy about Rep. Kevin Yoder’s skinny dip in the Sea of Galilee.

By Emily Heil | 03:47 PM ET, 08/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:21 PM ET, 08/21/2012

Nominees’ paperwork nightmare could end

By Al Kamen

An effort is underway to reduce the massive amount of paperwork that nominees face.

By Al Kamen | 01:21 PM ET, 08/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:50 AM ET, 08/21/2012

New Obama regulatory chief’s Bain consulting tenure goes unmentioned: ‘Bain’ as four-letter word

By Emily Heil

An Obama administration official’s resume doesn’t mention stint at Bain consulting firm.

By Emily Heil | 10:50 AM ET, 08/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:21 AM ET, 08/21/2012

Lawmakers behaving oddly; an action-packed fed job; and Condi to class up Augusta (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, lawmakers behaving oddly; an action-packed fed job; and Condi to class up Augusta.

By Emily Heil | 10:21 AM ET, 08/21/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:57 PM ET, 08/20/2012

Skinny-dipping scandal: State Department spokeswoman ‘not going to wade’ into it

By Emily Heil

A spokesman puns that she won’t “wade into“ the scandal.

By Emily Heil | 03:57 PM ET, 08/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:08 PM ET, 08/20/2012

Skinny-dipping congressmen hardly the first ‘ugly Americans’ abroad

By Emily Heil

Those skinny-dipping carousers weren’t the first Washington exports to behave badly overseas.

By Emily Heil | 03:08 PM ET, 08/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:25 AM ET, 08/20/2012

BACKGROUND CHECK: Allison Macfarlane, chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

By Emily Heil

A Q&A with Allison Macfarlane, the geologist who’s the new head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

By Emily Heil | 11:25 AM ET, 08/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:32 AM ET, 08/20/2012

Paul Ryan’s Gen X cred; a Pentagon office helps Hollywood; and Mitt Romney, community organizer (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Paul Ryan’s Gen X cred; a Pentagon office helps Hollywood; and Mitt Romney, community organizer (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil | 10:32 AM ET, 08/20/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:21 AM ET, 08/17/2012

Watching feds’ computers; Geithner family differences; and a headline of the day (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, agencies step up computer monitoring; Geithner family differences; and a headline of the day.

By Emily Heil | 10:21 AM ET, 08/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/17/2012

Faux Thomas Jefferson quote cited by Rep. Ted Poe

By Emily Heil

Rep. Ted Poe cites a “spurious” quote attributed to the third president.

By Emily Heil | 08:00 AM ET, 08/17/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:58 PM ET, 08/16/2012

Rep. McCotter’s long, strange slide

By Al Kamen

The five-term Michigan lawmaker’s drop from presidential aspirations to resignation amid criminal charges against his staff for filing fraudulent voter petitions.

By Al Kamen | 02:58 PM ET, 08/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:40 PM ET, 08/16/2012

Gitmo prisoners rewarded with kittens?

By Emily Heil

One detainee’s lawyer says cats are being used as reward.

By Emily Heil | 12:40 PM ET, 08/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:40 AM ET, 08/16/2012

Democrats join mud-slinging; text donations okayed; and the best convention eats (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Democrats join the mud-slinging; text donations okayed; and the best convention eats.

By Emily Heil | 10:40 AM ET, 08/16/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:19 PM ET, 08/15/2012

Devo pens song for Seamus Romney

By Al Kamen

IN THE LOOP | New wave group has song and mobile game about the famous Romney dog’s adventure on the roof of the family car.

By Al Kamen | 01:19 PM ET, 08/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Devo, Whip It, Seamus, Romney, Gerald Casale, Gail Collins, Republican National Convention, National Dog Day, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 12:40 PM ET, 08/15/2012

Weather Service ammo-procurement notice stirs conspiracies theories

By Emily Heil

A procurement notice by the Weather Service sparks fears among the tinfoil-hat crowd.

By Emily Heil | 12:40 PM ET, 08/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:21 AM ET, 08/15/2012

White House suds; perils of mixing business and personal e-mails; and Biden unplugged (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Obama’s a home-brewer; the perils of mixing business and personal e-mail; and Biden pulls a Biden.

By Emily Heil | 10:21 AM ET, 08/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 08/15/2012

Congress scours the globe in search of facts

By Al Kamen

IN THE LOOP | Retiring lawmakers make swan-song journeys before they leave office.

By Al Kamen | 07:00 AM ET, 08/15/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Lame duck travel, codels, congressional travel, lame duck, Kent Conrad, Olympia Snowe, Dennis Cardoza, Richard Lugar, Devin Nunes, European Command, Bonjardim, Praca dos Restauradores, Pasteis de Belem, Jack Kingston, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 08/14/2012

Tampa conventioneers, the strip-club kitchens are clean!

By Emily Heil

A local TV station reports that the kitchens of the city’s clubs are surprisingly clean.

By Emily Heil | 01:30 PM ET, 08/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 08/14/2012

Mona Locke, untapped at U.S. Embassy in China

By Emily Heil

Mona Locke, wife of the U.S. ambassador to China, is being underutilized in a country where she’s wildly popular.

By Emily Heil | 12:01 PM ET, 08/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:34 AM ET, 08/14/2012

Another conference controversy; Ryan’s state fair proposal; and women take moderator spots (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, the VA scrutinizes a training event; Paul Ryan has a suggestion at the Iowa Fair; and women take the moderators’ seat.

By Emily Heil | 10:34 AM ET, 08/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 08/14/2012

Did Romney ensure a great Olympics?

By Al Kamen

IN THE LOOP | Could Romney’s musing before the Games have pushed the Brits to do their best?

By Al Kamen | 07:00 AM ET, 08/14/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: British, Olympics, British Olympics, David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Olympic games, President Obama, medals, China, Russia, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:25 AM ET, 08/13/2012

Pick-the-Veep Loop contest winners!

By Emily Heil

Two Loop readers score coveted T-shirts with their Ryan predictions.

By Emily Heil | 11:25 AM ET, 08/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:26 AM ET, 08/13/2012

Romney, Ryan settle on a team uniform; Wes Clark does reality TV; and when is a contribution a bribe? (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Romney and Ryan settle on a team uniform; Wes Clark hosts a reality show; and when is a contribution a bribe?

By Emily Heil | 10:26 AM ET, 08/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 08/13/2012

Romney’s Ryan pick surprises pundits — and that’s no surprise

By Al Kamen

The media cognoscenti don’t have particularly sparkling track records when it comes to predicting vice presidential selections, especially GOP candidates.

By Al Kamen | 07:00 AM ET, 08/13/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Mitt Romney, Rob Portman, Tim Pawlenty, vice president, Walter Mondale, Lloyd Bentsen, Al Gore, John Edwards, Geraldine Ferraro, Joe Biden, Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney, Jack Kemp, Dan Quayle, George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Bob Dole, John Kerry, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 08/10/2012

Scott Gration ‘divisive and ineffective’ as ambassador to Kenya, report finds

By Emily Heil

Former ambassador Scott Gration was “divisive and ineffective” leader, a new report says. Gration disputes the findings, saying the report is riddled with inaccuracies.

By Emily Heil | 01:45 PM ET, 08/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:44 AM ET, 08/10/2012

Romney’s ‘Big Dig’; Veepstakes overrated; and Sherrod Brown’s expensive race (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, how did the GOP candidates handle the ‘Big Dig’?; Veep madness is overrated; and Sherrod Brown is the target of big bucks.

By Emily Heil | 10:44 AM ET, 08/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/10/2012

Gitmo prisoners prefer Fresh Prince to Harry Potter

By Emily Heil

Why the ‘90s sitcom is a big hit with Guantanamo Bay prisoners.

By Emily Heil | 08:00 AM ET, 08/10/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:57 PM ET, 08/09/2012

Loop Quote of The Week

By Al Kamen

This week goes to Mitt Romney, lamenting that campaigns keep repeating claims long after they’ve been debunked by fact-checkers.

By Al Kamen | 03:57 PM ET, 08/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, campaign ads, welfare ad, Glenn Kessler, Pinocchio, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:14 PM ET, 08/09/2012

Biden: ‘a quote by any other name. . .’

By Al Kamen

Seems politicians often lay claim to good — or bad — prose.

By Al Kamen | 03:14 PM ET, 08/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Joe Biden, Neil Kinnock, plagiarism, Michael Dukakis, Democratic nominee, Jon Kyl, Michael Turner, Mary McGrory, House Armed Services Committee, Obama administration, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 10:35 AM ET, 08/09/2012

Miracle-gro fertilizes GOP; meet the new Joe; and the end of the Kansas moderate (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Miracle-gro fertilizes GOP; meet the new Joe; and the end of the Kansas moderate.

By Emily Heil | 10:35 AM ET, 08/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/09/2012

Clinton’s back-up dancers need practice

By Al Kamen

The secretary of state showed her dance moves at a dinner in South Africa. Other officials may want to take a lesson from her.

By Al Kamen | 08:00 AM ET, 08/09/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Hillary Clinton, Dancing, dancing video, Judith Sephuma, South Africa, Robert Hormats, Fred Hochberg, Donald Gips, Ann Harrap, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane

Posted at 12:42 PM ET, 08/08/2012

Judicial Zumba in Maui is a go!

By Al Kamen

The judges tell two senators it’s too late to cancel the pricey conference in paradise.

By Al Kamen | 12:42 PM ET, 08/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, Maui, Judicial Conference, judges, Charles Grassley, Jeff Sessions, Alex Kozinski, Zumba, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito

Posted at 11:11 AM ET, 08/08/2012

Franking ‘blackout’ begins, 90 days from Election Day

By Emily Heil

No need for the emergency kit — this blackout deals with federal election law.

By Emily Heil | 11:11 AM ET, 08/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:07 AM ET, 08/08/2012

Hillary Clinton hits dance floor; no medal for Romney horse; ‘sikh’ and ‘sheik’ mix-up (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, the Secretary of State hits the dance floor; no medal for the Romney dressage horse; and a candidate’s tongue-twister.

By Emily Heil | 11:07 AM ET, 08/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/08/2012

State Department spokesman utters name of Russian punk band to reporters’ giggles

By Emily Heil

A State Department spokesman finally says the naughty-sounding name of the Russian punk band on trial in Moscow.

By Emily Heil | 08:00 AM ET, 08/08/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:46 PM ET, 08/07/2012

Obama campaign and the hemp connection

By Al Kamen

Hemp legalization advocates point out a scarf being sold on the campaign store is made of a cotton/hemp blend, though hemp can’t be grown in the United States.

By Al Kamen | 01:46 PM ET, 08/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Hemp, Marijuana, legalize, Obama: Obama campaign store, Monique Pean, scarf, china, Vote Hemp, Ron Wyden, Rand Paul, Ron Paul, Barney Frank, Dana Rohrabacher, Dr. Bronner, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 01:13 PM ET, 08/07/2012

Hillary Clinton’s Twitter debut (Loop contest winners!)

By Emily Heil

We present readers’ 10 best suggestions for what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s first tweet should be.

By Emily Heil | 01:13 PM ET, 08/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:17 AM ET, 08/07/2012

Harry Reid’s pants on fire; Romney’s grocery list; and Rep. Issa wants more IG info (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Harry Reid gets four Pinocchios; Romney buys diet cola; and Darrell Issa wants more IG info.

By Emily Heil | 11:17 AM ET, 08/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/07/2012

Senate ‘pro formas’ to be held down the street

By Al Kamen

The Senate Chamber is getting a facelift, so the “pro forma” sessions will be in the Hart Senate office building.

By Al Kamen | 08:00 AM ET, 08/07/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Harry Reid, Senate, Senate recess, Senate pro forma, Senate chamber, pro forma sessions, Senate Judiciary Committee, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the loop

Posted at 03:23 PM ET, 08/06/2012

Obama picks new Missile Defense Agency director

By Al Kamen

Fate of incumbent director Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly is unclear.

By Al Kamen | 03:23 PM ET, 08/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: President Obama, Leon Panetta, Pentagon, Patrick O"Reilly, Missile Defense Agency, James D. Syring, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 03:13 PM ET, 08/06/2012

FDA official charged in connection with prostitution sting; watchdog raises questions about his role in spying scandal

By Emily Heil

A watchdog agency is using the arrest to ask whether his alleged crimes might have affected his work, particularly his involvement in a spying scandal.

By Emily Heil | 03:13 PM ET, 08/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:25 PM ET, 08/06/2012

Hillary Clinton creates buzz with bee incident

By Emily Heil

On her African trip, local media reports that the secretary of state was caught in a buzzy swarm.

By Emily Heil | 01:25 PM ET, 08/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:01 AM ET, 08/06/2012

Bo Obama drafted in campaign against pet food imported from China

By Emily Heil

A group lobbying against tainted pet treats imported from China enlists the First Dog’s help.

By Emily Heil | 11:01 AM ET, 08/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:31 AM ET, 08/06/2012

GSA got ethics okay; Americans like to elect the rich; details on Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s depression (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, GSA got ethics okay; Americans elect the rich; and details about Jesse Jackson Jr.’s depression.

By Emily Heil | 10:31 AM ET, 08/06/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:22 AM ET, 08/03/2012

Sunstein’s out at White House; that’s Prof. Ah-nold to you; Senate’s bold reforms (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, Sunstein’s out at White House; that’s Prof. Ah-nold to you; and the Senate tackles bold tax reforms.

By Emily Heil | 10:22 AM ET, 08/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/03/2012

Iraq invasion: Greatest strategic decision?

By Al Kamen

Former Pentagon intelligence chief says decision may be greatest of first half of 21st century.

By Al Kamen | 08:00 AM ET, 08/03/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Iraq, U.S. invasion, Donald Rumsfeld, Stephen Cambone, Pentagon, Aspen Security Forum, Noah Schachtman, Wired, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 02:59 PM ET, 08/02/2012

Congress flies to rescue the euro zone

By Al Kamen

Lawmakers are taking off for a week of talks with finance ministers and bankers in Ireland, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

By Al Kamen | 02:59 PM ET, 08/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Congress, congressional travel, Europe, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Kent Conrad, Pat Leahy, Thad Cochran, Olympia Snowe, Jeanne Shaheen, Dennis Cardoza, Treasury, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

Posted at 11:19 AM ET, 08/02/2012

Justice Scalia fires back at Judge Richard Posner

By Al Kamen

IN THE LOOP | It was only a matter of time before the Supreme Court justice returned fire against the conservative appellate court judge.

By Al Kamen | 11:19 AM ET, 08/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:33 AM ET, 08/02/2012

Voters don’t know about PACs; moderators hard to find; Tea Party headaches in the Senate (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, most voters blissfully unaware of Super PACs; debate moderators hard to find; and Tea Party woes come to the Senate.

By Emily Heil | 10:33 AM ET, 08/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 08/02/2012

Dan Burton does Bahrain; trip skirts ethics reforms

By Emily Heil

An international trip was OK under ethics rules, but a report says it skirts lobbying reforms.

By Emily Heil | 08:00 AM ET, 08/02/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:14 AM ET, 08/01/2012

CIA on Twitter? The agency spies a fake account

By Emily Heil

A fake CIA account dupes a few, gets shut down.

By Emily Heil | 11:14 AM ET, 08/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:24 AM ET, 08/01/2012

Harry Reid-isms; the Hickenlooper divorce isn’t ‘awkward’; and Obama’s Natitude (read-this roundup)

By Emily Heil

In the Loop’s roundup, the Senate leader’s no shrinking violet; Hickenlooper divorce isn’t ‘awkward’; and President Obama’s Natitude.

By Emily Heil | 10:24 AM ET, 08/01/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 07/31/2012

House approves streamlined Senate confirmation process

By Al Kamen

The House is expected to pass a measure to improve the clogged presidential appointee confirmation process by eliminating 169 jobs from requiring Senate approval.

By Al Kamen | 01:31 PM ET, 07/31/2012 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Presidential appointments, Senate confirmation, confirmation process, Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, Charles Schumer, Lamar Alexander, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop, Barack Obama

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 08/01/2002

Laura Richardson’s ethics grilling didn’t keep her from the ball field

By al kamen

A blistering ethics report reveals that Rep. Laura Richardson worried the investigation would keep her from the annual congressional softball game.

By al kamen | 01:00 PM ET, 08/01/2002 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)
Tags: Obama judges, judicial appointments, Bill Clinton, George Bush, Al Gore, Pat Leahy, Senate Judicarry Committee, judicial vacancies, Al Kamen, Emily Heil, In the Loop

In the Loop: August, 2012