Today's Top News from The Washington Times

		Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Must Read Stories Today
Maryland wine lovers raise a glass to new law Terry Sullivan will go to great lengths for a good bottle of wine, but he knows it's often easier to have it mailed to his doorstep. For Arizona election, it's all about the issues He's an Arizona state senator who probably wouldn't be recognized on the street outside of Mesa, yet the recall election of Russell Pearce is poised to become the biggest race of the 2011 cycle. Obama backs 'Gang of Six' debt plan President Obama seized on a new debt-reduction plan by a bipartisan group of senators that calls for a mix of entitlement reforms and tax revenues, as the clock winds down to an early August deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling. Former NSA official says mismanagement continues at spy agency Former National Security Agency whistleblower Thomas A. Drake says continuing mismanagement and malfeasance have turned the nation's premier electronic spy agency into "the Enron of the U.S. intelligence community." PG speed camera contract given to firm with questionable citations Prince George's County's new speed cameras will be provided by a company that has come under scrutiny this year about the accuracy of its devices, county officials said Tuesday. MWAA to reconsider vote for underground Dulles Metro When Virginia decided to hand over control of the Dulles Metrorail project to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in 2006, the intention was to create a more cost-effective, better-managed project protected by the unelected board from fickle political winds. FBI arrests man as agent of Pakistan A Virginia man was arrested Tuesday by FBI agents in a suspected influence-peddling scheme to funnel millions of dollars from the Pakistani government, including its military intelligence service, to U.S. elected officials to help drive India out of the disputed Kashmir territory in South Asia. Murdoch apologizes and dodges blame Rupert Murdoch on Tuesday apologized but also denied responsibility for the phone-hacking scandal, which is roiling British journalism, during a parliamentary committee inquiry where the media magnate was assaulted with a shaving cream pie. Lawmakers set to vote on ending shutdown An end to Minnesota's nearly three-week-long partial state government shutdown came into view Tuesday, when Gov. Mark Dayton called the Legislature into a special session to vote on a budget deal. Gray cites haste in assembling campaign D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray on Tuesday responded to charges that his 2010 campaign team accepted cash donations over the $25 legal limit by converting them to money orders, attributing the possible slip-ups to aides during his "truncated" campaign. Debt debate looked a lot different to Biden, GOP in 1984 With time running out on a looming debt crisis, the president and his allies in the Senate are fighting to win a raise in the government's borrowing limit, only to be stymied by a minority insisting that a spending freeze be part of the deal. Wolf: Technology shared too freely with China A senior House Republican wants to hold the Obama administration accountable for what he says are violations of law limiting the sharing of space technology with China. Coalition hits tougher air-pollution rules An interactive map released Tuesday by a coalition of leading business groups details the potential economic destruction they say would result from the toughening of air pollution rules by the Environmental Protection Agency. HURT: Debt mess maxes out on all fronts OK, so you wake up from a long drunken bender and discover that you burned through every bit of your money, raided your retirement savings and maxed out all your credit cards with debts your grandchildren will be paying for the rest of their lives. What do you do? Ex-State Department aide says Israel won't attack Iran Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley is predicting that Israel will not attack Iran, citing the strategic costs to the Jewish state and the uncertainty created by revolts across the Middle East. Hard-partying reporter outed News of the World Sean Hoare was the kind of reporter who could knock back several whiskeys and a few lines of cocaine before filing salacious stories of celebrity misbehavior. Commentary MILLER: Gang of squish The Senate's "Gang of Six" is back, this time with a surprise plan that would preserve Washington's big-spending ways. Within an hour of the bipartisan group's announcement of a breakthrough framework for hiking the debt ceiling, President Obama walked jauntily to the White House briefing room to embrace it as "broadly consistent with what we've been working on here in the White House." EDITORIAL: Treasury: Stop the presses The Obama administration has only one answer to bad economic news: more spending. It's no surprise, then, that there's now talk of printing up billions in currency to accommodate the reckless fiscal policies that have already sent the economy on a downward spiral. KUHNER: Humbling Hanoi Jane Hanoi Jane has been humbled. Recently, the home shopping channel QVC canceled a scheduled appearance by Jane Fonda. The actress was supposed to discuss her latest book, "Prime Time." She is shocked and angry that QVC disinvited her because of mounting public opposition. WOLF: Barack Obama's pants on fire "I remember Christmas of 1968 sitting on a gunboat in Cambodia. ... I have that memory which is seared - seared - in me," claimed Sen. John F. Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat, explaining the foundation of his anti-war politics. It was a lie. "Her breathing became labored and then she breathed her last breath," explained an emotional Democratic Vice President Al Gore, claiming how his sister's lung cancer death formed the foundation of his anti-tobacco politics. It was a lie. KELLNER: Is Murdoch the last newspaper mogul? Irrespective of the fate of News Corp. and its chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch, those who can barely contain their delight at this man's current troubles might want to check their enthusiasm. Other Recent Articles Oneida Nation producing feature film in central NY AP Sources: NFL players review parts of deal SKorean students ditch paper for digital books Iconic 'Gone With the Wind' dress faded forever Singaporean convicted of match-fixing in Finland Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane has left wrist surgery Top cable programs for July 11-17 Long-distance swims may cause polar bear problems 'Thriller' jacket to go on tour for charity Serena Williams continues comeback at WTT event Golf means never taking anything for granted NCAA gives LSU 1-year probation for violations Giants acquire 2B Jeff Keppinger from Astros Chinese great Yao Ming retires from basketball Progress is seen on a blood test for Alzheimer's		Most Read Stories Many states celebrate surpluses as Congress struggles with debt NUGENT: You have the right to remain stupid Liberals see opportunity for big cuts in defense VERNUCCIO: Labor's new strategy: Intimidation for dummies CURL: Who says tax cuts kill jobs? 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