Today's Top News from The Washington Times

		Tuesday, August 2, 2011 Must Read Stories Today
Race for 'safe' seat in Virginia Senate gets dirty The mud is flying in the Democratic primary for a Northern Virginia state Senate seat thought to be safe - drawing cash and attention to an intraparty fight as Republicans plot to take the state's upper chamber in the fall. House easily passes measure on debt ceiling Punctuated by the surprise return of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, House Republicans and Democrats united Monday to avert a debt crisis, pushing through an increase of up to $2.4 trillion in new borrowing authority, imposing instant spending limits and setting up another five months of debate over making even deeper cuts or raising taxes. Dropout grants raise issue of college's value Christopher Rueth blew off college for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: a $100,000 grant to work on wireless Internet technology. Obama helps '12 bid with concessions in debt deal Political observers could not help but notice that many provisions of the compromise debt deal, such as postponing nearly all spending cuts until 2013 and boosting student aid next year, are tailor-made for President Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. Signs point to Strasburg pitching in D.C. this season Tuesday afternoon, under the Florida sun, Stephen Strasburg will throw a simulated game. Chances are, if all goes well with his surgically repaired right elbow, the Washington Nationals ace will pitch in a professional game. FOP: Police appointees violate residency rules More than half of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officials selected as appointees rather than through a competitive hiring process are in violation of D.C. residency requirements, according to the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), which has called for an investigation. Most charges upheld for 6 D.C. gang members A federal appeals court has upheld most of the felony charges against six members of a violent drug gang in Washington, D.C., that left 31 dead during the 1990s. Immigrant group sues to uphold Dream Act An immigrant advocacy group filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to uphold a recently enacted Maryland law that would allow some illegal immigrants to receive tuition breaks. Real work on debt limit still to come The defining element of Sunday night's debt-limit deal is not what happens now, but what it sets up for the next five months: an all-out war between tax increasers and entitlement cutters, fought on the battlefield of a 12-member congressional "supercommittee." White House: Insurers must cover abortion pill Insurance companies must fully cover contraception, HIV and HPV screening and a handful of other women's health services under new guidelines released Monday by the Obama administration. Will experience pay off for Redskins' offensive line? A running play the Washington Redskins attempted in practice Monday morning was reminiscent of last season - and that can't be a good thing. China begins to build its own aircraft carrier China has begun work on its first aircraft carrier and probably will develop two or more, along with outfitting a former Russian carrier that is set to begin sea trials soon, Pentagon officials said. Maine studies 5-year high school program High school may seem like the longest four years of a teenager's life. For students in Maine, it soon could be even longer. 'Promising lead' latest twist in mystery of D.B. Cooper The FBI is investigating a "promising lead" in the nearly 40-year-old case of D.B. Cooper, who hijacked a passenger jet and then escaped with a $200,000 ransom by parachuting over the Pacific Northwest. Syrian troops attack Hama for 2nd day Syrian troops kept up attacks on the restive city of Hama Monday, the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a day after a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters killed at least 70 and drew harsh rebukes from the U.S. and Europe. Judge sets Blagojevich sentencing for Oct. 6 Ousted Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich has more clarity about when he could begin serving time for his corruption convictions. Commentary MILLER: Obama's grand slam President Obama wanted three things from the debt-ceiling fight: trillions in new borrowing authority, status quo on spending and no more drama before his shot at re-election. He got everything. BLANKLEY: Status quo shrugs off urgency - again The debt deal - if it sticks - is a triumph for the bipartisan, status-quo-clinging Washington establishment. Here is a prediction: Between now and January 2013, total actual spending cuts will be minimal. That will result from the following: (1) The $900 billion deficit reduction is almost all backloaded to the years beyond 2012. (2) The select committee created by the budget deal will fail to pass a "second tranche" deficit-cut package of an additional $1.5 trillion. (3) The "trigger" will be pulled identifying an additional $1.2 trillion. EDITORIAL: Alexandria's voluntary cameras The city of Los Angeles last week abandoned its multimillion-dollar red-light camera cash grab because residents caught on to a dirty little secret. Payment of a citation that shows up in the mailbox anywhere in L.A. County turned out to be a strictly voluntary act. The same happens to be true in Alexandria, where ticketing resumed Monday. Alexandria officials hope you don't notice. SESSIONS: Democrats default The recently announced debt-limit deal is far from perfect. However, it will reduce spending and does represent a step forward. No such progress would have been possible but for the Americans who rose up in the last election and kicked so many big spenders out of office. RAHN: Democracy's spending curse Many a democracy has been upended by excessive government spending - and, unfortunately, America, despite the latest budget agreement, is well on its way to fiscal and, perhaps, democratic collapse. The American Founding Fathers well understood that democracy could destroy liberty through both excessive spending and oppressive actions by democratic majorities. This is why the U.S. Constitution creates a federal republic and not a parliamentary democracy. 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