Defense budget casualties light on civilian side - The Washington Times

		Monday, May 7, 2012 Today's Top Stories
Defense budget casualties light on civilian side The Pentagon's civilian workforce, which expanded dramatically during President Obama's first three years, is not facing any significant reductions even as the Defense Department is slashing ground troops by more than 10 percent, retiring ships and combat planes, and putting off the purchases of some new weapons. French voters reject austerity tack, oust Sarkozy for Socialist leader French voters on Sunday elected Socialist Francois Hollande as president, rejecting Nicolas Sarkozy's push for austerity and anti-immigration rhetoric in his re-election bid. Germany's new strength has a foreign accent Germany has leveraged its economic strength to take the leading role in addressing Europe's debt crisis, but ironically it owes much of that success recently to the appeal of German products in emerging countries such as China and Russia - far outside its traditional markets in Europe. Vacant court benches draw strategy session An aggressive White House drive to move stalled judicial nominees through the Senate is galvanizing activists on the left for an election-year fight to fill the bench with President Obama's picks while Republicans are vowing to block what they view as Democratic overreach. Romney needs to get small donors hooked If Mitt Romney hopes to go toe-to-toe this fall with President Obama, the former Massachusetts governor needs to show he can fish for small-dollar donors as well as reeling in the big-cash catch. Obama, spokesmen step it up The Obama re-election effort shifted into a higher gear over the weekend, with the president and the first lady leading rallies at colleges in Ohio and Virginia on Saturday. CURL: Hip-hop legend MCA passes on; Obama says not a word President Obama is said to have 2,000 songs on his iPod, but he's never mentioned the Beastie Boys. Too bad. He could learn so much from them. Still can. Budget Control Act not living up to its name Eight months after President Obama ratified the last-minute Budget Control Act to avert a federal default, the budget deficit has only grown and the control is hard to see. Biden 'comfortable' with gay marriage, cites 'Will & Grace' Vice President Joseph R. Biden, saying a canceled NBC sitcom "educated" the American people, said Sunday he is "absolutely comfortable" with gay marriage — but wouldn't say whether President Obama would back such unions in a second term. Inside the Beltway: The calm GOP "Republicans have higher levels of well-being than do Democrats," says a huge Gallup health survey of 405,000 U.S. adults that tallies a half-dozen "well-being" indexes that include physical and emotional health, positive behaviors and workplace perceptions. Even the pollster acknowledges that religion could have something to do with it. Griffin gives Redskins a tantalizing glimpse of things to come More than a dozen camera shutters click-clacked on the sideline Sunday as Robert Griffin III practiced taking snaps from center at the Washington Redskins' rookie minicamp. Coach Mike Shanahan watched from the opposite sideline. He has his franchise quarterback. Now he must figure out how to use him. Rejected marijuana applicants take to the courts Unsuccessful applicants to the District's medical marijuana program are asking the courts to force the reconsideration of their submissions, claiming they were rejected by a review panel despite meeting or exceeding stated criteria. 'Veep' sendup rings truer about D.C. than 'Scandal' There are good reasons to be cynical about Washington, D.C., and there are bad reasons to be cynical about Washington, D.C. Two new shows — one ("Veep") satirical, one ("Scandal") not — offer plenty of both. And, as is so often the case, the satire strikes closer to home. Greek voters see hope on the fringe Fringe political parties made major gains and won seats in parliament for the first time as voters shunned the two ruling parties held responsible for Greece's dire economic situation. Congressional leaders say Taliban is stronger The heads of the House and Senate intelligence committees on Sunday declared that the Taliban has grown stronger since President Obama's deployment of 33,000 more troops to Afghanistan in 2010. Long fight predicted in Guantanamo 9/11 case The United States finally has started the prosecution of five Guantanamo Bay prisoners charged in the Sept. 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, but the trial won't be starting any time soon, and both sides said Sunday that the case could continue for years. Commentary EDITORIAL: More phony job numbers The White House crowed on Friday about the unemployment rate dropping a 10th of a percent. At the same time, the number of people out of the labor force reached a record high. The Obama administration can report all the funny numbers it wants, but the American people know in their guts that things are getting much worse. GHEI: Scaring away investors A lot of money is about to leave the United States. Because of a few rogue bureau crats at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) acting without congressional authority, American financial institutions can expect to see a massive outflow of foreign capital next year. WILDERS: Resisting threat of fanatical Islam As I write these lines, there are police bodyguards at the door. No visitor can enter my office without passing through several security checks and metal detectors. I have been marked for death. I am forced to live in a heavily protected safe house. HANSON: Cabinet gone wild We've had some unusual Cabinet secretaries in past administrations - Earl Butz, John Mitchell and James G. Watt come to mind - but never anything quite like the present bunch. NAPOLITANO: Obama's private war Did you know the U.S. government is using drones to kill innocent people in Pakistan? Did you know the Pakistani government has asked President Obama to stop it and he won't? Did you know Pakistan is a sovereign country that has nuclear weapons and is an American ally? Other Recent Articles 'Avengers' smashes record: $200.3 million debut Flames center Olli Jokinen has abdominal surgery NASCAR's McClure stable, alert after accident AT&T barges into home security and automation Look! Up in the sky! It's Supermoon! Due Saturday Chaplain: Seau family revisiting brain donation 4 golf greats differ on Tiger's future Turkish clubs cleared in match-fixing scandal Former Mass. Gov. Romney takes in Celtics game Melanie Oudin earns USTA's French Open wild card Preservation Hall Jazz Band marks 50 years at fest George Lindsey, known as TV's Goober Pyle, dies UK publisher to release Taliban poetry anthology Neb. coach won't testify on anti-bias ordinance Nationals RF Jayson Werth out with broken wrist		Most Read Stories CURL: Hip-hop legend MCA passes on; Obama says not a word Brokaw: White House Correspondents' dinner hurting the press EDITORIAL: More phony job numbers WILDERS: Resisting threat of fanatical Islam Defense budget casualties light on civilian side HANSON: Cabinet gone wild George Lindsey: Actor who played Goober on 'The Andy Griffith Show' dies What killed Lenin? Poison called possibility Officer left gun in bathroom, fell asleep, but kept her job Griffin gives Redskins a tantalizing glimpse of things to come Latest from WT Communities Independent Social Contributors TV Den Celebrity Apprentice 2012: Finalists Aiken, Arsenio, Aubrey George Lindsey, 'Andy Griffith's' goofy Goober Pyle, dead at 83 Leading Edge Legal Advice for Everyday Matters Workers' Compensation: What you need to know Love thy neighbor and his tree The Tygrrrr Express French presidential election: Vive la suicide! Happy Cinco De Mayo Kentucky Derby Jewish Sabbath Day! A World in our Backyard Live Below the Line: Meeting the challenge to live on $1.50 a day For Advertising Opportunities Click Here