Romney's initiatives: Miracles or gimmickry?

Facing a budget deficit of $3 billion when he took over as Massachusetts governor in 2003, Mitt Romney immediately instituted emergency spending cuts, raised fees on items such as birth certificates, gun licenses and boat registrations, and closed corporate tax breaks to solve the shortfall.

TWT polls: Conservatives pick Rubio as VP favorite

Sen. Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and a rapidly rising Republican star, emerged this weekend as the clear favorite of conservative activists to be the GOP vice-presidential nominee, according to two polls sponsored by The Washington Times.

Study suggests risks from same-sex parenting

Two studies released Sunday may act like brakes on popular social-science assertions that gay parents are the same as - or maybe better than - married mother-father parents.

Pentagon weapon systems can survive spending cuts

The Pentagon could hold on to its crown-jewel weapon systems even though looming automatic federal spending cuts would inflict a $54 billion gash in the 2013 defense budget, military budget analysts say.

Obama donors get deal; depositors get 'stiffed again'

A billionaire Chicago family that has donated and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for President Obama got a deal from the federal government to avoid paying all of a $460 million settlement it agreed to in the 2001 failure of a Chicago-area bank it owned, while 1,400 former depositors are still owed more than $10 million in lost savings.

New elections demanded after chaotic Va. Democrat convention

The Democratic Party of Virginia convention that descended into chaos, discord and finger-pointing has prompted a formal complaint against the state party that demands a new election for two of the state's representatives to the Democratic National Committee and the ouster of three top party officials.

CURL: Forget the 'boring white guy': Romney will pick Rubio

Paul Ryan. Rob Portman. Tim Pawlenty. Bob McDonnell. Mitch Daniels. Even their names are boring. Sure, they're all highly qualified public servants — governors, senators, congressmen — but they are also borrrrrring.

Obama adviser denies administration leaks

Senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod insisted Sunday that national security leaks weren't coming from the White House while Republicans continued to put the responsibility squarely at the feet of the president.

Iranian oil, Afghanistan top agenda for U.S.-India talks

The third U.S.-India strategic dialogue gets under way in Washington this week as the Obama administration considers imposing sanctions on the South Asian nation for importing oil from Iran.

Indiana Gov. Daniels: Public sector unions a 'bad idea'

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said Sunday he would like to see public sector unions' power curtailed because "government works better without them."

Md. officials await findings on impact of more gambling

A consulting firm will present its findings Tuesday on the potential impact of expanded gambling in Maryland as lawmakers continue to discuss possible legislation to add table games and a sixth casino in the state.

Holder taps two federal prosecutors to investigate leaks

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. late Friday afternoon appointed two U.S. attorneys to lead separate investigations into unauthorized leaks of classified information, giving the two prosecutors full latitude to follow all potential leads within the executive and legislative branches of government.

McCain: Obama 'responsible' for national security leaks

Sen. John McCain ripped the White House again Sunday over national security leaks, putting the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of President Obama.

State of emergency declared in Myanmar

Myanmar's president on Sunday night declared a state of emergency in a western state where sectarian tensions between Buddhists and Muslims have unleashed deadly violence.

New Romney ad hits Obama on the 'fine' economy

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has released a Web video hammering President Obama for his assertion Friday that "the economy is doing fine."

Megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar denies punching, choking daughter

Megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar staunchly denied Sunday that he punched and choked his 15-year-old daughter in an argument, telling his congregation the allegations made in a police report are nothing but "exaggeration and sensationalism."

Commentary

SOON: Bad science behind Florida mercury phobia

On May 24, the Environmental Assessment and Restoration Division of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued a draft report proposing much stricter limits for mercury in Florida's river, stream, lake and coastal waters.

HANDRAHAN: Eric Holder's sizzling summer

What a week it was in Washington. Summer heat has not yet hit, but steam already is rising from Republicans on the Hill as they express outrage over U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s conduct.

KNIGHT: Classless warfare fails in Wisconsin

Wouldn't it be awful if an important election hinged on some fat cats outspending the opposition? That was the liberals' excuse for the failure of Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to unseat Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in Tuesday's recall election.

EDITORIAL: Getting burned by biofuels

When individuals attempt to solve a problem and end up creating unforeseen troubles, it's called the law of unintended consequences. When government does it, it's called the law of the land.

EDITORIAL: Enough schoolboy excuses

If speed cameras were truly dedicated to the noble cause of saving lives, the people who run the programs would operate in an above-board fashion. They don't.