From the New York Post: Anthony Weiner’s wife is taking time off from her senior job with the State Department — as well as time off from the randy former representative, The Post has learned. While Weiner, 46, heads to
From The Daily Caller: Minority parents in New York have a message for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT): you are hurting our children. In New York Monday, charter
Today, at NOON EDT, BigGovernment will conduct a Twitterview with Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI). Follow @BigGovt and @ThadMcCotter or #mccotterttv for all the fun. As always, we’ll publish the full exchange later here at BigGovernment.
Today, in 1997, the United Kingdom turned Hong Kong over to the Chinese.
The Charles Koch Foundation has released a great video that underscores the importance of economic freedom. Milton Friedman long-ago argued that, without economic freedom, all other freedoms are vulnerable.
Thousands of Greeks have resorted to violent street protests in the wake of proposed budget cuts needed to right Greece’s fiscal policy. Consider it a foreshadowing.
From the Associated Press: Riot police fired tear gas at youths hurling rocks near the Greek finance ministry Tuesday, trying to quell the anger unleashed by a general strike as parliament debated new cost-cutting measures. The latest austerity measures must
Today, in 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, sparking World War I. Also today, in 1919, the parties involved in World War I signed the final formal peace treaty, ending hostilities. Bookends.
From the Associated Press: Rod Blagojevich, who rode his talkative everyman image to two terms as Illinois governor before scandal made him a national punch line, was convicted Monday of a wide range of corruption charges, including the incendiary allegation
Today, in 1905, sailors aboard the Russian battleship Potemkin mutinied. Although the mutiny was put down, Russian naval forces would be among the more radical forces supporting the Bolshevik coup d’etat in 1917.
From the Associated Press: The floats were there, the music and dancing, too–all the usual staples of one of the world’s oldest and largest gay pride parades. But this year, something new joined the spectacle on the streets of New
From the Associated Press: Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann has surged to the front of the pack in Iowa, the crucial first voting state she hopes will propel her to the Republican presidential nomination. Bachmann, a Minnesota representative and darling
Today, in 1917, the first American troops arrived on the Western Front of World War I. One year later, on this day, the Americans defeated the Germans at the Battle of Belleau Wood. (One of our relatives was there. In
Today, in 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, sparking the Korean War.
From The New York Times: New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday approved a broad rollback of benefits for 750,000 government workers and retirees, the deepest cut in state and local costs in memory, in a major victory for Gov. Chris Christie
Republican Rep. Fred Upton is the father of the ban on incandescent light bulbs. (Yeah, there are at least three things wrong with that sentence.) In his campaign to get the gavel of the House Energy and Commerce Committee he
Join Andrew Breitbart and Melanie Morgan for Troopathon 2011, today from 4pm to Midnight EDT! Troopathon brings together famous celebrities from radio, television, the movie, musicians, journalists, and more to create a one-of-a-kind event with one purpose – to support
From the Associated Press: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor pulled out of talks with Vice President Joe Biden on a deficit reduction-debt ceiling deal, saying they had reached an impasse over Democratic demands for tax increases to be paired with
Today, in 1948, Justice Clarence Thomas was born. If you have never read one of his opinions, you are missing out. Happy Birthday, Justice Thomas!
From the Associated Press: The Federal Reserve acknowledged Wednesday that the economy is growing more slowly than it expected. But it said it will complete its $600 billion Treasury bond buying program by June 30 as planned and announced no
Today, in 1990, Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin was dismantled. In our book, that is the official end of the Cold War.
From The National Journal: The House’s independent ethics office is looking into sexual-harassment claims leveled months ago against Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., the Wall Street Journal is reporting. Citing sources familiar with the inquiry, the investigation, which began at least
From the Associated Press: Labor regulators are set to propose sweeping new rules Tuesday that would dramatically speed up the time frame for union elections, a move that could make it easier for struggling unions to organize new members, and
Today is the Summer Solstice, the first day of Summer. Enjoy.
From CNN: The acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and firearms is expected to resign amid the ongoing controversy over the “Fast and Furious” operation, two senior federal law enforcement sources told CNN. Straw buyers were allowed to
The ‘kinetic action’ in Libya is now in clear violation of the War Powers Act. One can argue whether or not the War Powers Act is sound law, but it is currently the law of the land. One could also
Happy Fathers’ Day, John.
Today, in 1815, Great Britain and its Allies defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.
Today, in 1971, President Richard Nixon inaugurated the disastrous “War on Drugs.” The following year, on this day, the Watergate burglars were arrested. The Watergate cover-up brought about the end of the Nixon Presidency, one of the worst of the
Jeff Mapes in The Oregonian: At the behest of Service Employees International Union, Oregon Senate budget chief Richard Devlin sought to stifle criticism of an organizing drive that added more than 7,700 workers to the union’s membership and turned it
BigGovernment has been informed by trusted sources that Rep. Anthony Weiner will step down today. From The New York Times: Representative Anthony D. Weiner has told friends that he plans to resign his seat after coming under growing pressure from
Today, in 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered his “House Divided” speech.
Congratulations to the Boston Bruins, winners of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup – and especially to goalie Tim Thomas, a true Tea Party patriot! Thomas, who recorded a shutout in the Bruins’ 4-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, wears the
Congressman Steve King (R-IA) released the following statement after filing an amendment today to H.R 2112, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2012, that prevents any funds appropriated under the act from
@BigGovt Q1: Rep. Ryan, thx for the Twitterview! Kindly explain, in 140 chars or less, how your budget deals with entitlements like Medicare #ryanttv @RepPaulRyan A1: Thx! Our plan: no more empty promises; saves Medicare w no changes 4 those
Today, in 1775, George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army.
Tomorrow morning (Wednesday, June 15), BigGovernment will feature an exclusive Twitter interview with House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI). We will post 20 questions to Rep. Ryan on the budget debate, Medicare, the presidential race, and more. All questions–and
From Fox Nation: President Obama explained to NBC News that the reason companies aren’t hiring is not because of his policies, it’s because the economy is so automated. … “There are some structural issues with our economy where a lot
Today, in 1800, Napoleon defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Marengo, allowing him to reconquer Italy. It is one of the least appreciated battles in history. In it, Napoleon snatched victory from the certain jaws of defeat, which gives
**UPDATED – Bumped** MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Republican White House hopefuls condemned President Barack Obama’s handling of the economy from the opening moments of their first major debate of the campaign season Monday night, and pledged emphatically to repeal his