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Joseph Curl

Joseph Curl

Joseph Curl covered the White House and politics for a decade for The Washington Times. He can be reached at josephcurl@gmail.com and on Twitter @josephcurl.

Columns by Joseph Curl

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a media conference at the conclusion of the G-7 summit at Schloss Elmau hotel near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany, Monday, June 8, 2015. The two-day summit addressed such issues as climate change, poverty and the fight against terrorism. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

‘WE DON’T YET HAVE A COMPLETE STRATEGY’

President Obama on Monday said his administration does not yet "have a complete strategy" on what to do in Iraq, where the Islamic militia ISIS has swept through cities, taking control and slaughtering civilians. Holding a press conference in Krun, Germany, where he is attending the G-7 meeting, Obama said that even though the U.S. has been training Iraqi forces to run security efforts in the country for 12 years, there still isn't a plan on just how to achieve results. Published June 8, 2015

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio waves to supporters with his wife Jeanette, after he announced that he will be running for the Republican presidential nomination, during a rally at the Freedom Tower, Monday, April 13, 2015, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

NY TIMES GOES AFTER RUBIO, WIFE — FOR TRAFFIC TICKETS

The New York Times, which targeted its most feared Republican candidate last year when it tarred New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for a scandal he had nothing to do with, is now going after the new top opponent of the Grey Lady's favorite candidate, Hillary Clinton. Published June 5, 2015

Lois Lerner is the former IRS official at the center of a controversy over how the agency treated conservative political groups. (Associated Press) **FILE**

IRS official: ‘Lois Lerner was the tip of the iceberg’

The IRS's director of privacy, governmental liaison and disclosure division testified Wednesday that the tax agency set up a special committee with hundreds of lawyers to handle the probe into whether Tea Party groups were targeted, but repeatedly said she had no idea how it operated. Published June 3, 2015

The legacies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush loom large over the campaigns of HIllary Clinton and Jeb Bush. (Associated Press)

POLL: Voters won’t hold George W., Bill against Jeb, Hillary

While Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley says the presidency isn't a crown to passed between two families, Iowa voters don't seem to care much if the next president has the same name as a former one -- or if he or she consults with Presidents No. 43 or 42. Published June 3, 2015

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, left, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam attend a press conference before a state Republican Party fundraising dinner in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday, May 30, 2015. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

Harry Reid intervened on Nevada proposal to switch to primary

Sen. Harry Reid personally intervened to shut down a move to switch Nevada elections from caucuses to a statewide primary, which political analysts say is a blow to Jeb Bush, who is making the state a key part of his yet-to-be-announced presidential run. Published June 2, 2015

Senator Elizabeth Warren meets with members of the Berkshire Brigades and takes a selfie with BCC student Jacob Robbins before delivering the commencement address at the Berkshire Community College graduation ceremony at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass, Friday, May 29, 2015. (AP Photo/Stephanie Zollshan/The Berkshire Eagle via AP)

Run Warren Run To Close, Close, Close

A MoveOn.org-run organization to encourage Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to run for the Democratic presidential nomination has finally decided to throw in the towel. Published June 2, 2015

This Jan. 23, 2013, file photo shows Secretary of State Hillary Rodham as she testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) ** FILE **

POLL: Hillary Clinton dishonest, untrustworthy

Nearly 6 in 10 think Hillary Clinton is dishonest and untrustworthy, a new poll finds. In just two months, the number of people who say Hillary can't be trusted has risen 8 points to 57 percent, according to a new CNN/ORC poll on the 2016 race. Exactly half agreed that she does not inspire confidence, also up 8 points. Published June 2, 2015

President Barack Obama passes then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton before delivering a policy address on events in the Middle East at the State Department in Washington on May 19, 2011. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Hillary to kick off campaign June 13 — in NYC?

"Hillary Clinton's official campaign launch will occur Saturday, June 13th, starting with a major speech in New York City and continuing with a nationally webcast organizing meeting in Iowa. Her launch will continue with a swing through all four early primary states," according to a press release Monday. Published June 1, 2015

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy speaks in Washington in this Nov. 19, 2014, file photo. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

JOSEPH CURL: Obama’s EPA Clean Water Act goes after the farmers

Farmers are now the bad guys. President Obama's administration last week claimed dominion over all of America's streams, creeks, rills, ditches, brooks, rivulets, burns, tributaries, criks, wetlands -- perhaps even puddles -- in a sweeping move to assert unilateral federal authority. Published May 31, 2015

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2007, file photo, former House Speaker Dennis, Hastert, R-Ill., announces that he will not seek re-election for a 12th term in Yorkville, Ill. Federal prosecutors have indicted Thursday, May 28, 2015, the former U.S. House Speaker on bank-related charges. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey, File)

Weird C-SPAN phone call: ‘Hi Denny. Remember me from Yorkville?’

A day after J. Dennis Hastert was indicted on charges of "structuring" and lying to federal agents, an odd video clip has emerged showing the former House Speaker taking questions on C-SPAN. The caller, who identified himself as "Bruce" and called in on the independent line, says "Hello, Denny," using the Sepaker's nickname. "Hi, how're you doing," Hastert says. Published May 29, 2015

FILE - In this June 25, 2014 file photo, former President Bill Clinton speaks alongside then-Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley during the closing session on the final day of the annual gathering of the Clinton Global Initiative America, in Denver. More than a decade ago, Bill Clinton spotted a political star on the horizon, someone he predicted would go from a big-city mayor to a national leader _ maybe even to the White House. In the years that followed, Clinton and his wife, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, showed up time and again as their young ally rose up the political ranks, hosting fundraisers, headlining rallies, and connecting him with their sprawling network of political donors. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File)

O’Malley teases with ‘Hail to the Chief’ — on guitar

Martin O'Malley is going to push his youth in his race for the Democratic presidential nomination, and even before he jumps into the race, he's teasing -- with a guitar riff. A new 24-second video popped up on YouTube showing the musically-inclined O'Malley tuning a guitar. Then, at the end of the short clip, he picks out the tune to "Hail To The Chief." Published May 29, 2015