Joseph Curl
Columns by Joseph Curl
CURL: A desperate president spews bitterness, pessimism
President Obama swept into office on a theme of "Hope and Change" (remember those days?). But 5 1/2 years later, he spits only bitterness and pessimism, blaming Republicans, the media — even ordinary Americans — for his impotence. Published May 28, 2014
CURL: Why Hillary Clinton’s health matters
Is Hillary Clinton's health an issue for 2016? You bet it is, and well it should be. Published May 25, 2014
CURL: Obama, the unaccountable president
Has there ever been a president in the history of America who knew less than President Obama? With each new crisis and scandal, Mr. Obama tells Americans that he just didn't know. Published May 21, 2014
CURL: For Michelle Obama, world is black and white — but skin deep
For "Decider in Chief" George W. Bush, the world was black and white. Good and bad, right and wrong, with us or against us. For Michelle Obama, the world is also black and white. But her black and white is all about skin color. Published May 18, 2014
CURL: Left scrambles to squash Lara Logan’s return
Remember Lara Logan? The foreign war correspondent with the smoldering good looks who had risen to the pinnacle of CBS News, covering wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and uprisings in Egypt and Libya? Published May 14, 2014
CURL: GOP finally wises up about nomination process
You know the drill: Every four years, Republicans vying for the presidential nomination move hard right to defeat their challengers in debates and primaries, then are forced to move to the center to be palatable to the mostly-centrist American voter. Published May 11, 2014
CURL: Hillary Clinton should be worried as Benghazi mess builds at her feet
Hillary Clinton, who was Secretary of State when Christopher Stevens became the first American ambassador killed since 1979, thinks we've talked quite enough about Benghazi. Published May 8, 2014
CURL: Obama — bitter, petty, but try as he might, not funny
Barack Obama is not a funny man. He thinks he is — and of course, when you're president, everyone laughs at your jokes — but really, not funny. Angry? Sure. Bitter? You bet. But funny — not so much. Published May 4, 2014
CURL: What to do with racism in the 21st century
Let me tell you a story about a TV talking head. You know him — he's on the tube every day. I won't name him — he'd deny it, and there's no tape recording. But the tale comes from a friend I trust, someone who witnessed this incident first-hand, and someone who has no reason to lie. It's solid. Published April 30, 2014
CURL: Racism everywhere, Obama and Democrats agree
Racism is everywhere these days. Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy is a racist. L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling is a racist. Redskins owner Dan Snyder is a racist. "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson is a racist. And of course, every member of the tea party is clearly racist. Published April 27, 2014
CURL: Obama’s foreign policy — even worse than his domestic policy
How bad is President Obama's foreign policy? So bad he sent Vice President Joseph R. Biden to Kiev to handle the Russia-Ukraine mess. Published April 23, 2014
CURL: Shelly O — first lady Michelle Obama comes in last
First ladies, almost from the beginning, have taken up lofty causes when they move into the White House. Dolley Madison concerned herself with the plight of orphans. Ellen Wilson, shocked by the squalid streets of Washington, took up urban housing (and even got a bill through Congress, the first FLOTUS to do so). Rosalynn Carter made her signature issue mental health. Published April 20, 2014
CURL: The state of the Union — worse than you thought
Tax Day has come and gone (sort of like Spring in the Northeast). Left behind is just a cold bitterness that is getting colder and bitter-er by the day (not talking about the weather here). Published April 16, 2014
CURL: Kathleen Sebelius — You just can’t make this stuff up
With Team Obama, every day brings another story that falls into the "You Can't Make This Stuff Up" category. Like Friday, when Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stood in the White House Rose Garden with President Obama to deliver her farewell speech. Published April 13, 2014
CURL: The next hot spot is the world’s problem, not America’s
The Washington Times headline blared the news: "Senators demand arms for restive Ukraine." Yes, the illustrious U.S. Senate, which for the past decade has overspent on the U.S. budget by trillions and trillions of dollars, thinks it's a very good idea if America wades into a battle with Russia over some former USSR territory. Published April 9, 2014
CURL: It’s the Democrats’ turn for a ‘culture of corruption’
In the run-up to the 2006 mid-term elections, crucial to President George W. Bush's plans for his last two years in office, scandal reared its hideous head. Again and again. And just for the Republicans. Published April 6, 2014
CURL: Obama claims 7 million health care sign-ups, press corps says, ‘yeah, OK’
Boy, you gotta' hand it to that crack Washington press corps. It's really on the ball with this whole Obamacare thing. Published April 2, 2014
CURL: Who the hell are the Koch brothers?
Just kidding. I know who the Koch brothers are. They're the billionaire oil magnates who control 4,000 miles of pipeline and whose corporation, Koch Industries, owns dozens of companies like Georgia-Pacific lumber, Stainmaster carpet, Brawny paper towels, Angel Soft toilet paper, even Dixie cups. Net sales: $115 billion. A year. Published March 30, 2014
CURL: U.S. won’t be world’s richest nation for long
Sometimes, especially lately, it's depressing to think about the future of the U.S. Published March 26, 2014
CURL: Obamacare turns four, but still wetting the bed
Obamacare turned four years old Sunday. But unlike a human offspring, which would developing by leaps and bounds, the poor little government program is still peeing the bed. Published March 23, 2014
