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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

President Obama speaks on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, at the White House about the sequester as he stands with emergency responders, a group of workers the White House says could be affected if state and local governments lose federal money as a result of budget cuts. (Associated Press)

CURL: ‘Unoriginal Amateur Hour,’ starring Barack Obama

Twenty-five years ago, I started out as a reporter in Prince William County, Va. Back then, a slew of young reporters were cutting their teeth in the hinterland near Washington, D.C. — John Harris, the great Washington Post reporter and editor of Politico; Pierre Thomas, also at the Post then but now senior Justice Department correspondent for ABC News; and the talented Laurie Kellman, a colleague at the Prince William Journal now on the Hill for The Associated Press. Published February 24, 2013

President Obama speaks on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, at the White House about the sequester as he stands with emergency responders, a group of workers the White House says could be affected if state and local governments lose federal money as a result of budget cuts. (Associated Press)

CURL: ‘Amateur Hour,’ starring Barack Obama

Every year, we young reporters in Prince William County would gather at the county's McCoart Administration Center for the annual budget kabuki dance. And quite a dance it was. Every year, the county staffers would ask for much more money — 9, 10, 12 percent increases. The school system, too. Sometimes, the far higher proposed spending budgets would require increases to tax rates. Teachers, union officials and county gadflies would pack the county building for the show. Published February 24, 2013

**FILE** Then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton testifies on Capitol Hill on Jan. 23, 2013, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks against the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

CURL: The terrifying mindset of Secretary Clinton

Her words are already long gone from the daily flow; in fact, they never really resonated at all, were all but ignored by the mainstream media, and were characterized more as a feisty in-your-face comeback than what they truly were. Published January 27, 2013

President Obama delivers his second inaugural address at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CURL: The petty partisanship of Barack Obama (Term II)

President Obama's second inaugural address turned out to be words of discord and distemper, a lengthy lecture to the half of America that opposed him Nov. 6, 2012, and an arrogant wink of the eye to the half that supported him. Published January 21, 2013

** FILE ** President Obama walks off stage after delivering a speech at an interfaith vigil for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, at Newtown High School in Newtown, Conn. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

CURL: Freedom is not to blame for Newtown, Mr. President

The depths to which President Obama will stoop to sell his far-left agenda should shock every American, and Sunday's night political speech at an interfaith prayer vigil was by far the most egregious example of his divisive presidency. Published December 17, 2012

President Obama shakes hands outside a small bookstore in Arlington, Va., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, where he went shopping with his daughters. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

CURL: Postelection surprise: A slew of bad news

Breaking with tradition, this election cycle bypassed the "October Surprise," unless you count finding out that Donald Trump is a complete idiot. In the end, there wasn't even a "November Surprise." But just two weeks after the election, boy, a lot of surprises. Published November 25, 2012

** FILE ** This July 13, 2011, photo made available on the International Security Assistance Force's Flickr website shows U.S. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus shaking hands with Paula Broadwell, co-author of "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus." (AP Photo/International Security Assistance Force)

CURL: Petraeus schools the White House

Ever since CIA Director David Petraeus resigned, one question has risen above all others: Why? There's an easy answer. Published November 18, 2012

A man walks out of the Ohio headquarters of Mitt Romney campaign office carrying a Nobama 2012 sign, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio. Romney conceded the presidential election shortly after midnight Wednesday. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

CURL: Time for a new Republican Party

The Republican Party did not lose last Tuesday's election. It was obliterated, crushed, slaughtered, massacred, squashed, annihilated — and, let's hope, extinguished. Published November 11, 2012

President Obama, center, and and Gov. Chris Christie meet with local residents as they tour neighborhood effected by superstorm Sandy, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012 in Brigantine, N.J. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

CURL: Sandy is Obama’s Katrina — but the media look away

A former top official from the George W. Bush White House and I play a game via email. The slug of each message is always — "Imagine If Bush Had " followed by some egregious act by President Obama. The latest email was, of course, about Hurricane Sandy. Published November 4, 2012

** FILE ** A Libyan man investigates the inside of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 13, 2012, after an attack two days earlier that killed four Americans, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. (Associated Press)

CURL: You don’t mess with the CIA

You know who doesn't like getting thrown under the bus? The CIA. You know what the CIA does when you try to throw it under the bus? They get even — quickly, quietly, and with fatal consequences. Published October 28, 2012

The second debate between President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney will be held Oct. 16, 2012, at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. CNN's Candy Crowley, who referred to Mr. Romney's choice of Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate as a “death wish,” will moderate. (Associated Press) **FILE**

CURL: Time to prepare for the ugliest debate ever — ever

Tonight, CNN's Candy Crowley is the media's last chance to protect Their Chosen One. They've got just the right person serving up softballs — a talk show commentator who, after Mitt Romney selected Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, said the choice reflected a "death wish" for the ticket. Published October 15, 2012