Democrat Party News
The Daily Signal provides Democrat Party news with reporting, analysis, and commentary on elections, legislation, and progressive agendas.
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opinion
Obama Administration Proposes Expanding Government-Funded Preschool, Replacing No Child Left Behind
Education Secretary Arne Duncan urged a revamp of the “tired” and “prescriptive” law currently known as No Child Left Behind today, calling for a law that replaces NCLB with one that includes “more money” than is currently authorized. Duncan urged Congress to increase spending, ensure educational “equity” and to include preschool as a component of… -
news
As Obama Vows to Nix Keystone Pipeline, Here’s a History of Presidential Veto Power
Minutes into the beginning of the 114th Congress last week, before any bill left either chamber, the White House vowed to veto legislation approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. “If this bill passes this Congress, the president wouldn't sign it,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Tuesday. That showdown could come soon…. -
opinion
Cartoon: How In Touch With Voters Obama Is
From Genevieve Wood's column, a look at the issues some readers hope President Obama won't use his "gift" on if Congress passes changes: Your responses to my question last week asking what campaign promises you most wanted the new Congress to fulfill were very telling. What many conservatives want they fear they are not going… -
news
Leave the SUV, Take the Prius: Obama Warns ‘Gas Prices Are Gonna Go Back Up’
The U.S. economy looks bullish as the price of oil plummets and employment numbers bounce back. But President Obama is advising consumers to be cautious, warning that the price of gas will soon be rising once again. Speaking to the Detroit News this week, the president offered some financial planning advice. “I would strongly advise… -
news
On Day One of New Congress, Obama Vows to Veto Keystone XL Pipeline
The White House said today that President Obama would veto the Keystone XL pipeline bill, which is supported by more than 60 U.S. senators. “If this bill passes this Congress, the president wouldn’t sign it,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a press conference. The project, which would transport more than 800,000 barrels of… -
news
Krauthammer Blasts Obama Administration on Human Rights, Cuba Deal
As part of last month’s deal between Washington and Havana, Cuba agreed to release 53 political prisoners that had been detained for their criticism of the Castro regime. The Washington Post reports that both governments “refuse to publicly name the prisoners,” and that their release “was not a precondition for renewing diplomatic ties.” But, the… -
news
High-Ranking Democrat Blasts Obama’s ‘Secret Diplomacy’ With Cuba
President Obama will have trouble appointing an ambassador to Cuba following his decision to normalize relations with the Communist government, predicts the outgoing Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. On Sunday, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., told CNN that past actions on the part of the Obama administration would make it “very difficult to… -
news
McConnell: Obama ‘Not Going to Like’ Republican Congress’ Agenda
Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today laid out the priorities for the new Republican-controlled Congress, promising to challenge President Obama with bills “he’s not going to like.” In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” McConnell, R-Ky., said he would advance Republican priorities such as approving the Keystone XL pipeline. He also said… -
opinion
The Private Sector, Not Obama, Created This Recovery
It only took six years, but we’re finally starting to see the U.S. economy kick into gear. This isn’t a story of government-directed growth, but the opposite—Washington’s role in the economy starting to shrink after years of Obama administration activism. The private sector is starting to take over. Let’s start with the positive news. Economic… -
opinion
How Obama’s Cuba Deal Hurts Cubans
President Obama’s decision to make nice with Cuba’s repressive, anti-American regime creates a great number of losers. Topping the list, of course, are the people of Cuba. They are starting from a bad place, lacking fundamental freedoms. And Obama negotiated no promises from the Castro brothers to ease up on the repression. That leaves Cubans… -
news
Bernie Sanders Outlines ‘Progressive Vision’ as He Eyes 2016 Presidential Run
In August, Bernie Sanders told ABC News that if he ran for president, he’d have “a damn good platform.” The Independent Vermont senator further articulated his agenda this week, fueling increased speculation about a presidential run in 2016. A self-described socialist who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate, Sanders said in March that he’s “prepared… -
opinion
What Obama, Eric Holder and the Rest of Us Could Learn from the Magna Carta
With the president and Congress out of town, Washington, D.C. is very quiet during the holidays, without the long lines one normally sees at museums and capitol attractions. So it was a good time last week to take my family to see a wonderful exhibit at the Library of Congress, jointly sponsored by the Federalist… -
news
Krauthammer on Obama’s Veto Threat: ‘Bring It On, Mr. President’
How should Republicans handle Obama’s threat to use his “veto pen” in the coming two years? Charles Krauthammer says the GOP should say: “Bring it on, Mr. President.” Speaking to Kimberly Guilfoyle on “Greta” last night, the syndicated columnist and Fox News commentator advised the GOP: “Let the president show where the party stands, and… -
news
Biblical in Scale: Guess How Many Pages It Takes to Print Obama’s Environmental Rules
Americans will find few books that rival the number of pages of regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency since President Obama took office, not even the Gutenberg Bible. Obama made protecting the environment a cornerstone of his administration early on, and during his tenure the Environmental Protection Agency has sought to cut vehicle emissions,… -
news
7 Takeaways From Obama’s 40-Minute NPR Interview on Cuba, Iran, Race Relations and His Veto Pen
Wondering what’s in store for the next two years? In a revealing 40-minute, year-end interview, President Obama took questions from NPR’s Steve Inskeep on topics ranging from Cuba and the Middle East, to race relations and plans to use his “veto pen.” “I suspect there are going to be some times where I’ve got to… -
opinion
Ignorant Media Are Wrong to Gush Over Obama’s Foreign Policy
It’s “historic.” A “landmark” breakthrough. By one stroke of the presidential pen, the tide of history has risen, never to recede again. How many times has the press greeted a decision by President Obama with this breathless cry? It happened again last week when he reversed nearly 50 years of U.S. policy toward communist Cuba…. -
news
‘Obama-Paul’ Cuba Policy Not Working for Marco Rubio
The spat between Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky over President Obama’s attempt to normalize U.S.-Cuba relations spilled into the weekend, surfacing on the Sunday talk show circuit this morning. “Rand, if he wants to become the chief cheerleader of Obama's foreign policy, he certainly has a right to do… -
opinion
The Reasons Behind Obama’s Failures
In early October, President Obama warned his supporters to “make no mistake: these policies [of mine] are on the ballot. Every single one of them.” After the November elections, he probably wishes he hadn’t said that. The scale of the liberal defeat is remarkable, as are its causes. In 2008, Obama had long coattails: When… -
opinion
Obama’s Cuba Move Shows He’s Listening to International Left
Why did President Obama go for broke on Cuba, announcing the United States would normalize relations with that repressive regime? The answer appears in his statement to the nation. There, the president not only made clear that this change has been on his bucket list for some time, but also that his knowledge of Cuba… -
opinion
If Obama Wants More Solar Energy, Why Is He Making It So Expensive?
President Obama has made it quite clear he wants to see more renewable energy in the United States. Then why is his administration making it more expensive? The U.S. government recently announced plans to impose taxes of up to 78.42 percent on imported solar parts to protect U.S. manufacturers from foreign competition. In this case,…