Free Republic

At first glance, the death of Trayvon Martin seemed to be a straightforward example of ugly, racial conflict resulting in the killing of an innocent black teenager by a white man, George Zimmerman. But now, as evidence continues to come forward, the facts seem much more complicated and the "obvious truth" premature. ... To make matters more complex, we found out that in the past several months, Martin was suspended from school three times, once for the possession of drug paraphernalia. The Miami Herald reported that in the gated community in which Zimmerman patrolled, there were eight burglaries, nine thefts...

Cain Must Confront Sex Harassment Issue By William J. Bennett, CNN Contributor November 7, 2011 William Bennett: Herman Cain should confront allegations of sexual harassmentHe says four women making such claims cannot be dismissed as insignificant If Cain is to be taken seriously, he needs to respond directly. Bennett says those who criticized Bill Clinton's behavior can't ignore issue (CNN) -- When I became one of Bill Clinton's earliest and chief accusers for the sexual harassment charges against him, two things were eminently true about my motives: (a) I did not become an accuser because Bill Clinton was a Democrat...

Hearing Mitt Romney’s surrogate Bill Bennett refer to me as a bigot and Jon Huntsman call me a “moron” last week after my controversial comments on Mormonism, amid calls for civility and tolerance in public discourse, reminds me of the exclamation: “We will not tolerate intolerance!” But beyond the personal insults, I am concerned that these men are attempting to prematurely marginalize religion as a relevant topic in elections. Utilizing such incendiary rhetoric against those of us who dare bring up a candidate’s spiritual beliefs cuts off discussion about religion before it begins.

I would contend Newt Gingrich’s interview with Bill Bennett this morning did not go well for the candidate. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Bennett, one of the most patient and courteous hosts in talk radio, so exasperated with a guest: Bill Bennett: We had some tough comments about you, want to give you a chance to respond. Let me put it this way: Is there anything about this Meet the Press interview that you would like to either take back or clarify today?Newt Gingrich: Yeah, there’s a lot that I would like to clarify, but let me start by...

For the past three months, Donald Trump has been making a lot of news about his possible run for the presidency. It started in February when he spoke at the annual gathering of CPAC. Proving he is willing to call 'em as he sees 'em, and not following the traditional advice for prospective candidates that it's not a good idea to anger your audience, he jumped right in to challenge the Ron Paul supporters in the crowd, saying of Paul, "He has zero chance of getting elected." Trump was booed and jeered, but he did not care. He did not...

Bill talks with Michael Rubin about his recent trip to Iraq, the prospects of victory in Afghanistan and how we deal with Pakistan. Listen to 19min. interview at link above.

Abraham Lincoln said that among free men, there can be no successful appeal from the ballot to the bullet. I have that in mind this morning as I think of its corollary: When our elected leaders so flout the will of the people and play games in order to do so, nothing can prove as powerful as the use of the ballot — and in eight months we will show our elected leaders just that. The election of 1994 was an elephant stampede in the wake of ethics scandals, higher taxes, more spending, and a failed health-care bill. This year,...

Glenn Beck delivered the keynote address at CPAC Saturday, receiving roughly a dozen standing ovations as he utilized his trademark chalkboard to present what he called the progressive “cancer… eating our Constitution.” Beck did not constrain his criticism to the Obama administration or the Democratic party. He called out Republicans as well: I’m so sick of hearing people say, oh, well the Republicans are going to solve it all. Really? [They are] just progressive-lite. That’s like somebody sticking a screwdriver in your eye and [you] saying, “Stop! Stop!” And somebody else pulls it out and then puts a pin in...

February 21 Saturday Night Beck There’s a lot to say about CPAC. This morning the major papers are highlighting Glenn Beck’s speech. I like Glenn a lot and I think he has something to teach us. But not what he offered last night. Analogizing his own struggles with alcohol to the problems of our polity and in our politics, he said, “Hello, my name is the Republican party, and I have a problem!” “I’m addicted to spending and big government.” ”It is still morning in America.” ”It just happens to be kind of a head-pounding, hung-over, vomiting-for-four-hours kind of morning...

AT NRO, Mark Levin hammers Beck too: See full text of Levin's Comments here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2457009/posts ________________________________________________________ I want to commend Bill Bennett for his wise piece this morning on the Corner. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzM5OTJkYWE1ZTA5OTI1NWJiMjYwNDI4ZDg0NmQ3MGQ= I agree with him. I have no idea what philosophy Glenn Beck is promoting. And neither does he. It’s incoherent. One day it’s populist, the next it’s libertarian bordering on anarchy, next it’s conservative but not really, etc. And to what end? I believe he has announced that he is no longer going to endorse candidates because our problems are bigger than politics. Well, of course, our problems...

There’s a lot to say about CPAC. This morning the major papers are highlighting Glenn Beck’s speech. I like Glenn a lot and I think he has something to teach us. But not what he offered last night. Analogizing his own struggles with alcohol to the problems of our polity and in our politics, he said, “Hello, my name is the Republican party, and I have a problem!” “I’m addicted to spending and big government.” ”It is still morning in America.” ”It just happens to be kind of a head-pounding, hung-over, vomiting-for-four-hours kind of morning in America. And it’s shaping...

Here is video of John King talking to conservative Bill Bennett and Democrat Strategist Donna Brazile yesterday about Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts. Brazile said this defeat should not cause Democrats to back off from their agenda. She admitted the loss of Ted Kennedy's former seat "hurts like hell," but said Democrats should not be despondent. Bennett said the people of Massachusetts spoke - "blue on blue spoke, and their message could not have been clearer." . . . (VIDEO)

Pentagon Whitewash [Bill Bennett] There are devastating and important things happening in the news. Lest we forget, though: We are still in a war against Islamic Terrorism. And it still happens in America. November is not so far away that it deserves forgetting or whitewashing: An Arab terrorist named Nidal Hasan went to a health-care center, in a fort — at an Army base — in Texas, and opened fire killing 14 people while he shouted "Allahu Akbar." But you would not know this if you read the Pentagon Report on the massacre released Friday. Titled, "Protecting the Force: Lessons...

Freepers, Listen and post thoughts here. To listen on the web start here:http://www.streamingradioguide.com/streaming-radio-shows.php?sformat=1&radio-format=Political%20OpinionScroll down and find Bill's Show and listen to via one of the links.

Here is video of conservative Bill Bennett talking to Sean Hannity about President Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize last night. Bennett said straight out Obama was awarded the Peace Prize by the Nobel Committee because they wanted to bash George W. Bush. Bennett said Obama's speech was better than usual, as he did defend "Just War" in the early part of the speech. Bennett also reacted to the state of the Health Care Debate. . . . (VIDEO)

Here is video of outstanding conservative William Bennett talking with Sean Hannity about the unwillingness of many to call Nidal Malik Hassan a "terrorist" despite the overwhelming evidence that he is a "terrorist" and committed a terrorist attack at Fort Hood in killing 13 people (14 counting an unborn child). Bennett said this was not just a terror attack, it was a "terrorist attack by a Radical Muslim." Bennett said political correctness kept people from confronting Hasan and preventing this terrible attack. William Bennett said Hasan stood up in front of a group of doctors and said: "We must behead...

Here is video of Bill Bennett splendidly bringing things into focus by slamming the Obama Administration for elevating the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" at a time when "8-10 American" soldiers are dying each day and Gen. McChrystal is waiting on an answer as to whether he will get the reinforcements he needs to win. In fact, Bennett said that if he were a general in Iraq or Afghanistan and heard that the debate in Washington was over "Don't ask, Don't tell" instead of the critical issues of life and death, he would consider "resigning" his commission. The rest...

""He is gonna have to say some really, very positive things about the United States while abroad which is not something he has been doing." VIDEO

Here is video of conservative Bill Bennett absolutely stealing the show on CNN today where he was asked to comment on President Obama's trip to Copenhagen, Denmark to lobby for Chicago to get the bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Bennett said there is "one good thing about Obama going to Copenhagen: He is going to have some really positive things about the United States while abroad." He also said, "I hope he is pro-American." . . . (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Prominent Republican Bill Bennett took issue Sunday with what he called the “media’s focus” on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Asked about the Republican Party’s increasingly public struggle to define itself and identify new leaders after eight years of the George W. Bush administration, Bennett said the press should be less myopic in its coverage of the GOP. “One of the things the media could do – some of the media – is to move the debate off Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh,” Bennett, a CNN Contributor, said on State of the Union. “This is probably not the...

Bill Bennett, CNN's token conservative, has been at that leftist network for too long. He is fast becoming the liberal idea of what a conservative should be. We all know what kind of "conservatives" the Left pretends to like - Colin Powell, Peggy Noonan and the like. If any of these people is the least bit conservative, it would have to be Conservative Lite. We could see which way the professor was going when he co-authored this defense of John McCain as the likely Republican presidential nominee back in February of 2008. Well, now we all know what a smashing...

Friends of Bennett and Kemp

Here is video of a CNN panel last night reacting to President Obama's White House Press Conference. The first several panelists talked about Obama "looking tired" and that he sought to "turn the page." John King noted that Obama never talked about "Iraq" or "Afghanistan." Then, Bill Bennett absolutely nailed it with his analysis of Obama's performance. Bennett said Obama had a rough night. Bennett does not get to speak until the 6:00 mark of the video. He pointed out that Obama showed anger at Ed Henry's question about the AIG Bonuses. Excellent analysis by Bennett. . . . ....

Neither of us voted for Barack Obama, but we never doubted that a black man could be elected president of this country in 2008, and we celebrate his election along with millions of other Americans — those who voted for him and those who did not. Now the time has come to bury many prejudices of the past and truly to move beyond racial politics in America.

Where has all the good talk radio gone? Conservative talk radio has been on the ropes the past few years. While it still draws many advertisers and listeners, its influence has seemingly waned. Major conservative talk hosts spent hours making the case for keeping the House and Senate in Republican hands in 2006: their efforts didn’t…exactly…work. Then, in 2008, America’s most prominent talkers made clear their disdain for John McCain, only to see Mr. Maverick seize the GOP nomination. Then, the nation’s conservative voices made a solid case against Barack Obama—only to see the Illinois Senator pound McCain into the...

Today on Bill Bennett's Morning In America, Dr Stanley Kurtz directly tied Obama, Ayers and Acorn to the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collapse. It all stems from Nobamas time as a community organizer. You gotta hear it.This has to get out. There is a link at Bill Bennetts site: http://bennettmornings.com/pg/jsp/charts/streamingAudioMaster.jsp?dispid=302&headerDest=L3BnL2pzcC9tZWRpYS9mbGFzaHdlbGNvbWUuanNwP3BpZD0zNDUzOSZwbGF5bGlzdD10cnVlJmNoYXJ0dHlwZT1jaGFydCZjaGFydElEPTMwMiZwbGF5bGlzdFNpemU9Mg==

Liberals always think there's something broken in politics. Conservatives always think there's something wrong with the culture. Why that gives Sarah Palin and the Republicans the edge in November. Culture war, culture war! In our nation of revivals -- theatrical, cinematic and political -- this one sounds exciting, and promises a riveting new story line in the riveting presidential campaign. But the idea of a resurrected culture war is all sound bites and flurry, and not much else. A war requires two sides to fight it. Yet the Republicans are clamoring about the culture while the Democrats insist on sticking...

We got a bunch of excited e-mails about this leading me to think it was some sort of O’Reilly/Geraldo nuclear exchange. It’s okay — perfectly righteous about not turning Bristol Palin into some sort of springboard for a venal talking-head debate on abstinence education, but cordial and low key. The real outrage, as you’ll see, is CNN bringing up the pregnancy rumors about Palin herself as an intro to the Bristol piece. Here’s how easy it would have been for them to check that before going on air with it. Stay classy, CNN. That clip and the Bennett clip are...

Who cares if Barack Obama won't protect a child who is born alive after an abortion? Gas is over $4/gallon! So argued Donna Brazile when Bill Bennett pressed her on the matter today. The issue arose during a post-Obama press conference kibitzing session on CNN's Situation Room. Bennett was making the point that the complaisant media failed to press the candidate on tough issues. View video here.

1. Barack Obama’s foreign policy is dangerous, naïve, and betrays a profound misreading of history. For at least the past five years, Democrats and liberals have said our standing in the international community has suffered from a “cowboy” or “go-it-alone” foreign policy. While politicians with favorable views of our president have been elected in Germany, Italy, France, and elsewhere, Barack Obama is giving cause to make our allies even more nervous. This past Sunday’s Washington Post reported, “European officials are increasingly concerned that Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign pledge to begin direct talks with Iran on its nuclear program without...

[T]he Democratic party is about to nominate a far left candidate in the tradition of George McGovern, albeit without McGovern’s military and political record. The Democratic party is about to nominate a far-left candidate in the tradition of Michael Dukakis, albeit without Dukakis’s executive experience as governor. The Democratic party is about to nominate a far left candidate in the tradition of John Kerry, albeit without Kerry’s record of years of service in the Senate. The Democratic party is about to nominate an unvetted candidate in the tradition of Jimmy Carter, albeit without Jimmy Carter’s religious integrity as he spoke...

Folks, Fred will be on Bill's Show Today, later in the show

Republican candidate Fred Thompson maintains that, if he were running the country, he would deny Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entry into the United States. According to UN Headquarters Agreement of 1947, the US "shall not impose any impediments to transit," obligating the US to allow representatives of UN members, or those invited on "official business," to visit the UN. However, the government may bar entry based on national security grounds, but would have to provide specific allegations for banning Ahmadinejad. "There are exceptions to every rule. This is our home soil," Thompson asserted on Bill Bennett's "Morning in America" talk...

Republican presidential candidate former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee will appear on Bill Bennett's radio show later today. Click to find a station near you.

Critics on the left are constantly complaining that right-leaning radio talkers are getting their daily programming straight from the talking points of the Republican Party. This is one of the main reasons why they're so eager to implement the 'Fairness Doctrine' and either silence talk radio or force an artificial balance on broadcast content so that their message gets equal time. Their argument is that every word that Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly utters is essentially a free political commercial for the GOP, their policies and their candidates. How much more troubled they must be by this week's developments in...

A Wartime President Hugh Hewitt President Bush invited ten talk hosts into the Oval Office for an hour of conversation today --Glenn Beck, Bill Bennett, Neal Boortz, Scott Hennon, Laura Ingraham, Lars Larson, Mark Levin, Michael Medved, Janet Parshall and me. This was an off-the-record conversation, and so I won't be quoting the president. I will say on today's show that I am confident about the course of the war and about the momentum in Iraq, as well of the president's absolute commitment to doing right by the troops and his concern for every lost and wounded soldier and their...

Bill Bennett on his book, America: The Last Best Hope, comparing history to events today. HH: If you’re really smart, you go to work with my next guest, Dr. Bill Bennett, former secretary of education, and author of many books, including the second volume of his magnificent history of American entitled America: The Last Best Hope. Volume Two is from a world at war to the triumph of freedom. I’ve linked it at Hughhewitt.com. You’ll want to go get Volume Two. In fact, they’ve got a good deal at Amazon for Volume One and Volume Two at the same time....

Howie Carr live thread. I believe today's guest is: (via Howie site)--"Former Secretary of Education under Ronald Reagan and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under George H.W. Bush Willam J. Bennett. (He) will be with us to discuss the second volume of his overview of U.S. history America: The Last Best Hope (Volume II): From a World at War to the Triumph of Freedom."

Q. How can embrace of a given policy "stall" a candidate's campaign if it helps him with the voters? A. If the policy in question is the Bush administration's Iraq war plan, and the MSM finds it difficult to admit that support for it can be an electoral plus.As NewsBuster Geoffrey Dickens and I have noted here and here, NBC reporters, notably including Andrea Mitchell and David Gregory, have repeatedly explained McCain's weak standing in the GOP primary polls by his support of the Iraq war. The truth, of course, is just the opposite. Republicans are less than enthusiastic about...

Kant, Not Cant Actually, morning talker Bill Bennett has a much better taste in philosophers than that, but you’ve got the idea. It’s a curious thing, the angst over Don Imus. What’s most interesting is not what he said, but how people are reacting to his possible impending demise. If Don Imus goes, we are worrying — at least, the Washington Post is, but it’s not alone—will there be “No One to Talk To?” What the Post piece actually described is what a humiliating experience it is for a luminary to lower himself to go on Imus’s radio show—to sell...

If Don Imus goes, we are worrying — at least, the Washington Post is, but it’s not alone—will there be “No One to Talk To?” What the Post piece actually described is what a humiliating experience it is for a luminary to lower himself to go on Imus’s radio show—to sell books, or a policy. Said respected person will get down in shockjockville lite—even now, chancing the taint of racist—because it is understood that Imus sells books and the guest will reach people. So they’ll go on and be yelled at by the I-Man, put up with being asked if...

1. Global War Against Islamic Terror--call the war right and fight it right. 2. Publicly commit to regime change in Iran. 3. Fund and deploy a fully operational missile defense system. 4. Cease coddling Saudi Arabia & other states and organizations with ties to terror................. 5. Explore new and alternative sources of energy; reward hybrid technology 6. Immunize federal authorities for good-faith terrorist profiling. 7. Start a United Democratic Nations. 8. Stop and punish national security leaks. 9. Immigration: build the fence, stop the flow, get tough on violators. 10. Create choice in education with federal money. 11. End racial...

Bill Bennett ran a song parody contest which clearly stated that lyrics be sent in. The contest was for the best Sandy Berger song parody. So what happened? The people who FOLLOWED the stated rules sent in lyrics and got PENALIZED because the winner of the contest also sent in a recorded version of his song. Sorry, Bill, but this is just WRONG. If you wanted people to send in recorded songs, you should have stated so instead of penalizing the entrants who sent in just lyrics as they were asked to do so in the RULES. In case anybody...

Imagine you're John Kerry this morning, comfortably installed before your television in your silk robe, watching David Gregory's "Today" segment on the way the Dem presidential contenders are maneuvering their Iraq war positions. Suddenly, the screen fills with the infamous clip of you claiming you were for the war before you were against it. Enough to make a man spit out his pain au chocolat! Then Gregory adds insult to injury by pointing to your performance as an object lesson of how being too nuanced can hurt a nominee's chances. That Gregory chose to run the Kerry clip is a...

You are not mistaken in believing that drugs are a scourge that is devastating our society. You are not mistaken in believing that drugs are tearing asunder our social fabric, ruining the lives of many young people, and imposing heavy costs on some of the most disadvantaged among us. You are not mistaken in believing that the majority of the public share your concerns. In short, you are not mistaken in the end you seek to achieve. Your mistake is failing to recognize that the very measures you favor are a major source of the evils you deplore. Of course...

"Okay, look. Now is the time for all good men-and women-to come to the aid of the party. "In 1960, Barry Goldwater famously shouted, 'Grow Up Conservatives.' It took 20 years for that call to be heeded, and we got the expanded, entrenched Welfare State, a disastrous & humilitaing foreign policy in the meantime; and Ronald Reagan's presidency was about attempting to roll back those 20 years as much as moving forward on a positive agenda. "Look, if you want John Paul Stevens replaced on the Supreme Court with a carbon copy, pro-choice, pro-racial preferences Justice, stay home. "If you...

The Steve Malzberg Almost Live Dance Show Steve Malzberg, one of America's favorite radio hosts, substitutes today for the great Bill Bennett's Morning in America. And now, from his lair from his hidden location, so secret, sometimes even he is not sure where it is ......... STEVE MALZBERG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just spent two hours on line and combing through a Children's Poetry book for inspirational poems which could be used in the classroom. I have a list of ONE!!! Does anyone else have an idea for a poem other than "If" which can be used?And PLEASE don't suggest those vapid, nonsense works from Shel Silverstein. Thanks to all who wish to make a contribution.

Our twice victorious Rummy is being interviewed on Bob Bennett Morning In America radio right now.

If Jews are the canaries in the coalmine of how a civilization, state, or country will treat religious or ethnic minorities, what is Israel — the only democratic state in the Middle East, and the only Jewish state in the world? For several years now, I have been asking the question: Will our culture and the international community allow us to fight the war we need to fight to prevail? An interim answer to that question is now playing out for Israel, our international canary in the darkest of mines. Israel, which comprises some 10,000 square miles, compared with Arab...