Free Republic

RUSH: Grab audio sound bite number 26 first, Mike. I didn't know we'd get to this this early. I asked Cookie to put together a little montage here of all the stuttering around that Obama did in his press conference today and I want you to hear this because -- and we didn't repeat anything here. It goes 46 seconds, and we're doing this because we hear constantly, "What a great orator and a great communicator! Ohhhh, this man is smooth!" Just listen. This is a great illustration here of what happened when you take the teleprompter and your prepared...

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released the weekly radio address from John McCain. Please find below the text of John McCain's radio address and the link to access the audio file. DOWNLOAD THE AUDIO FILE HERE: http://www.johnmccain.com/downloads/weeklyradio_071908.mp3 John McCain's Weekly Radio Address: Good morning. I'm John McCain, and this week, debate in the presidential campaign turned to the war in Afghanistan. My opponent, Senator Obama, announced his strategy for Afghanistan and Iraq before departing on a fact-finding mission that will include visits to both those countries. Apparently, he's confident enough that he won't find any...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryJuly 19, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This is a challenging time for families across our nation. I know many families are worried about rising prices at the pump and declining home values. So this week my Administration took steps to help address both these challenges. To help address the pressure on gasoline prices, my Administration took action to clear the way for environmentally responsible offshore exploration of key parts of the Outer Continental Shelf, or OCS. Experts believe that these areas of the OCS could...

"The True Measure of a Man Lies in His Efforts to Please God" WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 18, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the homily preached Thursday by Father David O'Connell, president of Catholic University of America, at the funeral Mass for Tony Snow, held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.Snow, a Catholic journalist and former White House press secretary, died of colon cancer Saturday at age 53. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington presided at the Mass.* * *Archbishop Wuerl, President and Mrs. Bush, Vice President and Mrs. Cheney, distinguished guests, Mrs. Snow,...

Following are the remarks President Bush made at Tuesday's White House news conference about energy issues.To help address the pressure on gasoline prices my administration took action this week to clear the way for offshore exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf. It's what's called OCS. Congress has restricted access to key parts of the OCS since the early 1980s; I've called on Congress to remove the ban. There was also an executive prohibition on offshore exploration. So yesterday, I issued a memorandum to lift this executive prohibition. With this action, the executive branch's restrictions have been removed, and this means...

I'm here today to discuss with you several issues that worry you and most Americans, our slumping economy, job loss, rising_gas and food_prices, and what we need to do to get our economy growing again, create jobs and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. But there is another urgent issue I want to address before I take your questions, which I know concerns you because brave Americans are risking their lives right now to deal with it. Over the last year, Senator Obama and I were part of a great debate about the war in Iraq. Both of us...

July 14, 2008 ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver the following remarks as prepared for delivery to the 2008 National Council of La Raza Convention in San Diego, CA, today at 12:45 p.m. PT (3:45 p.m. ET): Thank you, Jane, for that kind introduction. Thank you, also to the leadership of the National Council of La Raza, and its board of directors. I'm very pleased to be with you again to discuss some of the issues in this campaign that most concern you. As you know, this isn't my first address to La Raza. I'm proud to...

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT “Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Jill, and their children, Kendall, Robbie, and Kristi. The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character. “Tony was one of our Nation’s finest writers and commentators. He earned a loyal following with incisive radio and television broadcasts. He was a gifted speechwriter who served in my father’s Administration. And I was thrilled when he agreed to return to...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryJuly 5, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español       Independence Day THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This weekend, Americans are celebrating the anniversary of our Nation's independence. Two hundred and thirty-two years ago, our Founding Fathers came together in Philadelphia to proclaim that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The man who wrote those immortal words was Thomas Jefferson. Yesterday, I celebrated the Fourth of July at Monticello, Jefferson's home in Virginia. While there,...

RUSH: How about this show that's going on between Hillary and Obama in, of all places -- how stupid do they think we are? -- in Unity, New Hampshire. How much energy did it take for both of them to fly to Unity, New Hampshire, for a photo-op? We all know this is a staged thing, anyway. They could have done it in Washington at a hotel room, the Eliot Spitzer hotel room at the Mayflower. They could have done it any number of places because somebody's going to get screwed in this deal. And look at this. You...

UPDATE 10:52:  The opinion can be downloaded here.  Relevant quotes from the majority opinion can be found here, and a replay of our LiveBlog can be found here.  Tom’s commentary is here. Answering a 127-year old constitutional question, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have a gun, at least in one’s home. The Court, splitting 5-4, struck down a District of Columbia ban on handgun possession.  Although times have changed since 1791, Justice Antonin Scalia said for the majority, “it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second...

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Over the weekend, the guy that runs the Little Green Footballs blog, Charles Johnson, found a bunch of things on Obama's website. One of them was the truth of the Jewish lobby and it was one of the most anti-Semitic posts that you've ever seen, and it was still up there, and finally the Obama website took it down. There was also praise from some Muslim militant that was on the website. There are a lot of things -- and I told you this during the primaries and the superdelegates know this -- they are worried silly...

  U.S. Senator John McCain delivered the following remarks as prepared for delivery tonight in New Orleans, LA: Good evening from the great city of New Orleans. Tonight, we can say with confidence the primary season is over, and the general election campaign has begun. I commend both Senators Obama and Clinton for the long, hard race they have run. Senator Obama has impressed many Americans with his eloquence and his spirited campaign. Senator Clinton has earned great respect for her tenacity and courage. The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions...

Senator James M. Inhofe Floor Statement Climate Debate June 2, 2008  Selected Excerpts of Senator Inhofe’s floor statement: We believe that any climate legislation must offer Clean Energy Solutions. Substantial investment must be made in new, clean energy technologies which generate more energy efficiently by producing less carbon, without the government picking winners and losers.  It makes good business sense to produce energy more efficiently and American companies are at the forefront of developing new technologies.  We support investments in solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and other innovative technologies.  But we must be careful not to interfere in the free market system or...

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama -- Final Primary Night Tues., June 3, 2008 19:02:11 ET Tonight, after fifty-four hard-fought contests, our primary season has finally come to an end. Sixteen months have passed since we first stood together on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Thousands of miles have been traveled. Millions of voices have been heard. And because of what you said -- because you decided that change must come to Washington; because you believed that this year must be different than all the rest; because you chose to listen not to your doubts or...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryMay 31, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Next week Congress will return to Washington after its Memorial Day recess. I hope Members of Congress return rested, because they have a lot of work left on important issues and limited time to get it done. Congress needs to pass a responsible war funding bill that puts the needs of our troops first, without loading it up with unrelated domestic spending. Our troops in Afghanistan are performing with courage and honor, delivering blows to the Taliban and al...

You called Scott McClellan last night. What did you ask him? ARI FLEISCHER, FORMER W.H. PRESS SECRETARY: Well, I did. Actually it was before the story broke about the book. So, it was a social call and Scott brought up the book. We talked about it and he told me he thought it was going to be an honest, brutal, I mean honest, blunt book — he didn't say brutal. And I'm not sure I thought it was going to be as bad as it sounds like it is. HEMMER: What do you mean? FLEISCHER: From what I'm hearing from...

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Let me expand a little bit on this theory that I posited right before the conclusion of the previous hour, and that theory basically is we've seen this. I've always talked about the Washington culture, and I've joked here, but it's not really a joke. Over the course of almost 20 years, when I have to go to Washington, I say, "I'm not spending the night there." I'm not going to do my radio show from Washington. I mean, I love our affiliate there, WMAL, but I don't want to get caught in that culture. I have...

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver the following remarks as prepared for delivery at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque, New Mexico, today at 10:30 a.m. MDT (12:30 p.m. EDT): Thank you. I'm always grateful for the opportunity, and pleased to be in the company of Americans who have had the burden of serving our country in distant lands, and the honor of having proved your patriotism in difficult circumstances. I was blessed to have been born into a family who made their living at sea in defense of our security and ideals. My grandfather was...

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This Memorial Day weekend, kids will be out of school, moms and dads will be firing up the grill, and families across our country will mark the unofficial beginning of summer. But as we do, we should all remember the true purpose of this holiday -- to honor the sacrifices that make our freedom possible. On Monday, I will commemorate Memorial Day by visiting Arlington National Cemetery, where I will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The tomb is the final resting place of three brave American soldiers who lost their lives in...

Contact: Press Office, 703-650-5550; www.JohnMcCain.com ARLINGTON, Virginia, May 12 /Standard Newswire/ -- U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver the following remarks as prepared for delivery at the Vestas Training Facility, in Portland, OR, today at 12:30 p.m. PDT: Thank you all very much. I appreciate the hospitality of Vestas Wind Technology. Today is a kind of test run for the company. They've got wind technicians here, wind studies, and all these wind turbines, but there's no wind. So now I know why they asked me to come give a speech. Every day, when there are no reporters and cameras around...

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT Senator McCain. I wonder how he feels today. Senator McCain went out there yesterday, made this speech in which he pretended it's 2013, the end of his first term, looking back at all the things that have been accomplished, and you just know that the attitude he has when he makes this speech is that, "I am a good person. I am an honorable person, and I have integrity, and we're all friends, we're all Americans. We're not from different countries. We all should just put aside this partisanship and get along." He gives this great flowering,...

As Prepared for Delivery: Remarks by the President to Members of the Knesset The White House Office of the Press Secretary (Jerusalem) Shalom. Laura and I are thrilled to be back in Israel. We have been deeply moved by the celebrations of the past two days. And this afternoon, I am honored to stand before one of the world's great democratic assemblies and convey the wishes of the American people. It is a rare privilege for an American President to address the Knesset. Although the Prime Minister told me there is something even rarer – to have just one person...

Text: Greeting to President Bush by Benjamin Netanyahu at Knesset http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=39281  Greeting to President George W. Bush The Knesset, May 14th, 2008 Benjamin Netanyahu, Head of the Opposition [Translation provided to IMRA by MK Netanyahu's office]Israel and the United States were founded on one pivotal idea - freedom: individual liberty, religious freedom and the desire to be a light unto the nations-along with the determination to resist those seeking to destroy those principles.The history of the Jewish People was deeply rooted in the creation of the United States. The first pioneers to land on the shores of America saw...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryMay 10, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Today is my daughter Jenna's wedding day. This is a joyous occasion for our family, as we celebrate the happy life ahead of her and her husband Henry. It's also a special time for Laura, who this Mother's Day weekend will watch a young woman we raised together walk down the aisle. Mother's Day is a special time for mothers all across America. On this holiday, we pause to celebrate the love and compassion of the women who have...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryMay 3, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español       In Focus: Economy THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, the Commerce Department reported that GDP grew at an annual rate of six-tenths of a percent in the first quarter. This rate of growth is not nearly as high as we would like. And after a record 52 months of uninterrupted job growth, April was the fourth month in a row in which our economy lost jobs, although the unemployment rate dropped to five percent. My Administration has been clear and candid on...

PLURAL MARRIAGE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS ONLY- OBEDIENCE IMPERATIVE-BLESSINGS RESULTING   DISCOURSE BY ELDER JOSEPH F. SMITH, Delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Morning, July 7, 1878. (Reported by Geo. F. Gibbs.) 20:24 I naturally shrink from the task of addressing a congregation in this house, feeling as I do my inability to make myself heard. I have been interested this morning in listening to the remarks of Brother Cannon. We cannot but be delighted with the testimony that has been given in our hearing, and that we are continually receiving from many sources, which go to prove that...

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Welcome to the White House. And I am honored to join you for the National Day of Prayer. I'm sorry Laura is not here -- she's out selling her book. (Laughter.) Shirley, thank you very much for being the Chairman of the National Day of Prayer. Glad you brought old Jim with you. (Laughter.) Dr. Zacharias, thank you for being the Honorary Chairman. I appreciate the members of my Cabinet who are here today, thank you all for coming. It's good to see members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives. Appreciate you...

"BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Chaos has erupted even further on the Democrat side in the presidential campaign. "Barack Obama made a call for nonviolence in the aftermath of the Sean Bell verdict -- infuriating the Rev. Al Sharpton, who accused the presidential candidate of trying to 'grandstand in front of white people.'" "This is in the New York Post today. "During what a source described as a 'heated' phone call yesterday, Sharpton told Obama he was disappointed with the Illinois senator's words on Friday, when Obama said 'resorting to violence to express displeasure' was 'completely unacceptable and counterproductive.' '[Obama] issues this...

Rev Wright: I’ve said, as I said on Bill Moyers, when Louis Farrakhan speaks, it’s like E.F. Hutton speaks, all black America listens. Whether they agree with him or not, they listen. Now, I am not going to put down Louis Farrakhan anymore than Mandela would put down Fidel Castro. Do you remember that Ted Koppel show, where Ted wanted Mandela to put down Castro because Castro was our enemy? And he said, “You don’t tell me who my enemies are. You don’t tell me who my friends are.” Louis Farrakhan is not my enemy. He did not put me...

Crawford v. Marion County Election Board, Case No. 07-21 http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-21.pdf

Dr. Hale showed us that in comparing African-American children and European-American children in the field of education, we were comparing apples and rocks. And in so doing, we kept coming up with meaningless labels like EMH, educable mentally handicapped, TMH, trainable mentally handicapped, ADD, attention deficit disorder. And we were coming up with more meaningless solutions like reading, writing and Ritalin. Dr. Hale's research led her to stop comparing African-American children with European-American children and she started comparing the pedagogical methodologies of African-American children to African children and European-American children to European children. And bingo, she discovered that the two...

Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate from Illinois, sat for an interview Saturday in Indiana with Chris Wallace. The interview aired on “FOX News Sunday.” They touched on a wide range of topics including the marathon race to the Democratic nomination, Obama’s controversial former pastor, patriotism, and Obama’s positions on the Iraq war, taxes and education.

John McCain is in the midst of a "Time for Action Tour," which could perhaps better be named his "Bash Bush and the Republicans Tour." First came his demand that the North Carolina Republican Party withdraw its ad criticizing Barack Obama's choice of Jeremiah Wright as a spiritual mentor. On NBC this morning, this is how McCain answered questions about the ad: VIERA: The ad says Obama's, quote, "just too extreme for North Carolina." Now, you have called this ad degrading, and you've asked the state party to pull it. But so far, they've refused to do that. Why do...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryApril 26, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español       In Focus: Education      In Focus: Economy THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. As we approach graduation season, many American students are looking forward to beginning college in the fall. This new chapter of life is a time of great expectation but can also be a time of anxiety. And that anxiety is being heightened by the recent credit crunch, which has raised concerns about the potential availability of student loans. Recently, some lenders have dropped out of the Federal program that provides college loans...

Mr. Vice-President, Distinguished Civil Authorities, My Brother Bishops, Dear Brothers and Sisters, The time has come for me to bid farewell to your country. These days that I have spent in the United States have been blessed with many memorable experiences of American hospitality, and I wish to express my deep appreciation to all of you for your kind welcome. It has been a joy for me to witness the faith and devotion of the Catholic community here. It was heart-warming to spend time with leaders and representatives of other Christian communities and other religions, and I renew my...

The following is a transcript of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks at ground zero: O God of love, compassion, and healing, look on us, people of many different faiths and traditions, who gather today at this site, the scene of incredible violence and pain. We ask you in your goodness to give eternal light and peace to all who died here -- the heroic first-responders: our fire fighters, police officers, emergency service workers, and Port Authority personnel, along with all the innocent men and women who were victims of this tragedy simply because their work or service brought them here on...

Here is the text of the Holy Father’s sermon for his Holy Mass in The Bronx, in NYC.  My emphases and comments:   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,In the Gospel we have just heard, Jesus tells his Apostles to put their faith in him, for he is "the way, and the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6). Christ is the way that leads to the Father, the truth which gives meaning to human existence, and the source of that life which is eternal joy with all the saints in his heavenly Kingdom. Let us take the Lord at his...

During the Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Easter celebrated 20 April 2008, the Holy Father gave the following homily.   Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In the Gospel we have just heard, Jesus tells his Apostles to put their faith in him, for he is "the way, and the truth and the life" (Jn 14:6). Christ is the way that leads to the Father, the truth which gives meaning to human existence, and the source of that life which is eternal joy with all the saints in his heavenly Kingdom. Let us take the Lord at his...

Your Eminence, Dear Brother Bishops, Dear Young Friends,"Proclaim the Lord Christ … and always have your answer ready for people who ask the reason for the hope that is within you" (1 Pet 3:15). With these words from the First Letter of Peter I greet each of you with heartfelt affection. I thank Cardinal Egan for his kind words of welcome and I also thank the representatives chosen from among you for their gestures of welcome. To Bishop Walsh, Rector of Saint Joseph Seminary, staff and seminarians, I offer my special greetings and gratitude. Young friends, I am very...

During the Mass for Clergy and Religious at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday 19 April 2008, the third anniversary of his election to the Chair of St. Peter, the Holy Father delivered the following homily.Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, With great affection in the Lord, I greet all of you, who represent the Bishops, priests and deacons, the men and women in consecrated life, and the seminarians of the United States. I thank Cardinal Egan for his warm welcome and the good wishes which he has expressed in your name as I begin the fourth year of...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryApril 19, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español       In Focus: International Trade THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Next week, I will be hosting the North American Leaders' Summit in New Orleans. This event will give me an opportunity to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calder n to discuss some of the most significant issues facing our hemisphere and the world. One of the issues that I'll be discussing with these leaders is the importance of expanding trade in our hemisphere. Recently I sent Congress an...

Here is the text of the Holy Father’s sermon from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.  My emphases and comments: Keep in mind that the readings for this Mass will be from the Mass of Pentecost, a theme similar to that celebrated in Nationals Stadium.  The Holy Father is trying to help American’s look for a new "anointing" of the United States, with its special role in the world, by the Holy Ghost.   This is a Votive Mass for the Universal Church. Keep in mind that this Mass is for priests and religious.  Backdrop: The Holy Father has already...

Speaking first in French and then in English, the Holy Father delivered the following address to the General Assembly of the United Nations, 18 April 2008.   [In French] Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, As I begin my address to this Assembly, I would like first of all to express to you, Mr President, my sincere gratitude for your kind words. My thanks go also to the Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, for inviting me to visit the headquarters of this Organization and for the welcome that he has extended to me. I greet the Ambassadors and Diplomats from the...

HH: It’s a special program, one of a couple I’m going to be running in anticipation of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States. Benedict was elected Pope on April 19th, 2005, and much has happened in the succeeding three years. To discuss what has happened in those three years, and what to expect when he visits the United States, we’re joined by Father Joseph Fessio, SJ. If you’ve listened to this program in the past, Father Fessio has often been here, and we really appreciate it. He received his doctorate in theology in 1975 from the University of...

Frontpage Interview’s guest today is Hossain Salahuddin, a poet, essayist and an ex-Muslim who is the author of several books. He is the editor of the magazine Maverick, which promotes literature, freethinking and rationalism. FP: Hossain Salahuddin, welcome to FrontPage interview. HS: Thanks very much for having me. It’s a real pleasure to be here. FP: Tell us about your childhood and your upbringing within Islam. HS: I was born in 1984, into a Muslim family in Bangladesh . My family was rather orthodox and they made sure I learn the Quran properly even before they enrolled me in a...

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryMarch 29, 2008 President's Radio Address   President's Radio Address  Audio  En Español       In Focus: EconomyTHE PRESIDENT: Good morning. It's not every day that Americans look forward to hearing from the Internal Revenue Service, but over the past few weeks many Americans have received a letter from the IRS with some good news. The letters explain that millions of individuals and families will soon be receiving tax rebates, thanks to the economic growth package that Congress passed and I signed into law last month. Americans who are eligible for a rebate will get it automatically...

27 March 2008 The Obama Challenge: What Is the Right Change to Help All Americans Pursue Happiness and Create Prosperity? Introduction – Steve Hayward If we could please come to order, we shall begin. I want to welcome everyone to the American Enterprise Institute this afternoon, and especially those on TV joining us by the indispensable medium of C-Span. In his first speech in the well of the House after becoming speaker in 1995, Newt Gingrich invited his colleagues and fellow citizens to think anew about the challenge of transforming the welfare state into the opportunity society, about having, and...

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. (Applause.) General Metcalf, thanks, thanks for welcoming me back here. I am really pleased to be back to Wright-Patt, and it's great to be on the inside of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, which is a fabulous place. I hope our fellow citizens come and see it. It is a great tribute to the airmen who've flown the missions and secured the skies, and defended America's freedom. I want to thank the folks who maintain this shrine. I thank you for giving me a place to park Air Force...

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Here's how difficult it's going to be for Barack Obama to keep race out of his campaign. When you've got idiots like the haughty John Kerry (who served in Vietnam) out campaigning for you, you're rolling the dice. (laughing) Last Monday, Kerry did an interview with the New Bedford Standard-Times. It's in Massachusetts, the New Bedford Standard-Times editorial board, and of course they taped him. An unidentified reporter said, "Why would you say that? What gives Obama credibility on that score?" Kerry had said that Obama's blackness and Muslim background is his main qualification for office, and...