Free Republic

After a White House meeting last week, Republicans described Speaker John Boehner aggressively confronting President Obama over the president's planned executive amnesty, prompting an extended period of a defensive Obama attempting to justify his actions. But a key moment of the meeting, left out from those accounts, was unveiled by Boehner himself in an exuberant moment of boasting in a closed-door meeting with GOP colleagues minutes ago. Boehner recalled telling Obama, “Mr. President, just give us one more chance to do this the right way. If we can't, then do what you gotta do.” The sentiment, recalled by several lawmakers...

<p>CAMBRIDGE, Maryland--House Republicans responding to President Obama's State of the Union vow to move forward on a “year of action” with or without Congress say they agree – and want to partner with him.</p>

In a secret meeting on Tuesday morning, Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.) hosted a bipartisan group of senators and House members in the Capitol’s basement. According to several participants, the lawmakers plotted ways to stop the use of U.S. military force in Syria. Since the diplomatic situation is fluid, there was no final consensus on how best to combat the administration, but potential legislative maneuvers, press appearances, and letters were discussed. Several undecided members asked questions. Aides say Paul planned the gathering over a week ago, and the list of attendees grew by the day. He is pleased, especially, by...

The Gang of Eight’s opponents lay the groundwork for the coming air war. By Jonathan Strong Representative Steve Israel (N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has a tough job ahead: to help Democrats win back the House in 2014. So, naturally, he’s delighted that a collection of business groups, coordinating with President Obama and the Senate Gang of Eight, are targeting 100 or so House Republicans on immigration over the August recess. “We will hold Republicans accountable if they continue to obstruct progress on immigration,” he tells me, adding that the combined power of business, labor, and...