Free Republic

HOUSTON — Few people outside of the family knew President George H.W. Bush as well as Jean Becker, his longtime chief of staff. She is sharing stories from her new book, "Character Matters," calling it a roadmap to civility in our polarizing political climate. Becker is a journalist who became deputy press secretary for Barbara Bush in the White House, then was asked by the president to become his chief of staff once he left office ."I told him I didn't know how to be a chief of staff," Becker said. "I didn't know how to be a boss, do...

With one of the oldest model nameplates still rolling around, the 2025 Chevrolet Suburban SUV doesn't do much to rock that boat. Only mildly refreshed, it remains gigantic and boxy—the longer-wheelbase version of the Tahoe. Upgrades include an improved diesel option and a more modernized interior. All of the Suburban's six trims benefit from an updated front fascia with slimmer DRLs. Premier and High Country Suburbans get new walk-up and walk-away light animations as standard. Plus, Chevy is introducing two new exterior colors: Lakeshore Blue Metallic and Cypress Gray. Finally, new and optional 24-inch wheels can be fitted to RST...

Former Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday on FNC’s “The Story” that he believes Republican primary voters will make “better choices” than nominating former President Donald Trump for the 2024 election. Host Martha MacCallum said, “So when the former president announced that he was going to get in the race, you said then that you believed that the American voter would have better choices than him. This is the latest polling, Donald Trump at 54%, DeSantis at 24. You are at 6% and on down the line here. What do you think about the fact that his numbers are so...

Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and its former top officials are intervening in Special Counsel John Durham’s investigation, seeking to block the release of memos about its Russia research on Donald Trump on grounds that it is covered by attorney-client privilege. The requests were filed late Tuesday by the campaign, its former chairman John Podesta, its former campaign manager Robby Mook and its former law firm Perkins Coie, coming about a month before the start of former campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann’s trial on a charge of lying to the FBI. “Hillary for America respectfully moves this honorable court to intervene...

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who famously refused to give the last Democratic Supreme Court nominee a Senate hearing or vote, on Thursday said he’s ready to give President Biden’s pick to the high court “a fair look.” While some conservatives are already taking shots at Biden for pledging to consider only a Black woman to replace retiring liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, McConnell is keeping his powder dry until the nominee is known.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said on Sunday that while he has previously stated he will support the next Republican presidential nominee, he would take a "hard look" at supporting former President Trump if he runs again in 2024. ABC "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos asked Rounds, who has shot back at GOP assertions that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent, if he could support Trump if he ran for office again. "I will take a hard look at it," said Rounds

Biden press secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged on Tuesday that the holiday season at the White House isn't quite the same as previous years in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It doesn’t look exactly like it has always looked here, but we are going to continue to celebrate, to embrace the holiday season, and look for ways we can do that,” Psaki said when asked if traditional holiday parties are taking place this year. She pointed to a “variety of ways” the White House is celebrating, including the Christmas tree lighting and when first lady Jill Biden received the tree and...

It’s been a month since Brian Laundrie vanished into thin air and internet sleuths have been busy imagining what the fugitive — the sole person of interest in Gabby Petito’s death — might look like now. Photoshopped pictures circulating online show the 23-year-old bald and bearded man sporting a decidedly more hirsute look — with long, unkempt hair and a much bushier beard, the Sun reported. Laundrie, who has not been named a suspect in his girlfriend’s death, is the subject of a massive manhunt and multiple sightings across several states after he never returned from what he told his...

This is highly troubling…. I’ll start off by saying *perhaps* there is some other interpretation to be drawn from these emails other than outright bragging about stealing an election. Maybe. I don’t really think so, but you can make up your own mind. So here’s the story…. An email was uncovered today between two elections officials in Wisconsin bragging about a late batch of ballots coming in with “just the right” number of votes to tip things over to Biden. Take a look: READ CLOSELY! Email to Claire Woodall-Vogg, the executive director for elections in Milwaukee. In the email the...

Full Title: Iranian men are ordered not to look at women during Ramadan in latest morality crackdown as probe is launched into 'devious' videos of schoolgirls dancing to a pop song Men face arrest if caught looking at women as part of clampdown on freedoms Eating in public or playing music in car punishable in new draconian restrictions Judiciary announced it was hunting down source of videos showing kids dancing It said the clips were devious and 'part of the enemy's cultural war' against Iran Men in Iran have been ordered not to look at women during Ramadan as part...

Richard Ojeda, the firebrand state senator and ex-U.S. Army officer, is set to announce his intention to run for president in 2020 less than a week after losing his bid for West Virginia’s 3rd Congressional District. Ojeda, who rose to prominence earlier this year for his role in the state’s teachers' strike after voicing support for an increase in wages, is expected to formally announce his intention to run at 12 p.m. E.T. having already signed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to create a campaign “Ojeda for President,” reports Roll Call.

Vid at link...

Syria said it welcomed a Russian proposal that it hand over chemical weapons to be destroyed, without saying whether it would comply, as opponents of a military strike against Syria leapt at the chance for another delay to possible U.S. attack. The White House said it would take a "hard look" at the proposal from the Russian government to get Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to turn over his chemical-weapons stockpiles, but said it didn´t have confidence that Mr. Assad would do so. "We would welcome a decision and action for Syria to give up its weapons," said Tony Blinken, President...

As the number of street crimes committed in Baltimore City escalates, so does the level of fear. This has caused communities to look beyond the police for protection. In Baltimore City there are four special tax districts where residents pay more to make their neighborhoods safer. Charles Village is one of them and has the lowest surtax of the four. It was formed in the mid-1990s as a way for the community to provide supplemental security and sanitation services to what the city was already providing. The surtax charged to homeowners has never been altered. Baltimore’s Little Italy community is...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The night of smoke, chaos, gunfire and grenades that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, is well-documented. Eight months later, it is the decisions made back in Washington that remain murky and in perpetual dispute. Why was a diplomatic outpost left so poorly protected? Should the Pentagon have rushed jets or special forces to the rescue when the assault began? Did President Barack Obama's administration obscure the true nature of the terrorist attack to help him get re-elected? Congressional Republicans are poking for evidence of incompetence and cover-up in the ashes of the Sept. 11 anniversary attack....

One of the highlights of the 2012 Olympics will undoubtedly be diving. There’s been some stiff competition this year, especially in the preliminary rounds, and all the athletes have been killing themselves trying to look as graceful as possible while tumbling through the air. How do we know? There’s something on each diver’s face that just reads, “This stunt is kind of difficult to do.” These competitors may look like elegant swans from a distance, but when the camera gets right up close for those slow-motion instant replays, not one of them is capable of hiding the pain in their...

Barack Obama spoke to reporters this morning after the dismal jobs report was released. The far left president blamed: earthquakes, tornadoes, state budget cuts, gas prices, local budget cuts and Greece for the latest spike in the unemployment rate.

I’m stealing this from Maetenloch over at Ace’s because it’s amazing. The blog S Weasel put this together: I hope all you 4th amendment “purists” can now see why this is necessary:

Obama Uses Teleprompter For A 10 Person Meeting Click here VIDEO

A hard look at the cost of health carePosted By CHRISTINA BLIZZARD Posted 9 hours ago When economists start dishing out advice about health care -- at the request of the government -- get worried. Very worried. I'm alarmed by a report released Thursday, "Charting A Path To Sustainable Health Care in Ontario," by TD Bank economists Don Drummond and Derek Burleton. It's a warning shot across the bow, especially to baby boomers, seniors and doctors. You cost the health system money? Watch out. You're in the government's crosshairs. The government knows it has to make unpopular decisions. It will...