Free Republic

It’s often said by conservative voices that Trump hatred is not about Trump, it’s about you! (Meaning Trump supporters.) That’s partially true. Trump haters certainly do hate his supporters, too. But it goes much deeper than that. Trump haters despise an America that sits atop the world economically, militarily and morally — particularly morally. They scoff at the idea of a bright shining city on a hill. And that means that this battle right now, today, is far bigger than Donald Trump, although he is an avatar for it. This battle is about whether America remains America — or the...

Andrew Card, who served as White House chief of staff during the George W. Bush administration, on Monday expressed support for House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry of President Trump, saying that "clearly lines have been crossed." "I do think an impeachment inquiry is warranted," Card, who led Bush's White House team between 2001 and 2006, said on MSNBC while addressing revelations about Trump's alleged efforts to enlist Ukraine's help in his 2020 reelection campaign. Card cautioned that he wasn't sure if Trump's actions qualified as an "impeachable offense" and implored members of Congress to let the investigation play out before reaching...

The top deputy to then-Attorney General John Ashcroft refused two years ago to approve important parts of the secret program that allows domestic eavesdropping without warrants, prompting two leading White House aides to try to win the needed approval from Mr. Ashcroft himself while he was hospitalized after a gall bladder operation, according to officials knowledgeable about the episode. With Mr. Ashcroft recuperating from gall bladder surgery in March 2004, his deputy, James B. Comey, who was then acting as attorney general, was unwilling to give his certification to crucial aspects of the classified program, as required under the procedures...

When chief of staff Andrew Card knelt down and told George Bush “America is under attack” 15 years ago Sunday, the words he whispered in the president’s ear in a Florida classroom launched what was supposed to be a planned, orderly response to a national emergency. But what followed instead was chaos, a breakdown in communication and protocol that risked international conflict and could have made Sept. 11, 2001, a still bigger tragedy. There were live nukes on the tarmac at U.S. airbases, a failed communications system, and a security protocol for the president and his potential successors — the...

Andy Card, who served as chief of staff to President George W. Bush, said on "CBS This Morning" Friday that the idea of Donald Trump as president worries him, citing the billionaire's "emotional" reactions as cause for concern. "Yes, he scared me," Card said. "I will admit, when Donald Trump entered the race, I didn't think he had a chance." "I want him to succeed, but he's gotta make the move to show me that he's worthy of my support, worthy of my vote," he added. "I will vote for a candidate -- right now I will probably write in...

I never give time frames, because you never know where you'll have sufficient evidence to go public with a prosecution, " Mueller said.

Republican Andrew Card, former chief of staff to President George W. Bush, burned up the phone lines yesterday, gauging support for a possible run for Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s former seat but decided to opt out, one of his closest advisers said. Former Republican National Committee chairman Ron Kaufman, an advisor and friend to Card, confirmed tonight that the former Holbook state representative, U.S. transportation secretary and White House chief of staff will not run

Republican Andrew H. Card Jr., who was a chief of staff under former president George W. Bush, said last night that he would probably run for the seat left vacant by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, prompting another prospective candidate, state Senator Scott Brown, to rule out a bid if Card entered. Card, who served four terms as a state representative for Holbrook before taking a succession of jobs in Washington, told the News Service the chances were “much better than 50 percent that I will find a way to say yes.’’ He said he would probably make a...

Former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card will address members of the state GOP at a committee meeting tonight in Newton, potentially signaling his intention to run for the Senate seat vacated by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Herald has learned. Card, 62, a Holbrook native, will attend the meeting at the Newton Marriott, according to a Republican source with knowledge of the logistics. Card’s appearance follows an announcement by GOP gubernatorial hopeful Christy Mihos this morning that he will not quit his quest to unseat Gov. Deval Patrick and make a bid for the Senate. Mihos...

Although a batch of documents recently released by the Bush Energy Department was supposed to embarrass Republicans, it also revealed an interesting nugget about a powerful Democrat, Debbie Dingell, wife of Rep. John Dingell (Mich.). Mrs. Dingell, who gave HOHholy hell a few years ago for referring to her in print as a "lobbyist" for General Motors, has always insisted that she merely runs the foundation that takes care of the auto giant's philanthropic activities. These days, Dingell says, she's in charge of "worldwide community relations" for the company. So you can imagine HOH's surprise upon noticing that Dingell turned...

The Bush administration authorized secret surveillance activities that still have not been made public, according to a new government report that questions the legal basis for the unprecedented anti-terrorism program. It's unclear how much valuable intelligence was yielded by the surveillance program started after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to the unclassified summary of reports by five inspectors general. The reports mandated by Congress last year were delivered to lawmakers Friday. President George W. Bush authorized other secret intelligence activities — which have yet to become public — even as he was launching the massive warrentless wiretapping program,...

The political fallout over claims that the Bush administration was riven by infighting over the Iraq war deepened yesterday when the president's former chief of staff confirmed that he twice sought to sack Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary.Andrew Card said George W Bush rebuffed his and others' demands to sideline Mr Rumsfeld, who had been accused of mishandling post-war security. The confirmation yesterday triggered talk in Washington that alternative candidates were being sounded out to lead the Pentagon. The latest bout of speculation began with claims in a new book, State of Denial, by the Watergate journalist Bob Woodward. Mr...

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush, and the American people, begin observances of the 5th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks. Excerpt from the AP story by JENNIFER LOVEN, as published on Yahoo News a short time ago. Bush, wife lay wreaths at ground zeroNEW YORK -- President Bush and his wife Laura stood in somber silence on Sunday after laying wreaths at the ground zero site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood. They honored the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks on a tour that will take them to...

Andy Card has resigned.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amid persistent calls for a White House shakeup and sinking poll numbers, President George W. Bush accepted the resignation of chief of staff Andrew Card and named administration insider Josh Bolten on Tuesday to replace him. Card is the highest ranking official to depart the White House since the White House came under fire from even Republicans seeking to revitalize Bush's struggling team. In the Oval Office, Bush said Card had offered and he had accepted his resignation. He will leave the White House on April 14 and return to private life. "I have relied on Andy's...

Blame GOP Malaise on Bush's Team by Robert Novak Posted Feb 19, 2006 When Dick Cheney finally broke his silence by answering questions from Fox's Brit Hume last Wednesday, four days after the hunting accident, many Republicans could hardly believe it. They were stunned that the vice president indicated he had no regrets about the way the incident was handled. Every Republican I contacted had regrets in abundance. Bush-bashers delighted in exaggerating Cheney's post-accident conduct as a metaphor for everything wrong with George W. Bush's presidency in its sixth year. Nevertheless, there are supporters of the president (and the vice...

There may be 26 holiday parties in 21 days at the White House this month, but the mood in the West Wing is anything but merry. True, President Bush's recent Iraq speeches have put the White House back into comfortable blasts of campaign mode, but a lot of staff members say that they are feeling burned out and beaten down. So talk has intensified after a miserable year - Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the C.I.A. leak investigation, Iraq - about staff changes and who may be leaving in January. "I hope you know that coming into a new year, some people...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A small, twin-engine plane carrying White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card made an emergency landing in Nashville Saturday after smoke began pouring into the cockpit, officials said. Card and 12 others on board were not injured when the Gulfstream 4 plane bound for Washington landed at the Nashville International Airport around 4 p.m., said Lynne Lowrance, an airport spokeswoman. "They thought they could be having some trouble with the Avionics instruments but they weren't sure what was causing the smoke," Lowrance said. The plane left Texas, where Card has been meeting with President Bush...

WASHINGTON -- The absence by Chief of Staff Andrew Card from President Bush's Latin America and Asia trips has increased speculation about a possible reconstruction of the White House staff. Presidential aides said Card was left behind to handle the crush of congressional business during Bush's absence. However, the chief of staff almost always accompanies the president on foreign travels. A footnote: Al Hubbard, director of the National Economic Council, is being given a wide variety of domestic assignments beyond economics and is speculated on as Card's possible successor. -snip- The District of Columbia cell of the Communist Party USA...

You have to wonder sometimes why Presidents even run for re-election, given how things usually turn out. Second terms have a way of veering into wild and menacing terrain, spiked with indictments and scandals and betrayal and grief. Some friends become less friendly because they know you are on your way to retirement while they are on their way to the next campaign. Your team gets tired, the ideas stale, and the fumes of power more toxic. It was through those badlands that President George W. Bush trudged last week, and for once he was walking alone. "The problem is...