Free Republic

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Saturday personally led his government’s response to Hurricane Irene, marshalling top officials and visiting a disaster command center as the storm roared ashore. Obama greeted officials at the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) set up at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, and then held a video conference with federal and state officials.

Leadership: Disrespecting grieving families, the president sneaks a photographer into the ceremony honoring the SEALs who died in Afghanistan. The presidential scrapbook and campaign are more important. We thought perhaps the White House had received a sufficient dose of condemnation as well as some sensitivity training over a planned Sony film hyping President Obama's "gutsy call" regarding the successful Navy SEAL mission that killed Osama bin Laden. The film was to be released three weeks before the 2012 vote. We were wrong. When 30 U.S. Special Operations forces, including Navy SEALs from SEAL Team 6, the unit that got the...

If the American people were doubtful about the manipulative nature of Barack Obama, his undignified behavior at the "dignified transfer" of the remains of 30 American troops killed by Taliban insurgents in the worst single loss of life in 10 years of the Afghan war should extinguish any remaining doubt. It's confirmed -- Barack Obama is willing to disrespect the families of dead war heroes if doing so assists in his desperate bid for reelection. After the tragedy in the "forested peaks" of Wardak Province, 60 miles southwest of Kabul, Pentagon officials had said that because 19 families of the...

Next month the Broward County Police Benevolent Association is holding a "Party to Leave the Party" -- an event coordinated with the Supervisor of Elections where police officers and the general public can switch their voter registrations from Republican to Democratic or Independent...So here are the details: On Saturday, July 16, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. behind the PBA headquarters on SW 26th Terrace in Fort Lauderdale, the union will have elections officials standing by to register new voters or switch party registrations for anyone with a valid Florida ID.

At Mt Vernon, the Palins are in the foreground. #palinbustour

The first family left the White House on foot this morning for the 9am choral holy eucharist service and sermon at St John's Church Lafayette Square.

US President Barack Obama picks up balls of tar while touring the beach at Port Fourchon, Louisiana. Engineers pushed forward with efforts to plug a disastrous Gulf of Mexico leak as locals and officials crossed their fingers that the untested "top kill" process would work.

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will deliver the eulogy Sunday for the 29 miners who died in a coal mine explosion earlier this month. The service, announced today by West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, will be held in Beckley, W.Va., and will include prayers, musical performances, tributes to the miners, and remarks from Mr. Manchin and other dignitaries. Vice President Joe Biden will join the president to participate in the service, according to a White House news release issued today. The service will be held at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center, at 200 Armory Drive in Beckley, at 3:30 p.m....

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on President Obama's meeting with Netanyahu.

Proof That Obama And Kim Jong Il Are Exactly The Same Gregory White | Mar. 15, 2010, 3:44 PM | 8,190 | comment 24 Tags: Barack Obama, Asia, Features North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il and U.S. President Barack Obama may not have that much in common politically, but when it comes to playing the role of figurehead, they have a lot of similarities. Both want to get out there and be seen supporting the economy.

What do Republicans stand to gain from participating in President Obama’s health care summit, the televised bipartisanship photo-op scheduled for Thursday? Nothing. Given the long, steep nosedive President Obama’s health care reform plan’s popularity has taken since last summer — Pollster.com’s multi-poll average now shows opposition at 51.6%, with only 39.8% in favor of passage — all they’d be doing is attaching themselves to a losing proposal. Especially when the president has shown little interest in scaling back and starting over. Liberals like to argue that passing the bill is still a good idea politically — that its popularity will...

You know the one I'm talking about. Someone with better posting skills than I, would you post it? The one with the Gloriously Beautiful Manchild in the frothing waves of Hawaii, his arms so artfully artlessly graceful and elegant. Who set up the photo, and how did it get released? It's just so porny!!

Here is video of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sparring with the Russian National Judo Team, where he threw members of the team in what appeared to be a carefully crafted media event: Black belted Russian leader Vladimir Putin has offered to join the national judo team after showing off his martial arts skills to members of the squad. The 57-year-old prime minister made the proposal at a special coaching session on Saturday aired on state television, adding to his carefully-crafted macho image. Putin, who many observers believe is still paramount leader despite standing down as president last year, entered...

Gordon Brown was snubbed by badly injured Afghan veterans when they closed curtains round their beds during a hospital visit and refused to speak to him. More than half the soldiers being treated at the Selly Oak hospital ward in Birmingham either asked for the curtains to be closed or deliberately avoided the prime minister, according to several of those present. The soldiers, who have sustained some of the worst injuries seen in Afghanistan, described his visit as “opportunistic” and a “waste of time”. Furious about equipment shortages and poor compensation for their injuries, one soldier said: “It is almost...

West Point was another photo op for Obama except some of the photos didn't turn out as planned.

Here is video of President Obama with U.S. Troops in South Korea today where he said to them at the outset of his speech, "You guys make a pretty good Photo-op." Obama aides are saying he will not make a decision on sending reinforcements to our Forces in Afghanistan until after Thanksgiving. . . . (VIDEO)

Yes, that's what the commander-in-chief said to his troops today in South Korea. Well, give the bas**** credit for being honest for once.Buried at the end of a Washington Post report on his decision to not decide on Afghanistan until after Thanksgiving is this George Washington moment for Barack Obama: Obama arrived on the base 3:19 p.m. local time (1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time), and received a rousing welcome from 1,500 troops in camouflage uniforms, many holding cameras or pointing cell phones to snap pictures. "You guys make a pretty good photo op," the president said. Standing on a riser...

SEOUL -- President Barack Obama will not announce his decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan before the Thanksgiving holiday, senior aides said on Thursday. (snip) "You guys make a pretty good photo op," the president said. (snip) He got a huge cheer when he told them he was increasing military pay. "That's what you call an applause line," he said...

Reporting from Ft. Hood, Texas - President Obama is slated to speak at a memorial service today at this grieving Army base, where a military psychiatrist is accused of killing 13 people in a shooting rampage. The service, scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. local time, will be a traditional military affair, with a sermon, a roll call of the dead and a rifle volley. About 3,000 spectators, as well as the families of the 12 soldiers and one civilian killed, are expected to attend. The tribute comes amid new questions about whether the shooting, in which dozens were also...