Free Republic

Barack Obama’s top political aide used an Inauguration Day interview to sketch out a provocative political strategy intended to split the Republican Party in time to impact the 2014 midterm elections. “The barrier to progress here in many respects, whether it is deficits, measures to help economy, immigration, gun safety legislation … is [that] there are factions here in Congress, Republicans in Congress, who are out of the mainstream,” White House advisor David Plouffe said on CNN’s “State of the Union with Candy Crowley.” “We need more Republicans in Congress to think like Republicans in the country who are seeking...

Imagine a foreign visitor who has learned just one fact about America: For the past century our politics has been defined by a contest between two movements, one intermittently calling itself “progressive” and the other more consistently calling itself “conservative.” He would rightly conclude from those labels that partisans of the two movements agree that the arc of history bends toward progressivism and away from conservatism. Progressives, that is, believe they have history’s wind in their sails. They constitute, in that sense, the party of the future. Conservatives, on the other hand, are committed to the stewardship and transmission...

The simplest statements sometimes are the most insightful. For an example, consider this one on Wednesday from Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn, in reaction to President Obama's gun-control proposals: "I would welcome the opportunity to debate these issues on the floor of the Senate, and would encourage Majority Leader [Harry] Reid to schedule a full and open debate." In these seemingly innocuous words are a key to GOP revival. What may be the most overlooked story of the past two years is how Harry Reid has subverted the democratic process, successfully allowing him to both protect his party and keep the...

I am at the Ritz DC. Almost all the people here are His Colour. If you don't hear from me after 2 hours you will know they have attacked me and killed me. I will NOT let them think their god is The God. And I will fight -- maybe until dead. Eric Holder!!! You hate the USA!

Have the House Republicans come up with a winning strategy on the debt ceiling and spending cuts? Or just a viable one? Maybe so. They certainly need one that is at least the latter if not the former. Barack Obama is up in the polls since the election, as most re-elected presidents have been. The most recent NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows him with 52 percent approval and 44 percent disapproval. Other public polls have similar results. In contrast, the NBC/WSJ poll reports that only 26 percent have positive feelings about the Republican Party and 51 negative feelings. Toward Speaker...

Like one of President Obama's adoring fans camped out along the inaugural parade route on Monday, during live MSNBC coverage of the event, NBC Today weatherman Al Roker excitedly yelled at Obama and later Vice President Biden to get their attention as they walked by.

If progressive politics is all about innovation and applying nontraditional solutions to long-standing social problems and political issues, and Oakland is all about progressive politics, why are its elected officials so hesitant to try a wide range of ideas to address the city's most intractable problems? It's because some of the same progressives who advocate change also have narrow litmus tests for what ideas should be proposed. That test is so unforgiving that Bishop Bob Jackson, pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland, ran up against it this week. Jackson waited four hours on Tuesday for the chance to...

After CNN correspondent Jim Acosta felt like pinching himself at Monday's inauguration parade, host Wolf Blitzer couldn't contain himself as he tried to get the attention of both President Obama and Vice President Biden. Blitzer gushed that "Look, this is history over here," as the President and First Lady made their way down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the White House. He waved to Obama saying "Mr. President," but was drowned out by crowd noise. Blitzer did the same with Vice President Biden.

There is a category of individuals for whom the abortion issue is perhaps the most personal of all: those who have survived attempted abortions. Abortion Survivors Tweak Nation's Conscience The New American 21 January 2013 As the nation marks the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that struck down a Texas law — and by extension, all states’ laws — that had criminalized abortion, the debate continues between those who uphold the right to life of the unborn and those who assert that a woman’s right to “choose” must be paramount. Most of those who argue their...

One of Hugo Chavez's brothers said Monday that the Venezuelan president is expected to return home from Cuba in the coming days as he continues to recover nearly six weeks after undergoing cancer surgery. Argenis Chavez, one of the president's five brothers and the president of the National Electric Corporation, told The Associated Press that the president continues to recover

Nathan Dahm, Senator from Oklahoma delivers a fiery, blistering speech before a crowd of fed-up pro-second amendment citizens. If only all senators and congressmen believed and spoke like this guy!! Obeying the constitution. Hmmm. What a concept. This video should go viral and this message needs to be popularized!

1911: Chester E. McDuffee’s patented diving suit The suit of Chester E. Macduffee is a fantastic suit to see. Although Macduffee patented 4 inventions and pictures of the actual diving suit are still available it is very strange nothing could be found about the inventor. In the book from Hermann Stelzner there are some references to Macduffee. The name of the inventor is often written in different ways. Stelzner calls him Macduff. He is also called McDuffie – MacDuffie – MacDuffy – Macduffie but the true name of the man was Macduffee. Stelzner wrote: Macduffs ADS was tested in 1915...

A week of violence in Algeria and Mali has transformed al-Qaeda’s North Africa branch into a cause celebre for militant Islamists around the globe, boosting recruitment and fundraising for the jihadists and spurring fears of further terrorist attacks in the region and beyond. Even after suffering tactical defeats in both countries in recent days, the movement known as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is being lionized in Internet chat rooms and in official statements by extremist groups, some of which are urging reprisal campaigns against Western interests. U.S. officials and terrorism analysts are pointing to last week’s hostage drama in...

    ~The FReeper Canteen Presents~ Road Trip: Marine Corps Base Hawaii Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), formerly Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay and originally Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, is a U.S. Marine Corps base facility and air station located on the Mokapu Peninsula of windward O'ahu in the City and County of Honolulu. Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, is home to Marines, sailors, their family members, and civilian employees. The United States Marine Corps operates a 7,800-foot runway at the base. MCBH is home for the 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Aircraft Group 24, Combat Logistics...

A number of inopportune photos have been circulating the Internet as presidential inauguration ceremonies wind to a close. Whether it’s Michelle Obama’s eyeroll at John Boehner or New York Senator Chuck Schumer’s startling grin at Beyonce’s back, no one escaped embarrassing candid photographs on one of the most highly-photographed days of the year. We’ve compiled a list of the best. Enjoy...

The Baltimore Ravens outlasted the Denver Broncos 38-35 on Saturday in one of the greatest playoff games in NFL history, shocking the No. 1 seed to reach the AFC Championship Game. Ray Lewis, in his 17th season, made 17 tackles in the game. His career isn't over quite yet.

President Barack Obama's second inaugural address has been described as one of the most partisan ever given, heralding a sweeping left-wing agenda and demonizing his opponents. But President Obama's target is not simply the Republican Party: it is the Constitution itself, and the values of liberty that it enshrines. In the address itself, President Obama made the case that liberty is not timeless; that it must adjust to the times, and that "preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action"--not to defend those freedoms from infringement, but to give them "meaning" through government regulation and redistribution. White House communications director...

Dolphin seeks help from diver to remove hook and line from its mouth and fin. Rescued a Bottlenose Dolphin from entanglement during the Manta dive at Manta Heaven. It was awe-inspring and a truly breathtaking experience.(video)