Free Republic

President George W. Bush took Queen Elizabeth to her first ever baseball game in 1991 - and the excursion only lasted two innings. A new book, penned by the late Bush's longtime chief of staff Jean Becker, sheds light on the exact moment the then-president realized the Queen wasn't enthralled by the game. But her reaction was full of grace. In Becker's book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H. W. Bush, she features a number of political heavy hitters including President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Vice President Dan Quayle, as well as...

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...

The theme music from Harrison Ford's movie 'Air Force One' blared over loudspeakers in a rural Tennessee airport hangar, and minutes later a less presidential noise wafted over a hot mic. 'Get in the plane and go home. It's over there. Go home.' That was Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, telling his newest endorser Chris Christie in front of 12,000 people exactly where to go and how to get there. Christie had just sung The Donald's praises following the dramatic entrance of his plane in a stunt the campaign invented a month ago in Dubuque, Iowa. And more importantly,...

This was kind of weird. Jeb Bush, who is 6 foot 3 inches, stood on his tip-toes for the group shot at the CNN GOP Debate at the Reagan Library. Was this really necessary, Jeb?

It's amazing what some people will do for 30 pieces of silver. Scott McClellan was given the signal honor of being the spokesman for the president of the United States, a distinction few Americans have ever achieved. Being the spokesman for the world's most powerful political figure is no small thing, and I'm sure that the men and women who have held the post view their service as an honor more given that deserved. It doesn't appear as if McClellan sees it that way. He is not the first press secretary to be forced out of the job, and he...

Statement of Congressman Duncan Hunter MORAL AUTHORITY REQUIRED TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Currently, members of the House Judiciary Committee are charged with reviewing the evidence involved in determining whether an inquiry of impeachment by the full House of Representatives is warranted. I believe it is imperative that we proceed with our deliberations in a full, fair, and independent manner, and I have complete faith that the Judiciary Committee will conduct its business both equitably and expeditiously. Along with other members of Congress, I am now awaiting the findings of the Judiciary Committee. Given all that...

Chris Wallace (FOX TV) just stated on the Monday morning news segment of Fox TV (aired in the 7:00 a.m. EST hour) that, not only did Bill Clinton retain his anger at Wallace after the interview was over and the cameras were off (despite Wallace trying to part on friendly terms), Clinton absolutely fumed at his own personal staff, right then and there while still on the Fox TV premises, for getting him into the interview with Wallace where he had earlier lost his head.Wallace said Clinton's blow up at his staff for this mistake was very visible and...

If you have ever wondered about the far-reaching impact President Bill Clinton’s sexual affair with a White House intern had on the nation’s security, wonder no more. If you believe Richard Clarke, it had a direct bearing on the national response to terrorism and Osama bin Laden. Clinton, according to Clarke, was hamstrung by concerns that the public generally and political enemies specifically would perceive a strong military effort to take out al-Qaida and capture its leader as a "Wag the Dog" scenario aimed at diverting their attention from his philandering. (In that movie, a fake war is begun to...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- News media liberals are escalating their assault on President George W. Bush. They are convinced that someone who can speak with a drawl, hails from West Texas, and is the son of a former president of the United States and the holder of a M.B.A. degree, lacks the smarts to be in the Oval Office. Rather than attack him head on, a tactic bound to fail given George W's high popularity, they are going at him indirectly, alternately attacking and praising his advisers in an effort to deny him all the credit but give him...