Free Republic

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The U.S. Geological Survey experts projected that Tropical Storm Helene will bring significant coastal change to Florida’s west coast. According to a USGS coastal change forecast, 94% of the beaches on Florida’s west coast are expected to become continuously covered by water from Tropical Storm Helene. This can cause flooding behind sand dunes and impact coastal communities, making this the most severe level of coastal change. Helene’s waves and surge are estimated to have the potential to cause 100% of all ocean-facing beaches on the Florida west coast to experience erosion and overwash, according to USGS...

But Republican lawmakers portray the anticipated drama as foreshadowing the far bigger brawl of the 2012 presidential elections and a clash of visions with President Obama. A vote in the House to repeal the health-care overhaul would be among the GOP's top priorities. Republican leaders are also devising legislative maneuvers that might have a bigger impact, using appropriations bills and other tactics to try to undermine the administration's overhaul of health care and financial regulations and its plans to regulate greenhouse gases. GOP leaders also hope to trim spending, return unspent stimulus funds and restore sweeping tax cuts. Business groups...

When Judge Susan Bolton granted an injunction halting the enforcement of key provisions of the Arizona immigration enforcement law, she ruled in favor of the Justice Department's position, but against the president's political interest. Had the judge sustained this law, it would have made moot Obama's opposition to the Arizona law. As it is, she has transformed the law into a big campaign issue against Obama. Now the president is standing in the way of a state that wants to enforce the law that he won't. The Arizona law is massively popular in the United States. Over 60 percent of...