Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AP) — For nearly six years, a senior Secret Service agent kept his extramarital affair with a Mexican woman a secret from the agency responsible for protecting the president. But in the wake of an embarrassing prostitution scandal involving 13 agents and officers, Rafael Prieto’s secret was revealed by a fellow employee amid concerns the Secret Service wasn’t enforcing its rules consistently. With an internal investigation ongoing, Prieto apparently committed suicide last week, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Prieto, a married father assigned to the security detail for President Barack Obama, admitted the years-long relationship...

While President Obama assures Americans that his White House is the “people’s house,” he covertly gives political advisors taxpayer-funded personal drivers traditionally reserved for cabinet members and national security officials. Obama and Jarrett, who was his “Olympic Czar,” are so tight that he refers to her as a “sibling.” Before joining the administration Jarrett was involved in a series of real estate scandals, including several housing projects operated by convicted felon and Obama fundraiser/friend Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Besides getting a personal military driver to chauffer her around town and to and from work, Jarrett also gets Secret Service protection, which...

The Democrats may have wrested back control of power in Congress, but that hasn't quieted the ire of Keith Olbermann. Last week, he delivered one of his trademark blistering critiques of the country's leadership -- this time charging that President Bush failed to learn the lessons of Vietnam by perpetuating the "monumental lie that is our presence in Iraq." And don't think the victors of the midterm election are going to escape his sharp tongue. "If the Democrats don't undo a lot of the things that have been done, like the Military Commissions Act and many of the other infringements...

John Kerry Opposes Iran Nuke Strike, Backs Censure 2008 presidential hopeful John Kerry said Sunday that he opposes a U.S. strike against Iran's nuclear facilities that would involve nuclear bunker-busting bombs - and announced his support for Sen. Russ Feingold proposal to censure President Bush. Asked about reports that U.S. contingency plans include using "tactical nuclear devices" in a possible Iran attack, Kerry told NBC's "Meet the Press": "I think that is another example of the move from the hip, shoot from the hip, cowboy diplomacy of this administration . . . For us to think about exploding tactical nuclear...