Free Republic

The White House defended President Joe Biden’s decision to describe Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine as “genocide,” as he used his trip to Iowa for another unscripted moment in reaction to events engulfing Eastern Europe. White House Press secretary Jen Psaki reminded reporters Biden was the president and he could escalate his rhetoric at any point of his presidency if he wanted to.

President Joe Biden once again referred to a printed cheat sheet sheet as he doubled down on his unscripted weekend claim that Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power.” On Monday Biden, 79, told reporters he made “no apologies” for his remarks — made off the cuff and not part of his prepared speech in a nationally televised address from Poland Saturday — and did not view it as a provocation to Russia.

It’s a regular feature of the 2012 GOP presidential debates — that moment when Newt Gingrich takes a deep breath, then proceeds to rip the insipid moderator and the conflict-and scandal-mongering press. Both Thursday and in numerous debates before, the former House Speaker’s stance suggested a candidate harboring deep bitterness toward the media ... The reality is very different. The same candidate who on Thursday decried “the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media” shows another face to the cadre of reporters who follow his campaign day-to-day. It’s not unusual for Gingrich to chat with reporters, off-the-record,...