The Wall Street Journal: Ben Carson for President

Whether this weekend finds you blowing two feet of snow off the driveway or counting the hours until “Downton Abbey,” make time to watch the video of Dr. Ben Carson speaking to the White House prayer breakfast this week.

Seated in view to his right are Senator Jeff Sessions and President Obama. One doesn’t look happy. You know something’s coming when Dr. Carson says, “It’s not my intention to offend anyone. But it’s hard not to. The PC police are out in force everywhere.”

Dr. Carson tossed over the PC police years ago. Raised by a single mother in inner-city Detroit, he was as he tells it “a horrible student with a horrible temper.” Today he’s director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and probably the most renowned specialist in his field.

via The Wall Street Journal: Ben Carson for President – WSJ.com.

Ron Paul Account Tweets Shock Message About Former SEAL Sniper’s Death

A tweet referring to slain ex-SEAL Chris Kyle from the verified account of former Congressman Ron Paul is causing some serious commotion:

via Ron Paul Account Tweets Shock Message About Former SEAL Sniper’s Death | TheBlaze.com.

Photo Released of Obama Shooting a Gun

It’s an odd image to behold. The White House released a photo of President Obama skeet shooting on Saturday, in an effort to quiet skeptics who said he was faking enthusiasm for the hobby. In the photo, Obama wears protective glasses and headphones as he shoots a rifle. In an interview with the New Republic last week, the president mentioned for the first time that he had picked up the hobby of shooting clay pigeons at Camp David. Cue the media freak-out, who conjectured the comments might have been an appeal to the right. But you know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand eyerolls.

via Photo Released of Obama Shooting – The Daily Beast.

The official White House photo released Saturday is dated Aug. 4, 2012. The caption says Obama is shooting clay targets on the range at Camp David. Obama is outdoors amid grass and trees with a rifle cocked in his left shoulder, his left index finger on the trigger and smoke coming from the barrel.

via News from The Associated Press.

The White House has released a picture purporting to show President Obama “skeet shooting” at Camp David. An activity he claims he does “all the time.”

The White House also warns all you mischievous internet types to not mess around with the picture:

“This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.”

via White House Warns: Don’t Photoshop Obama Gun Pic.

Former White House senior adviser David Plouffe took to Twitter to preemptively mock those who might believe the photograph of President Obama shooting a firearm is fake:

via White House Mocks Doubters | The Weekly Standard.

Washington (CNN) — U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan will step down this month, concluding a long career that was clouded last year by a scandal at the agency involving agents and prostitutes ahead of a presidential summit in Colombia.

Spokesman Brian Leary said on Friday that Sullivan would retire on February 22 after leading the agency that protects presidents and fights financial crime since 2006. He’s been an agent for 30 years.

There was no statement on the reason for his decision to leave.

via Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan to retire – CNN.com.

Sullivan, who has led the agency since 2006, began his career with the Secret Service in 1983. He will be the third-longest serving head of the agency, and was responsible during his career for overseeing 23 national security special events, including the 2009 presidential inauguration.

via Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan to retire – The Hill's Blog Briefing Room.

In a statement, President Barack Obama thanked Sullivan for protecting five first families, including his own.

“Mark has led the Agency with incredible dedication and integrity.” Obama said. “From securing large events such as Presidential Inaugurations to safeguarding our financial system, the men and women of the agency perform their mission with professionalism and dedication. That is a testament to Mark and his steadfast leadership, which will be missed.”

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano also commended his service, which spanned five presidents, and wished him well in retirement.

“His commitment to keeping our country and its top officials safe is unparalleled, and his devotion to the mission of the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security has been unwavering,” Napolitano said in a statement.

Sullivan and his agency came under intense public scrutiny last year when agents were ensnared in a prostitution scandal in Colombia ahead of Obama’s visit there. At the time, Obama said he had complete confidence in Sullivan’s leadership of the agency.

via Mark Sullivan, Secret Service director, retires – POLITICO.com.