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Celebrating the freedom of speech intrinsic in Independence Day -liberty!- Stephen Colbert exercises his right to satire.

This Monday President Barack Obama will be heading to Russia for a summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

On the agenda are thorny issues like NATO expansion, Russia's policy toward its former satellites, like Georgia and Ukraine, and the missile shield that the U.S. wants to deploy to protect Europe and Middle East allies from Iranian and other rogue nations' nuclear ambitions.

There are also serious doubts in foreign policy circles as to whether Obama is meeting with the real power in Russia - former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is generally considered the true ruler of the Kremlin.

Obama will finish his trip with a visit to Ghana - one of African economic and political success stories.

Here's the AP's preview of the Russia trip, and the second clip explains why Obama is going to Ghana.

Striking a patriotic tone and emphasizing freedom in its message, the Republican National Committee released this video to commemorate Independence Day:

One things for sure- she knows how to get the limelight.

Soon to be former Governor Sarah Palin's surprise resignation yesterday, however, has spurred tremendous speculation as to her strategy (or lack there of) driving this dramatic move.

Here, via Politico, is a sampling of what the pundits are saying:

Celebrating our country's independence, President Barack Obama utilized his weekly address to return to his campaign's positivist tone.

According to the White House:

The President recounts Americas great history of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges, and pledges to lead America in continuing that tradition. Focusing on creating a clean energy economy, comprehensive health reform, and revitalizing an education system in need of change, the President pledges not to leave these decades-old problems to yet another generation to solve.