Free Republic

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious. Vince Lombardi Thus it is that in war the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won, whereas he who is destined to defeat first fights and afterwards looks for victory. Sun Tzu We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power......

The over-reaching policies of Obama, Pelosi, and Reid, a trio manipulated by the puppeteers of the Far Left (including men like Soros), have triggered a very public expression of passion by millions of citizens in a battle of ideas--a battle which has been seething beneath the surface for decades! The problem has been that, until now, most Americans went about their business and ignored it, while some who called themselves "progressives" were working to undermine the very foundations of liberty. Today, however, ordinary citizens are engaged under several banners (TEA Parties, Libertarians, Independents,) and as individuals, and they are beginning...

Battle Looms Over Huge Costs of Public PensionsBy RON LIEBER Published: August 6, 2010 There’s a class war coming to the world of government pensions. The haves are retirees who were once state or municipal workers. Their seemingly guaranteed and ever-escalating monthly pension benefits are breaking budgets nationwide. The have-nots are taxpayers who don’t have generous pensions. Their 401(k)s or individual retirement accounts have taken a real beating in recent years and are not guaranteed. And soon, many of those people will be paying higher taxes or getting fewer state services as their states put more money aside to cover...

51 Seats Needed For Majority Likely Dem CT: Open (D) NY: Gillibrand (D) OR: Wyden (D) WV: Open (D) Leans Dem CA: Boxer (D) Toss Up CO: Bennet (D) FL: Open (R) IL: Open (D) KY: Open (R) NV: Reid (D) OH: Open (R) PA: Open (D) WA: Murray (D) WI: Feingold (D) Leans GOP MO: Open (R) NH: Open (R) NC: Burr (R) Likely GOP AR: Lincoln (D) DE: Open (D) IN: Open (D) IA: Grassley (R) LA: Vitter (R)

Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts has just introduced an amendment calling for the Senate to declare the recess appointment of Medicare and Medicaid chief Donald Berwick “an abuse of power.” The nonbinding “sense of the Senate” resolution also calls on Berwick to appear before the Senate Finance Committee to answer questions. The measure is designed to send a message to the White House that Republicans remain angry about President Obama’s decision to short-circuit the confirmation process, before a hearing was held for Berwick, and put Berwick in the job by recess appointment. The president blamed the GOP for its potential,...

So, not much text necessary... enjoy, think, and remember!

Analysis: Dems show signs of battle fatigueDavid Espo, Ap Special Correspondent Tue Jul 13, 5:53 pm ET WASHINGTON – Four months before midterm elections, the Obama administration and congressional Democrats show signs of collective battle fatigue, ducking political fights they might once have welcomed and quarreling among themselves as they confront the likelihood of majority-threatening losses this fall. Republicans pounce on every sign of Democratic discord, seemingly confident of a political payoff after a two-year campaign to kill whatever White Houses-backed legislation they could while slowing the rest. This past weekend, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs strayed across the...

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2010 – Several members of the Washington Redskins joined forces with the USO and the Wounded Warrior Project here yesterday at the ESPN Zone for a “Guitar Hero” video game showdown with soldiers stationed in Basra, Iraq. Soldiers play “Guitar Hero” against players at the ESPN Zone in Washington D.C., as part of the “Pro vs. GI Joe” video game competition, June 8, 2010, which pitted troops against Washington Redskins football players. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William Selby.   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The event is known as “Pro vs....

Seven score and seven years ago, a wounded Wisconsin soldier stood his ground on the Gettysburg battlefield and made a valiant stand before he was felled by a Confederate bullet. Now, thanks to the dogged efforts of modern-day supporters, 1st Lt. Alonzo Cushing shall not have died in vain, nor shall his memory have perished from the earth. Descendants and some Civil War history buffs have been pushing the U.S. Army to award the soldier the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration. They'll soon get their wish. Secretary of the Army John McHugh has approved their request, leaving...

Fort Polk Guardian FORT POLK, La., May 18, 2010 – Aug. 7, 2008, was a hot day in Iraq, and it seemed as if the walls were closing in on Army Spc. Joe Sanders. Army Cpl. Joe Sanders and Spc. Albert Godding pose April 27, 2010, after Godding received a Meritorious Service Medal for preventing Sanders' suicide in Iraq in 2008. U.S. Army photo by Zach Morgan  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Sanders had deployed to Iraq with the 10th Mountain Division’s 5th Battalion, 25th Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. Sander’s wife was leaving him, and he had...

The Battle of San Jacinto As related by DeWitt Colonist Creed Taylor to James T. DeShields and published in "Tall Men With Long Rifles" 1935. The morning of April 21 dawned bright and crisp. It was to be a great day for Texas. From their crude pallets the boys sprang up as if for a joyous holiday. Merry jests went the rounds, and the camp wits spared neither high private nor officers. "If you get bumped off, Bill, won't you will me your coonskin cap?" Tomlinson said to a comrade: "You can take the cap now; I'll wear a Mexican...

It seems that the Muslims of NY based RevolutionMuslim.com, have smartened up a bit and changed their approach on spreading Islam. Instead of their usual hate preaching on the streets of NY, they have decided to start a community outreach program. Unfortunately they will recruit more members by doing this. To view this short video....

TRIANGLE, Va., Feb. 19, 2010 – Dozens of veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima and their families gathered at the National Museum of the Marine Corps here today to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the iconic World War II battle. Frank G. Willetto, an 84-year-old Navajo code talker, renders honors during the playing of the national anthem at a ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. In February 1945, the United States launched its first assault against the Japanese at Iwo...

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) soon intends to introduce legislation that would take away the minority’s power to filibuster legislation. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) in the next few weeks intends to introduce legislation that would take away the minority’s power to filibuster legislation.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., Dec. 9, 2009 – Air Force Col. Michael Stapleton has come a long way since being diagnosed with cancer in 2006 while serving as 43rd Fighter Squadron commander here. Air Force Col. Michael Stapleton, diagnosed with cancer in 2006, is back flying in F-22 Raptors and T-38 Talons at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. U.S. Air Force photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Now the 49th Fighter Wing Operations Group commander at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., Stapleton recalled that he didn’t realize at first that his illness was serious. "I had what appeared...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2009 – The Army’s chief of staff stepped back in history Thursday evening to Christmas Eve in Belgium 65 years ago by reading one of the most inspirational letters written by a commander to his troops. Gen. George W. Casey Jr., chief of staff of the Army, reads the World War II Christmas letter from Gen. Anthony McAuliffe to his troops during the 13th annual Norwegian Tree Lighting Ceremony in Union Station, Washington D.C., Dec. 3, 2009. The tree is a gift from Norway and a symbol of the friendship between the United States and Norway. DoD...

CHIÈVRES, Belgium, Dec. 1, 2009 – Sixty-five years after World War II's landmark Battle of the Bulge, U.S. and Belgian troops will again march side by side in Bastogne on Dec. 12 and 13. Veterans and servicemembers from both nations are scheduled to join thousands of well-wishers, including town officials, dignitaries and local residents, in commemorating the Allied forces' victory in the famous World War II battle. "The traditional carnival-like atmosphere in Bastogne over the weekend celebrates the historic grit and determination of our two nations' veterans 65 years ago, and the solemn ceremony at the Mardasson Memorial overlooking the...

Flying into the besieged Afghan base during a nighttime firefight this weekend was a harrowing mix of overwhelming noise, stomach dropping maneuvers and shadows hurrying through the gloom. When the chopper lifted off moments later with three wounded soldiers, it left behind others who were wounded but refused to be MEDEVACED out of the combat zone so they could return to fight with their buddies. Fighting raged at two remote U.S. outpostsnear the Pakistan border this weekend, that left eight U.S. soldiers dead and 24 wounded. The battle was fought from Friday night through Sunday as hundreds of Taliban insurgents...

Specialist Alexander Miller had been watching a mysterious Afghan standing in a cornfield for 20 minutes. But it took only a split second for the American soldier to be mortally wounded. As Miller turned his back momentarily, the Afghan picked up a weapon hidden at his feet and fired a burst. One of the rounds tore into the 21- year-old soldier’s groin. Troops rushed to apply pressure to the wound as they called in a helicopter, but he was dead on arrival at the nearest field hospital... Nuristan’s rugged landscape, dotted with stone huts encircled by farmland, formed the backdrop...

US Marines are at the vanguard of the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Our correspondent Ian Pannell has travelled to one of the Marines' most remote outposts, south of Garmisir, where he witnessed the heat of the battle. (VIDEO)