Free Republic

Earlier This Month, The President Announced He Will Propose A Balanced Budget. On February 5, the Administration will present its five-year budget proposal. The President's budget will reduce the deficit over the next five years and produce a balanced budget by 2012. The Budget will achieve balance while addressing the Nation's most critical needs, including support for the Global War on Terror and sustaining the strength of our economy through permanent tax relief. The President's Tax Relief Has Spurred Robust Economic Growth, Millions Of Jobs, And Rising Wages. A Strong U.S. Economy Is Fueling Higher Tax Revenues. Tax revenues rose...

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Saturday that it's time for the Republican Party to give up its "nostalgia" for the heyday of the Reagan era and look forward, even if it means stealing the winning strategy deployed by Democrats in the 2008 election. "You can't beat something with nothing, and the other side has something. I don't like it, but they have it, and we have to be respectful and mindful of that," Mr. Bush said. The former president's brother, often mentioned as a potential candidate in 2012, said President Obama's message of hope and change during the 2008...

Following are excerpts from President Bush's speech made Friday at the Economic Club of New York.This is not the first time since I've been president that we have faced economic challenges. We inherited a recession. And there were the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, which many of you saw firsthand, and you know full well how that affected our economy. Then we had corporate scandals. And I made the difficult decisions to confront the terrorists and extremists on two major fronts, Afghanistan and Iraq. We had devastating natural disasters. And the interesting thing, every time, is this economy has...

For the past year, Republican presidential candidates have kept a distance from their politically hobbled leader, criticizing President Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina, his immigration overhaul, his spending habits, his democracy promotion agenda and, at times, his leadership in Iraq. They wrapped themselves instead in the mantle of Ronald Reagan, often going through debates without mentioning the name of their incumbent president. Now comes former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney voicing something not heard before in the campaign -- a full-throated defense of the president. Ever since last weekend, when former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee published a scathing critique of what...

This is an experiment to see how long it will take a freeper to mention illegals or immigration in a post that has nothing to do with illegals or immigration.

Lott Lashes Out! GOP Senate whip Trent Lott attacks "these talk-radio people who don't even know what's in the bill." The New York Times reports: Comments by Republican senators on Thursday suggested that they were feeling the heat from conservative critics of the bill, who object to provisions offering legal status. The Republican whip, Trent Lott of Mississippi, who supports the bill, said: "Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem."At some point, Mr. Lott said, Senate Republican leaders may try to rein in "younger guys who are huffing and puffing against the bill." [E.A.] a)...

I've just about given up on Sean Hannity. I had to turn off his show yesterday because I felt like I was hearing the same exact show for the last six months. His monologues are mind numbing and meandering. He repeats the same ten talking points and the same four litanies about ten times in an average day. If I hear him say he's a coservative in the mold of Reagan again, or- Fascism, Nazism, Tojo's Japan, or- run his pitch for the Freedom Concert talking about Lee Greenwood, Or- well you get the point. Am I the only one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8px_KyIFyo

I have this picture, on my wall, of a Bald Eagle whith an American flag, Not a Bush bot but he is the best thing this country has had in a while.

The U.S.- Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement ...an agreement signed between the Bush administration and the Mexican government in 2004 that would funnel billions of U.S. Social Security funds to Mexican citizens. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has already warned that as a result of this agreement, the number of unauthorized Mexican workers and family members eligible for social benefits will likely increase. The Social Security Administration itself warns that Social Security is within decades of bankruptcy - yet they seem to have no problem making agreements that hasten its demise...

I got called a Bushbot again yesterday - its happening more and more. Now this particular person wants machine gun nests set up at the border to kill anyone who crosses and he sees all foreign trade as evil and thinks the President is trying to end U.S. sovereignty and when he calls me a Freeper he means it as a bad thing... So I'm not too worried about his opinion but it got me thinking... In a lot of ways I'm more conservative than President Bush - I don't think he places enough importance on controlling spending, border security...

UPDATE with environment report, financing details, tariffs structure MADRID (AFX) - A consortium led by Cintra Concesiones Infraestructuras SA said it has signed its first contract to build a section of the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road project in the US and will invest 1.3 bln usd. In a statement, Cintra said the 50-year concession is to design, construct and operate segments 5 and 6 of the SH 130 motorway between Austin and Seguin. The consortium is 65 pct controlled by Cintra and 35 pct by local constructor Zachry. Cintra announced the contract in Dec 2004, and said it expected to...

President Bush yesterday rejected House Republicans' stance that illegal aliens must return home, calling it "wrong and unrealistic" and saying many will have to be allowed to stay. Speaking to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a block from the White House, Mr. Bush also directly challenged businesses to hire only legal workers, and said those that don't should be prepared to face increased fines. In addition, he said both the House and Senate will have to compromise, but said voters expect a bill and he said that bill should tackle both enforcement and a pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens....

James Sensenbrenner just called in to Chris Core's conservative radio talk show to report that Karl Rove, acting for the president, was actively trying to sabotage the House immigration bill by persuading other congressmen not to support it.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House voted Tuesday to further choke off the flow of U.S. aid to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority, drawing the displeasure of the Bush administration and dividing the pro-Israel lobbying community. The measure, approved 361-37, would cut off aid to non-governmental groups working in the West Bank and Gaza except for health programs and would deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority. It also would ban contacts with Hamas because of its classification as a terrorist organization and limit the president's authority to waive the aid bans. The administration believes the legislation goes too far. But...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,195591,00.html The following is the text of President George W. Bush's speech on immigration: Good evening. I have asked for a few minutes of your time to discuss a matter of national importance — the reform of America's immigration system. The issue of immigration stirs intense emotions — and in recent weeks, Americans have seen those emotions on display. On the streets of major cities, crowds have rallied in support of those in our country illegally. At our southern border, others have organized to stop illegal immigrants from coming in. Across the country, Americans are trying to reconcile these contrasting...

I've watched the debate over immigration with some interest. When I heard President Bush was going to address the nation, I hoped he would be able to bridge some differences, or at least take some steps to do that. Sadly, from what I've seen from some, not all, on FR and TV and talk radio is a lot more anger from people who continue to see the President as the enemy of America. He's been honest and straightforward about his position on immigration: he's wanted a guest worker program for a long time. The administration has apparently sent back 6,000,000...

See for example this thread first. Last night Bush's speech on the borders Was it given on Karl Rove's orders? Threw a bone to the right But there's no end in sight With no wall, can you stop all the "hor-des"?

The Republican National Committee raised $11.8 million in March and the Democratic National Committee raised $6.8 million, according to reports filed last week with the Federal Election Commission. In the first three months of this year, the Republican National Committee (RNC) raised $36.6 million, which RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman said last week was an indication that “Americans are more committed than ever to enacting a Republican agenda.” Through the first 15 months of the 2005-06 election cycle, the RNC has taken in $141.9 million. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has raised about half as much as the RNC — $18.1...

My 30 acre field behind our house which is 5 miles west of the Canadian border needed mowing so I chose to make a huge BUSH sign for locals and the passengers on Trans-Atlantic jets crossing overhead on their way to and from Europe.Have a look!

"Sheryl said Lance didn't just support Bush, - he'd go off and fight if the president asked him to," the friend said.

The Council on Foreign Relations And the Trilateral Commission ________________________ The two organizations that run the United States by Melvin Sickler _________ ____ there are two groups of elite men and women in particular that most American people do not know about, but which are a clear threat and danger to the freedom of the American people. These are the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Trilateral Commission. Right now the United States is completely under the control of those who run these two organizations (David Rockefeller in particular). It is therefore important to understand these organizations if we...

<p>Al Franken and the other liberals are probably still wondering why they had such little luck in their efforts to start a talk-radio network to bash George Bush from the left. They didn't consider the obvious explanation. George Bush has his left flank nicely covered. It's on the right that he's weak.</p>

OK, my Fellow Freepers! President Bush has done it - a conservative with a track record. Let the Games Begin! Cast your vote here!

“The army is not properly equipped for an invasion of an enemy's territory. It lacks much of the material of war, is feeble in transportation, the animals being much reduced, and the men are poorly provided with clothes, and in thousands of instances are destitute of shoes. Still we cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot destroy them. I am aware that the movement is attended with much risk, yet I do not consider success impossible, and shall endeavor to guard it from loss.”...

It is time to take some conservatives to the woodshed. With a heavy heart, I write the above after visiting Free Republic this morning. Why? Simply our discourse is degenerating. I am dismayed at the amount of name-calling taking place in these pages. I am even more dismayed that this name-calling is being conducted by conservatives against conservatives. I understand the anger and disappointment stemming from the Miers nomination, but also inclusive of the budget deficit, education department, immigration, etc. These are matters that bother me as well. Unfortunately, the tone on Free Republic bothers me even more. When conservatives...

Did you ever have to tell a friend "That’s not funny. No, I mean it; that’s seriously not funny"? Then there’s that awkward moment when you’re both just sort of embarrassed? When it’s kind of painful to be friends, but you have to do something because you *are* friends. Now imagine your friend is the most powerful man in the world. Bush may have thought that the liberals who so much hate Alberto Gonzalez were the butt of his jokes when he purposely made coy suggestions that he would nominate Gonzalez to the Supreme Court. His problem is that serious...

Dear Laura, Enough already with the Harriet Miers bashing. We know you don't like Miers. We understood it after the millionth time that you told everybody. We also know you went to law school and you were a clerk for an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Okay. We got it. Now find something else to talk about. There is plenty out there other than Miers to talk about. Don't worry. If you spend one day not talking about Miers, we won't forget that you don't like Miers and you went to law school and you were a clerk for...

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President and Mrs. Bush, and the dogs, are at Camp David. They will return to Washington tomorrow. Aides said the President will be using part of his time at Camp David to finalize his choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. The announcement is expected early next week. THE WEEK AHEAD: In addition to likely announcement about the Supreme Court, expected as early as Monday, the administration is planning a series of speeches and events leading up to the Iraqi referendum on its proposed Constitution to be held in two weeks....

What a firestorm has erupted over President Bush’s nomination of Harriet Miers to be the next Supreme Court justice. And on both sides, too. Back during the summer when it was noised about that Sandra Day O’Connor was first going to retire, would anyone have predicted the following? --Harry Reid of Nevada photographed with the candidate, and it being known that the selection was made in consultation with him? --DiFi being quoted as saying the candidate“is clearly a bright, intelligent woman” (and being echoed by Ted Kennedy) without any hint of sarcasm? --White House advisors borrowing a page from the...

Folks, If the IQ for these posts was measured, you would all have a collective score of 25. George Bush may not be perfect but he is a heck of a lot better than Hollering Dean, FrankenKerry, and Hillary. We are in Iraq for the long haul, so get over it. Tax breaks have put more money in my pocket and I am definitely NOT in the top income bracket by any means. The disaster in New Orleans was not the result of any screwups from the White House. It was your Democrat buddies Nagin and Blanco that f@#$ed up...

<p>In the last three months the obsessed minority of freepers but very vocal who hate President Bush have been bombarding us with every illegal immigration thread under the sun so they have their "BASH BUSH ORGY".</p> <p>Pick up your phone and report to the INS about an illegal immigrant and his employer. I am sure you know at least one illegal immigrant who works in a convenient store, on a gas station, clean the garbage in your office, clean the bathroom at your work place... And I am sure you know one of these employers who hire illegal immigrants. Go ahead Mucho Guys, do your duty and report them to the INS. Let us see how courageous you are and let us see your action following your rhetoric.</p>

President Bush headed to Cleveland, Ohio today to participate in a healthcare forum about conversation on the benefits of health care information technology. The President also visited with Doctors and staff at the Cleveland Clinic. Bush also spoke with President Yawar from Iraq regarding the elections on Sunday in Iraq. Enjoy your daily dose of Dubya!

A couple of words we see frequently around the Forum are “Bushbot” and “Bushbasher.” I find them to be useless ad hominems that inevitably detract from whatever valid points the poster using them might be trying to make, or, more frequently, detract from said poster’s lack of any substantial points. By my understanding, a genuine “Bushbot” would be someone who would call the sky green if the President said so, and a true “Bushbasher” would call it purple if the President called it blue. While there are doubtless a few of each on FR, the vast, vast majority don’t fall...

Over the past couple of days, I have been witness to events and behavior that has moved me to stand up and address it. I have seen people here taking a disagreement with Jim Robinson, and using it as an excuse to be belligerent and downright disrespectful towards him. Then when he gets fed up and bans that member, they immediately go to another similar website and proceed to attack not just him, but also every facet of this site, including mods and members. Well, now, I am fed up. If you have a problem with what Jim says, fine....