Free Republic

“The white man was a good shot and the bullet from his Winchester passed through the body of Yaholar.” This simple sentence, describing Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren’s great-grandfather, John Crawford, may finally put a bullet not simply in the long dead corpse of Native American Louis Yaholar, but also of Warren’s supposed family mythology. It comes from a turn-of-the-20th-century news story uncovered by William Jacobi at Legal Insurrection, who explains the genealogical connection between this random incident of White-on-Native-American violence and Warren’s campaign: // But, while Warren thinks she has found a safe place in her family lore,...

Out today, a 68-page opinion from Judge Katherine Forrest of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, entering a preliminary injunction barring the federal government from enforcing the substantive detention authority codified by the FY2012 NDAA on the ground that enforcement of the relevant provision (section 1021) might interfere with the plaintiffs’ First and Fifth Amendment rights. There’s a lot here, including the central holding (that the NDAA is not merely a “reaffirmation” of the AUMF), but I haven’t had the chance to read it carefully yet. Suffice it to say, I imagine folks will have...

Spain will restore border controls to France on Saturday, during a summit of European Central Bank (ECB) to be held on 3 May in Barcelona, said Monday the Ministry of Interior. The measure, which will run until next May 4, will involve the temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement on free movement of citizens among the 27 European Union countries. According to the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy, the land boundaries with France will be reinforced at the border of La Jonquera, Port Bou, Puigcerdá, Camprodon, Les and Canfranc and air borders of Girona and Barcelona airports. The Schengen Agreement...

Unrest is simmering in some quarters of the Washington news universe regarding changes in the way the Department of Labor (DOL) manages its pre-release media “lockups” on sensitive data like weekly jobless benefits and unemployment. For years, journalists participating in the lockups have shown up at DOL at the appointed time, then entered a limited-access area to receive the new data and prepare news stories for release as soon as official embargoes end. The system insures that major news organizations get the data as soon as possible and allows journalists covering the release get a jump on providing analyses and...

When the New York press corps wants to know what Gov. Andrew Cuomo has to say, on the record, it looks to Fred Dicker -- morning radio show host, New York Post columnist, and so-called "dean" of the Albany press corps. With few exceptions, Dicker, a Cuomo friendly, gets exclusive on-the-record access to the Governor's thoughts. Now, Dicker has signed a deal to write a Cuomo biography. Dicker is believed to have made a six-figure deal with HarperCollins, according to a report by the Post's Keith Kelly, putting him in direct competition with Vanity Fair's Michael Shnayerson, who signed his...

(...) Question by Premo: “And you said a few minutes ago that you realize you committed crimes in this case. Is that correct?” Answer by McGrath: “I have been told, yes.” This candid admission according to Gordon, "is in clear violation of the Troy City Charter due to his “disorderly conduct” as outlined in Article VII, subsection C-31." (...) Video of the incident can be seen below, with the relevant portion beginning at 28:33. As Gordon begins reading his letter, McGrath can be seen sitting to the left of the viewer's point of view, and is seen motioning to Kopka...

On Tuesday afternoon, in a stunning rebuke of President Obama, Judge Jerry Smith of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decided he had heard enough of the president's incessant hyper-partisan rhetoric challenging the independence of the federal judiciary. (...) He then ordered the Justice Department to respond to the court by noon on Thursday with a letter (minimum three pages, single-spaced) explaining with specificity the DOJ's position on "judicial review, as it relates to the specific statements of the president, in regard to Obamacare and to the authority of the federal courts to review that legislation." (Audio of the relevant...

Everybody knows we like to laugh it up here on SoaresSpot on any number of different topics. But this is not one of those times. What I'm about to write below compels nothing other than sober awareness for Albany County voters. That's because there is no funny or jovial element to this story, no appropriately humorous images or photoshopping--absolutely nothing about this incident can be processed and construed that way. Notwithstanding our comprehensive absence of faith in everything about David Soares, this is truly stunning--even for him. In my lap I've this package somebody sent my way the other day....

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A local resident under threat of arrest if he steps on public housing property will be able to do so after all — to attend a public meeting. A trespass notice had been issued against John Tighe based on a complaint made by Saratoga Springs Housing Authority Executive Director Ed Spychalski, who has been the target of criticism in Tighe’s blog. The banishment also made a controversial January meeting of the authority off-limits. But it turns out such a notice won’t lead to the arrest of someone who is merely attending a public meeting on the property....

Under the National Operations Center (NOC)’s Media Monitoring Initiative that emerged from the Department of Homeland Security in November, Washington has written permission to collect and retain personal information from journalists, news anchors, reporters or anyone who uses “traditional and/or social media in real time to keep their audience situationally aware and informed.” According to DHS, the definition of personal identifiable information can consist of any intellect “that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred, including any information which is linked or linkable to that individual.” RT adds: "Previously established guidelines within the administration say...

Doctor now facing murder owned Colonie clinic where 17 fetuses found in '96 COLONIE — A New Jersey doctor charged with murder last week for performing several late-term abortions in Maryland had once operated an abortion clinic in Albany County at which state investigators discovered 17 frozen fetuses in 1996. The discovery was part of a broader investigation by the New York attorney general's office, which declined to pursue criminal charges related to allegations that late-term abortions, in violation of New York's fetal homicide law, were being performed at the Colonie clinic then owned by Dr. Steven Chase Brigham. At...

CLIFTON PARK — Those wondering why Shenendehowa schools recently discontinued sexual education lessons taught by Planned Parenthood left Tuesday's Board of Education meeting disappointed. More than 200 people piled into the Gowana Middle School to speak or learn about the school district's decision to sever its longtime relationship with Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson. Planned Parenthood educators had for two decades discussed abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy and other topics with district middle and high schoolers as part of its health education curriculum. But the district told Planned Parenthood in October to stop sending the guest speakers after it received...

Federal law authorises state and local governments to divest from companies whose interests in Iran's energy sector directly or indirectly support its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The New York state legislature has passed a bill prohibiting companies doing business with Iran's energy industry from entering into contracts with the state. The bill called the 'Iran Divestment Act' was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. It would prohibit companies that provide goods, services or credit worth USD 20 million or more to Iran's energy industry from entering into or renewing state and local government contracts. "The Senate's swift action shows...

In November 2011 there where 1.5 million background checks for gun purchases and in December 2011 there were even more. A total of 3+ million gun sales in 60 days. (Merry Christmas!) Let’s play with these numbers based on gross statistics, neglecting multiple gun purchases (no stats) per person we have: Roughly, 1 in 100 persons in the US bought a gun in 60 days. 1 in 194,000 persons bought a Chevy Volt in those 60 days. 10,000 Chevy Volts was the 2011 production target for Government Motors and they fell short of that target. 10,000 guns were sold every...

"On Thursday, the 22nd, I was pepper sprayed. I was grabbed by the back of the neck and thrown to the ground by police officers," said Colin Donnaruma, an Occupy Albany member. We have heard stories like that since the December day occupiers were told it was time to leave Academy Park. The Albany Police Chief and City answered questions about what they say happened leading up to the police and protester clash. "The initial police presence was minimal because I did not want to create a confrontational atmosphere. As more protesters arrived at the park and the crowd began...

The wanted poster asks for Albany Police Officer Richard Gorleski's address, phone numbers, and email address as well as a map to his home and a picture of it. Occupy Albany member Bradley Russell admits he made the poster and posted it on Facebook. "I have made no threats and I don't want any threats made," Russell tells FOX23 News. "I have no intention of going after this man. On the other hand, if a peaceful drum circle were to show up at his house one day and protest his actions individually [...] I think that would be a legitimate...

GANSEVOORT — There’s been a great deal of debate about the ideal location for Tempered by Memory, the 25-foot-tall sculpture made from World Trade Center steel. Some feel the sculpture should be placed on the lawn of the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center, others at the Lake Avenue firehouse, and others think it doesn’t belong in Saratoga Springs at all. For one day, however, the debate stopped. Saratoga Arts held a private ceremony in Gansevoort Sunday to recognize the efforts of volunteers and donors who made the sculpture possible. Those honored included sculptors John Van Alstine and Noah Savett, local iron...

As the country unites to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Saratoga Springs remains divided over a memorial of that historic and horrific day. A 25-foot-tall sculpture made of twisted steel from the World Trade Center was to be dedicated today at a prominent location on Broadway, the city's main street. Instead, the artwork, "Tempered By Memory," stands in a Gansevoort steelyard, homeless, after objections to where it was to be installed, criticism of its artistic merit, accusations that City Council members were playing politics and heated rhetoric that led to a public apology. The mayor has...

ALBANY -- A "rogue" now-former security guard at the Trinity Alliance was behind a large party that erupted into a brawl and ended early Saturday with four young men stabbed, a Trinity official said. Trinity CEO Harris Oberlander said the so-called stop-the-violence party -- which was advertised on fliers and on Facebook using the organization's former name, the Trinity Institution -- was "totally, totally a fraudulent operation that had nothing to do with any of us." Oberlander said the party organizer, whom he declined to name but said had worked at Trinity for more than a year, has been fired...

Federal officials on Friday rejected Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s proposal to bar New York City’s food stamp users from buying soda and other sugary drinks with their benefits. (...) Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, said in a statement that the United States Department of Agriculture “has a longstanding tradition of supporting and promoting incentive-based solutions that are better suited for the working families, elderly and other low-income individuals” who rely on food stamps. “We are confident that we can solve the problem of obesity and promote good nutrition and health for all Americans and stand ready to work with...