Free Republic

Forget the economy, health care, even which party controls Congress. The most far-reaching effect of the 2010 midterm elections could be felt at the state level. By casting their ballots in dozens of gubernatorial and hundreds of legislative races, voters will decide whether Democrats or Republicans dominate the redrawing of state and federal political borders for the new decade -- a process known as redistricting. And the results could be even more far-reaching for Democrats than the outcome of the midterm elections.

"(Petraeus) is not smarter than McChrystal," Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Ahmed Yusuf said in a statement. "Also, his losing consciousness last week in an investigative hearing before the members of the U.S. Congress brought his physical competence and his courage into question." *snip* "His military standing and his four-star rank greatly waned around the world" after the fainting episode, mocked the Taliban's Yusuf, according to a SITE Intelligence Group translation. McChrystal's firing by Obama, by the way, was "divine victory," the Taliban mouthpiece added.

The Obamas spent their holidays last year in Hawaii and Martha's Vineyard, the Massachusetts island beloved of millionaire businessmen and celebrities. However, following the US president's fresh attack on Wall Street greed this week, it was apparently deemed wiser for Mr Obama not to be pictured relaxing alongside the same bankers he has been lambasting. The couple left Washington without their children for a long weekend in Asheville, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west of the south-eastern state. Although the area is a far cry from Martha's Vineyard, the Obamas are not exactly venturing into the back...

ESPN has suspended TV commentator Tony Kornheiser for remarks about fellow ESPN personality Hannah Storm, according to multiple reports Tuesday. Kornheiser, the popular host of the show "Pardon the Interruption," is known for making sports figures the subject of his humorous criticism, but in a recent show he aimed his commentary at Storm's wardrobe.

Baylor University announces that Kenneth Winston Starr, J.D., current dean of the School of Law at Pepperdine University, has been named the 14th president of Baylor University. Starr was the unanimous choice of both the 14-member Presidential Search Committee and the 10-member Presidential Search Advisory Committee, and was elected unanimously by the Baylor Board of Regents on Feb. 12.

Scientists predict a Haiti-magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid fault during the next 50 years. The fault runs under the Mississippi Delta, one of the poorest parts of the US.

Waiting for Santa

The Silencing of God: The Dismantling of America's Christian Heritage Lessons in the real history of the United States of America.

America's leading conservative voice on President Obama, politics, and himself.

CA Assemblyman Caught on Hot Mic Offering Lewd Details of Affair with Lobbyist SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A Republican state lawmaker from Southern California was ousted Wednesday from two legislative committees after he was caught on tape bragging about having sex with female lobbyists. Assemblyman Mike Duvall of Yorba Linda made the comments to another man during a break in a committee meeting at the Capitol over the summer, and they were caught on a microphone at his desk.

President Reagan marked the beginning of American Education Week and spoke to school students in the East Room of the White House. He talked about the foundations of American government, the values of democracy, and the regard for the United States held by other countries. He also answered questions from the students. The event was telecast in several classrooms throughout the country.

The first adjective that comes to mind for "liberal" may be "touchy-feely." The best adjective for a Stalinist might be "murderous." That's a pretty big difference. I would never want to mistake a well-meaning liberal for a nasty Stalinist. At the same time, I hope we don't fail to spot any Stalinists who might be looking for mischief and pretending to be liberals. Certainly the mainstream media aren't interested in the difference.

WASHINGTON - At least two people have died and several people are trapped and injured after a Metro Red Line train derailed and collided with another Metro train, officials say. The six-car train derailed and then collided with another train between the Takoma Park and Fort Totten stations around 5 p.m. Monday. The trains are "lodged on top of one another," D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter says.

Kenny Rankin, a brilliant pop vocalist and highly regarded musician-songwriter whose stylings ranged from jazz to pop to the world music influences he picked up as a child in New York, has died of complications related to lung cancer, his record company announced Monday. He was 69.

TORONTO | Former President George W. Bush, appearing Friday with his predecessor, Bill Clinton, in what turned out to be a collegial conversation rather than a spirited debate, once again said he would not criticize President Obama — then proceeded to do just that. "International pressure — diplomacy only works if there's leverage," Mr. Bush said. "It sounds wonderful — 'Let's go talk to people' — but you better have leverage in order to make diplomacy work."

"They been in here three times already-three times in one month and we're just sick of it you know, just sick of it,” Vera Brown said. She says she’s sick of people breaking into her store--V& D Grocery in the 'Booker T' Community in Monroe. Brown says thieves stole everything from candy and cigarettes to toilet paper and drinks. "I knew they [were] coming back, I knew they [were] coming back,” Brown said. So her employees decided to take matters into their own hands.A couple of them spent the night inside the store to catch the thieves... And they did.

BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: Jim Cramer, poor guy, his head's about to explode out there, the CNBC reporter. He continues to be appalled by the Drive-By Media, when they're simply acting the way the Drive-Bys always act without fail. Now, Jim Cramer is experiencing what I have been talking about and dealing with for two decades, and he doesn't understand it. He was an Obama supporter. He is a liberal Democrat. But I want say, "Welcome to the club, Jim." Because you're finding out what it's like to run afoul of your own guys.

Michael Steele has just dipped his toe into the water and is already in over his head. Steele has been the chairman of the Republican National Committee for only about a month, and already there is speculation that he may be on his way out.

THIS is the astonishing picture which could destroy the career of the greatest competitor in Olympic history. In our exclusive photo Michael Phelps, who won a record EIGHT gold medals for swimming at the Beijing games last summer, draws from a bong. The glass pipes are generally used to smoke cannabis. And after sporting chiefs announced laws which mean four-year bans for drug-taking, Phelps’ dreams of adding to his overall 14 gold medal tally at the 2012 games in London could already be OVER. GOLDEN BOY: Phelps at Beijing Those dreams seemed the last thing on his mind when he...

Here's the list of President Obama's invited guests to the White House cocktail party tonight -- essentially the bipartisan bicameral leadership of the House and Senate. Six House Democrats, six House Republicans, six Senate Democrats, six Senate Republicans. Their spouses are invited as well. Hors d'œuvres -- chicken curry, wagyu steak -- will be served in addition to drinks. President Obama, it should be noted, is not a particularly big drinker, though he has been known to enjoy a vodka martini time and again.