Free Republic

Oklahoma's gay marriage ban violates the U.S. Constitution, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Terrence Kern handed down the ruling in a lawsuit filed by two same-sex couples. Kern immediately stayed his ruling pending appeals, meaning gay marriages won't happen in Oklahoma right away. The gay couples had sued for the right to marry and to have a marriage from another jurisdiction recognized in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma ruling comes about a month after a federal judge in Utah overturned that state's ban on same-sex marriage. Hundreds of couples got married there before the U.S. Supreme Court intervened,...

Glenn Beck told his audience on Monday that the following morning on his radio program, he will reveal the name of a Republican lawmaker who said anyone who stands with FreedomWorks or the Senate Conservatives Fund is a “traitor” to the Senate. Beck had Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) on the program, and invited the senator to comment on the announcement, but the senator declined.

Washington (CNN) -- The State Department has evacuated most of its diplomats from Lahore, Pakistan in response to a terrorist threat against the U.S. consulate, senior State Department and other senior U.S. officials told CNN. "We have picked up what we regard as a threat worthy of taking this action," one senior U.S. official told CNN. The State Department issued an "orderged departure" for all of its diplomats in Lahore Thursday, except for a handful of emergency personnel. The diplomats were moved to Islamabad, the nation's capital, officials said. A travel warning issued by the State Department said the department...

The American public increasingly relies on the Internet for socializing, business transactions, gathering information, entertainment, and creating and sharing content. The rapid growth of the Internet has brought opportunities but also risks, and the Federal Government is committed to empowering members of the public to protect themselves against the full range of online threats, including online radicalization to violence.

President Obama wants tighter gun control laws, but he does appreciate that armed Secret Service agents protect his daughters every day on their way to school. "It might come in handy to have these super locks," Obama joked at Master Lock in Wisconsin, noting that he will soon have two teenage daughters. "For now, I'm just counting on the fact that when they go to school there are men with guns with them." The U.S. Secret Service has protected the presidential family since 1917.

Excerpted from The Daily Caller: The 2012 presidential election is still more than two weeks away, but on Friday a CBS News affiliate in Arizona called the race for President Barack Obama. For 17 seconds, Phoenix, Arizona CBS News affiliate KPHO ran a lower third graphic that showed that Obama had won the Nov. 6 election over Gov. Mitt Romney with 99% of the precincts reporting. The lower third graphic appeared around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, during an episode of “The People’s Court.” The CBS News graphic showed Obama winning the election with 43 percent of the vote nationwide...

In response to a petition filed by Earthjustice and several other organizations, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has stated that it will use the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to draft regulations requiring companies to disclose information regarding "chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing." Although the EPA has not indicated what information will be subject to disclosure, the agency stated that it will attempt to avoid duplication of "the well-by-well disclosure programs already being implemented in several states," and that it anticipates that its regulations will "focus on providing aggregate pictures of the chemical substances and mixtures...

That one felt bigger here in south OKC than yesterdays.

''I don't regret setting bombs,'' Bill Ayers said. ''I feel we didn't do enough.''

From: Aubrey McClendon Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2011 08:37 PM To: All Employees Subject: FW: CHK's response to 6.26.11 NYT article on shale gas Dear CHK Employees: By now many of you may have read or heard about a story in today’s New York Times (NYT) that questioned the productive capacity and economic quality of U.S. natural gas shale reserves, as well as energy reserve accounting practices used by E&P companies, including Chesapeake. The story is misleading, at best, and is the latest in a series of articles produced by this publication that obviously have an anti-industry bias. We know...

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court has tossed out a lawsuit challenging Arizona's tax breaks for voluntary donations benefiting private school scholarships, many of them Christian-based. The 13-year-old program provides dollar-for-dollar income tax credits for money given to "school tuition organizations," or STOs. The 5-4 ruling split along conservative-liberal lines. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said taxpayers challenging the program lacked "standing" to continue the suit.

OKLAHOMA CITY (February 22, 2011) – Legislation declaring that firearms made and kept in Oklahoma are not subject to regulation by the federal government has passed out of a House committee. House Bill 1645, by state Rep. Mike Ritze, creates the “Firearms Freedom Act.” The legislation references the Second, Ninth and 10th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and declares firearms, accessories and ammunition made and sold in Oklahoma to be free from federal regulations. “This legislation passed both houses of the Legislature last year and was vetoed by the governor,” said Ritze, R-Broken Arrow. “I expect a better result this...

<p>With tens of thousands of people across New Mexico without natural gas service, Gov. Susana Martinez on Thursday declared a state of emergency, ordered government offices be shut down Friday and urged schools to "strongly consider" remaining closed for the day.</p>

Gun Control Debate Breaks Out at City Council Meeting They argued over controlling assault rifles such as the AR-15 used to ambush a city police officer last summer. By Jerry Bohnen Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Oklahoma City councilman Sam Bowman made it clear at Tuesday's city council meeting where he stands on gun control. He favors it. Especially when it comes to assault rifles like the kind used last summer in an ambush that wounded city police officer Katie Lawson. Bowman's stance and applause for Police Chief Bill Citty's call for registration of assault rifles got councilman Brian Walters standing...

1377 - The Papal See was transferred from Avignon in France back to Rome. 1562 - French Protestants were recognized under the Edict of St. Germain. 1773 - Captain Cook's Resolution became the first ship to cross the Antarctic Circle. 1795 - The Dudingston Curling Society was organized in Edinburgh, Scotland. 1806 - James Madison Randolph, grandson of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, was the first child born in the White House. 1852 - The independence of the Transvaal Boers was recognized by Britain. 1871 - Andrew S. Hallidie received a patent for a cable car system. 1882 - Thomas Edison's...

An interpretation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that pistol grip shotguns are not shotguns has created an unforeseen legal liability for owners of such firearms. ATF’s Nov. 2009 FFL Newsletter declared: Certain commercially produced firearms do not fall within the definition of shotgun under the GCA even though they utilize a shotgun shell for ammunition. For example, firearms that come equipped with a pistol grip in place of the buttstock are not shotguns as defined by the GCA. Here’s another wrinkle, from Mike Vanderboegh at Sipsey Street Irregulars: An October 27, 2010, letter from the Firearms...

Sgt. Jason J. McCluskey was laid to rest on Saturday with hundreds of his friends, family members and comrades in attendance. And there were hundreds more standing outside the First Baptist Church in McAlester listening to his memorial service via tall standing loudspeakers. And still there were hundreds more lining the roads and intersections from the church to the cemetery waving American Flags and patriotic signs. And there were yet hundreds more at his graveside services at the Tannehill cemetery. The 26 year old Army paratrooper was killed in action on November 4th in Afghanistan. During his tour of duty...

Saw this video on Cavuto today. It's very powerful.

New BCS Poll Just Released

I wanted to post this today on the anniversary of 9-11. It reminds me of the greatness that can still be found in the America I grew up in.