Free Republic

KENNER, La. — The cake had been served and the children were jumping up and down in a big, inflatable castle when the birthday party turned to bedlam. Clarence McGraw's jaw dropped as he saw the visitors coming, guns drawn. The screaming began. Children ran everywhere in the courtyard of the low-income apartment complex; adults fell to the ground. Bullets flew. The killers wounded three youngsters, but for reasons police can't explain, it was 19-year-old McGraw they were after.

Coldest April Easter in 57 years Better grab your insulated bonnets; we're in for the coldest Easter Sunday in years. That didn't stop a group of early Easter egg hunters in Anoka this afternoon. They bundled up for the holiday tradition, despite the cold. "That's Minnesota for you. But we still have our Easter spirit," said Sarah Oftelie. Easter Sunday's high temperature will struggle to make 40 degrees, barely higher than Christmas day. In fact, we haven't seen April temperatures like this in almost 60 years. Other parts of the country are freezing, too. Friday's Twins game is canceled in...

The Bay Area is considered one of the most diverse, tolerant places on the planet. Its reputation as a stalwart defender of minority rights is unparalleled. "San Francisco values" is how Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly likes to describe our uniqueness. The region's policy decisions on hot-button topics usually strike a careful balance between protecting private rights and public health. But there's one group that we apparently see as nothing but a bunch of social pariahs: smokers.

Meet the Challenge! Join the CPUSA or the Democratic Party. fight for peace, equality, democracy and socialism It’s time for a change: Vote Nov. 7! by CPUSA National Board, 10/03/2006 16:16 The National Board of the Communist Party USA released the following appeal on Sept. 25: The Nov. 7 midterm elections are less than six weeks away. The stakes have never been so high: Control of the House and Senate and governorships nationwide. A recent poll shows that 75 percent of voters are disgusted by the Republican majority House and Senate, the highest disapproval rate since 1994. They are frustrated...

Rasmussen Reports survey data shows that the story surrounding former Congressman Mark Foley has had little or no impact on partisan identification among the general public. Also, there is no data to support the expectation voiced by some that the Foley matter would reduce Evangelical Christian support for GOP candidates.

It took 48 hours of loose nukes in the control of bad hair kooks to get the electorate refocused on the stakes in November's elections. But even before North Korea reminded the electorate of the wonders of Clinton-Albright era diplomacy, even as "The Path to 9/11" and The Looming Tower had done, the Foley effect had begun to dissipate as the reality of the choice before the country broke through even the MSM's fascination with the destruction of the Republicans because of the notorious IMs.

In football, the timing play is a thing of beauty. The quarterback takes the snap and drops back in the pocket counting seconds in his head, looking anywhere except the direction he plans to throw. At about the count of three he aims at a spot downfield and throws. If it works, the receiver gets there exactly when the ball does. In politics, the timing play is less beautiful but just as important, as the media proved in 2000 and 2004.