Free Republic

The old saw about “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again” may seem appropriate to the democrats dilemma with Obamacare, but, it isn’t. I would be laughing my bippy off — rolling on the floor, holding my sides in uproarious laughter, save for one thing: the Obamacare mess is so darned serious! This scribe, along with a few thousand others, warned for years, years mind you, that all these problems WOULD occur if Obamacare became law. We were laughed at, hooted down, made the punch line of off-color jokes, and generally derided for our temerity to even question...

The Transportation Security Agency has quietly rolled out the Pre-Check program that allows frequent travelers to voluntarily submit to a background check, interview and fingerprints in exchange for a much faster experience through TSA checkpoints in airports. Is this program convenient for frequent travelers or something much more invasive? Since 2011, the TSA has tested the program at 40 different airports. It allows pre-screened travelers to proceed through TSA checkpoints without removing their shoes and belt. Light jackets can be worn and computers / liquids can remain in carry-on luggage. The program requires an $85 enrollment fee, but there is...

As a freedom-loving American citizen, one might expect me to hold a vehement disgust towards Moms Demand Action, an anti-gun group of women (mothers?) that use highly-publicized gun crime to advocate for civilian disarmament. But the truth of the matter is something very different. I love this group and I love to push their writings, but not only because I support their right to exist as a supporter of true freedom. I enjoy getting the word out about Moms Demand Action because they illustrate better than I ever could what freedom-loving Americans are truly up against and how little many...

Did you know that the number of people on food stamps has grown over the past 13 years by nearly 30 million, which accounts for almost 20% of households receiving taxpayer-funded food subsidies? At the same time, the federal government is spending more per household than ever before – in fact, a 152 percent increase since 1965. Our middle class is shrinking – the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, due in large part to insanely complex government rules and regulations that only those with resources can bypass. In fact, the top 7% of households own...

Secretary of State John Kerry surprised many reporters, as well as intelligence, law enforcement and military officials, when he conceded on Friday that some of the U.S. surveillance has gone “too far.” The Obama administration has come under intense criticism from many world leaders including some heads of state from NATO allies, according to Josh Hollander, a former intelligence-division police detective. Responding to increased questioning by major news organizations, Secretary Kerry admitted that at times the technological surveillance by the super-secret National Security Agency (NSA) “have reached too far.” However, Kerry quickly alluded to the Obama claim of ignorance when...

Gun owners and freedom-loving Americans are often considered by anti-gunners to be conspiracy theorists when arguing that the government’s intended plan is not just gun control, but gun confiscation. However, perhaps Obama’s famous utterances about his healthcare mess over the past dozen months will bring clarity to those who want a disarmed America. Obama was recorded no less than 29 times telling the American people that “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep your healthcare plan”, a claim that has been repeatedly proven false in insurance cancellation letters sent to average Americans. Apparently, Obama is “sorry” that so...

Anti-gunners across the nation are reveling in the victory of Terry McAuliffe in the hotly-contested Virginia Governor’s race with claims that McAuliffe’s “F” rating by the National Rifle Association indicates the American people are rejecting the so-called gun agenda. But in reality, the McAuliffe victory proves once again the powerful roll that money plays in political elections in our fair nation. McAuliffe was expected to easily win the election, but ended up barely squeaking out a victory on election night despite dramatically outspending his opponent. In the days leading up to the Virginia election, McAuliffe outspent Republican challenger Ken Cuccinelli...

Medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration result in 100,000 deaths every year from what the federal agency describes as “Adverse Drug Reactions”, or ADRs. Worse, over 2 million Americans suffer non-deadly adverse reactions to drugs every year that the FDA has approved “safe”. ADRs refer to negative reactions that Americans suffer from taking drugs as directed by their doctor or the drug’s manufacturer. These cases DO NOT include overdoses or drug abuse. In fact, the FDA claims that adverse drug reactions account for the 4th leading cause of death “ahead of pulmonary disease, diabetes, AIDS, pneumonia,...

It has been long argued by freedom-loving Americans that anti-gun groups from around the nation actively strive for civilian disarmament that disproportionately effects the law-abiding, and a recent statement from the Moms Demand Action group provides evidence that this argument is pretty accurate. On November 1st, Moms Demand Action (the gift that keeps on giving the whole year) posted an official statement about the shooting at Los Angeles International Airport. Of course, the statement calls on Congress to enact more laws to supposedly “fix” the problem of gun crime and implement a full ban on so-called “assault weapons” for civilians,...

October was Iraq’s deadliest month since April, 2008. In those five and a half years, not only has there been no improvement in Iraq’s security situation, but things have gotten much worse. More than 1,000 people were killed in Iraq last month, the vast majority of them civilians. Another 1,600 were wounded, as car bombs, shootings, and other attacks continue to maim and murder. As post-“liberation” Iraq spirals steadily downward, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was in Washington last week to plead for more assistance from the United States to help restore order to a society demolished by the 2003 US...

Americans who expect to take advantage of high-cost healthcare services may be in for a surprise as many hospitals are refusing to accept Obamacare insurance, according to a new report from WatchDog.org. Most hospitals, the report cites, will only accept Obamacare from one or two insurance providers. Worse, insurance bought privately outside of Obamacare would have been honored. ”For example, fourth-ranked Cleveland Clinic accepts dozens of insurance plans if you buy one on your own. But go through Obamacare and you have just one choice: Medical Mutual of Ohio.” The problem is Obamacare’s cap on premiums has prompted many insurance...

American Tactical Imports (ATI) is the latest gun manufacturing company to flee New York’s draconian gun laws for safer grounds, citing the state’s passage of the SAFE Act and Summerville, South Carolina’s proximity to the port-of-entry for several of their imported products. The move will bring more than 115 jobs to South Carolina where locals are supportive of the company’s move. ”The people of South Carolina have welcomed ATI with open arms and we are excited about making our new corporate home there,” said company president Tony DiChario. ATI will invest nearly $3 million in Summerville, a Charleston suburb.

Just about anyone who opposes the Common Core national curriculum standards, currently under serious fire in New York, is either a kook or a self-interested schemer. That, at least, is the impression an impartial observer would get from listening to many Core supporters. But the reality is quite the opposite: Education thinkers from across the political spectrum are taking on — and apart — the Core. In the Empire State, education commissioner John King infamously declared parents and concerned citizens opposed to the Core “special interests.” He made the accusation as he cancelled a series of town hall-style meetings scheduled...

Libertarians have long supported the legalization of marijuana and putting an end to the expensive War on Drugs program on constitutional grounds, arguing the federal government has no business regulating drug use. But, the legalization of marijuana has an attractive side benefit as well – it would flood government coffers with billions in additional revenue. According to a Cato Institute study, legalizing marijuana will result in an additional $8.7 billion in yearly federal and state tax revenue. In a time of excessive national debt and threats of a credit default, the prudent and expeditious dismantling of drug prohibitions is a...

A video published to YouTube shows a good number of “average” Americans eager and willing to sign a [satirical] petition that advocates a Nazi-style “Orwellian” system of government to supposedly keep the American people safe. Political prankster Mark Dice asks random San Diego beach-goers to sign a petition to dramatically increase Nazi-style “measures to keep the community safe”. Dice makes the satirical case that the government shutdown not only cut back on funding for national parks, but has also cut back on funding for the police state. Signature after signature, Americans willingly sign their name to a petition to implement...

A new Gallup poll indicates that more Americans than ever recognize the need for a third party to threaten the political monopoly that Democrats and Republicans clearly represent in our country. According to Gallup, 60% of those polled believe that the United States needs a third party – that is the highest percentage of Americans answering in the affirmative since the polling organization began asking the question 10-years ago. The poll also found only a quarter of those surveyed believe the Democrats and Republicans are doing an adequate job at representing them in government.

In Washington’s limitless supply of corruption with American tax dollars, the deal that re-opened a supposed “closed” government included something extra special for Kentucky Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: a $2.8 billion provision to boost funding for the Olmstead dam and lock project on the Ohio River, calling into question the fed’s willingness to fund expensive projects when the country is flat broke. A priority for the minority leader, the Olmstead project would benefit eastern states like McConnell’s Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois.

In the wake of the government's inability to pass a budget, the government officially began the process of “shutting down” nonessential services for the first time in 17 years. This includes sending home nearly a third of the government’s 2.1 million-person workforce. National parks will be shut down. The Internal Revenue Service will temporarily suspend audits and will not staff telephone support lines. Many of the nation’s federally-run attractions, like the Smithsonian and the National Zoo, will be closed (privately-funded museums and zoos, of course, will remain open). Federally backed loans will not be available for rural communities and small...

200 responsible gun owners showed up to an “open carry” barbecue held in Riverside Park, Michigan over the weekend and were encouraged to attend the event while openly carrying their firearms. Astoundingly, nobody was killed. The event, attended by law-abiding gun owners, was designed to raise awareness that the police and criminals are not the only groups of people who carry guns in this country. ”We’re trying to show people there’s a third group, ordinary everyday good people,” said Phillip Hofmeister, president of Michigan Open Carry.

Inquiring minds want to know – to those who support gun free zones throughout the country, do you feel any remorse at all when so many high profile gun tragedies occur in, wait for it…gun free zones? The entire city of Chicago is a gun free zone. Yet, the city sees some of the highest crime in the nation, including a particularly hideous crime this week that took the lives of 3 people and wounded 23 others, including a 3-year old boy. Or what about Columbine? Sandy Hook? Virginia Tech? All gun free zones. But let’s not forget the Aurora...