Free Republic

After two days of the “Conservative” Political Action Conference, it became abundantly clear: The Republican Party is no longer the place for me. I don’t know what I expected, honestly. I knew that the Grand Old Party was now the party of President Donald Trump, that traditional conservatives such as Sens. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, and Marco Rubio, R-Florida, were now an unwelcome fringe and that stirrings of populism and nationalism were making the rounds throughout a changing party. Trump’s nomination dealt a massive blow to my political optimism, but for some reason, I still held onto the belief that the...

As any New Yorker knows, finding an apartment is not easy. The city’s affordable housing lottery was set up to assist residents, but applying for the lottery takes time and patience. Brooklyn resident Maria Martinez told PIX11 she’s been applying faithfully for 20 years, since the inception of the lottery program. Speaking through a translator, she said the process is frustrating. “You keep applying. You hope you end up with a home, but it hasn’t happened for me yet,” Martinez said. Martinez currently rents a one-bedroom apartment in Williamsburg. She lives with her husband and two teenage children. “Sometimes I...

I’ve been saying for a while now that too many scammers and opportunists have been taking advantage of the Tea Party and conservative grassroots. But the most illuminating thing in the piece is simply this table:It shows what each organization spent on 2014 cycle “followed by how much each PAC gave to politicians either directly or through independent expenditures on their behalf. Then, last but not least, we have the percentage of their money they spent that actually went into independent expenditures & direct contributions." ". . . the 10 PACs at the bottom of this list spent $54,318,498 and...

Could we have a ZOT thread once in a while. There was some newbie moron who volunteered with a thread today but it got locked before we could have any fun. Please.

A story claiming an FBI official has announced he’s investigating former President Barack Obama and other Democrats for treason is not true. The false story also incorrectly identified the official as “the U.S. District Attorney.” The site conservativefighters said that Dana Boente, general counsel to the FBI, will pursue treason charges against Obama “and any liberals or Democrats working to undermine the president.” Boente never made such an announcement and he is wrongly identified in the story as the U.S. District Attorney. …

President Trump on Tuesday signaled an openness to modest gun-control measures following what he called an “evil massacre” at a South Florida high school last week that left 17 dead and prompted passionate calls from teenagers for reform. Trump directed the Justice Department to draft a ban on devices known as “bump stocks,” molded pieces of plastic or metal that can attach to a legal semiautomatic gun and allow it to fire up to 100 rounds in seven seconds, similar to an illegal machine gun. In private, he has indicated that he might do more, telling advisers and friends in...

They aren’t calling him “Lyin’ Ted” anymore. Sen. Ted Cruz’s stock is rising among members of President Trump’s base who feel double-crossed after the president offered amnesty to illegals in the immigration debate. Some who opposed Mr. Cruz in his 2016 run for the White House are even clamoring for the Texas Republican to mount a primary challenge to Mr. Trump in 2020. The newfound esteem for Mr. Cruz, whom Mr. Trump dubbed “Lyin’ Ted” when they battled for the 2016 Republican nomination, is coming from people who were die-hard supporters of the president. “Ted Cruz has kept his word...

Valentine's Day killer Nikolas Cruz is revealed doing target practice while shirtless in a backyard. In a clip, taken by a neighbor of Cruz's and obtained by CNN, he is sporting a Make America Great Again cap, in his socks while pumping off rounds in a yard.

James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence said he believes there could be "other shoes to drop" in the Russia probe, which took a dramatic turn on Friday after new charges against multiple Russian nationals and entities were announced. "I think there are other shoes to drop here — notably finances," Clapper said during a CNN interview Friday night. "I think that's going to be another profound thing that's going to come out about this." "What were the financial relationships between the Trump Organization before the election and the Trump campaign," Clapper said. He clarified that he isn't personally...

This is for those devoted but more so uninitiated. I feel bad posting this work as Frank's larger catalog is extensive. For me this is 101 stuff, insanely rudimentary but wonderful. Enjoy.

Where is the outrage? President Donald Trump reportedly endorsed a .25 cent gas tax hike to pay for his $200 billion infrastructure plan. We pay enough gas taxes in California, thanks to Jerry Brown. WE WANT NO MORE GAS TAXES!

The raw emotions generated by immigration policy—provoked by heartrending stories of families torn apart by deportation, or citizens murdered by illegal immigrants—have scrambled political allegiances and confused public debate. Republicans, usually the champions of family values and small government, now want to restrict family reunification and give bureaucrats the power to screen people who want to enter the country. Democrats, traditionally the allies of the working class, want big business to select immigrants and have given scant attention to the legitimate interests of working-class natives. The only way to end this politically charged debate is to think carefully about benefits...

Barack and Michelle Obama re-emerged on the public stage Monday in Washington, only this time for an event that has nothing to do with politics. The former first couple's official portraits were unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, a rite of passage for most former presidents, all of whom have their portraits hanging in the museum.

A Colorado couple said they sold everything they owned to buy a sailboat and set out for the open seas together. Within two days, their dream became a nautical nightmare. On their way to Key West, Tanner Broadwell and Nikki Walsh's voyage abruptly ended in John’s Pass off Madeira Beach, Fla., when their 28-foot sailboat struck something underwater Wednesday night.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor for eight hours Wednesday, giving the longest speech in that chamber in at least a century. She did so to pressure Speaker Paul D. Ryan to permit a vote on protecting the roughly 700,000 undocumented “dreamers.” Republicans expressed delight that eyes were on the polarizing Pelosi, but her marathon speech served to energize activists while highlighting that House Republicans will not commit to a vote. Despite having little leverage, she scored a tactical success. It’s not just Republicans who discount Pelosi’s talents. Some Democrats are unsatisfied with her leadership: They accuse...

A White House speechwriter, David Sorensen, is resigning amid domestic abuse allegations, Fox News has confirmed.

A White House speechwriter resigned Friday after his former wife claimed that he was violent and emotionally abusive during their turbulent 2½ -year marriage — allegations that he vehemently denied, saying she was the one who victimized him.

"These outrageous allegations are simply false. I took the photos given to the media nearly 15 years ago...I will not further engage publicly with a coordinated smear campaign,” Porter said in a statement provided by the White House...Fox News also has learned that Hicks was involved in drafting the initial response to the first DailyMail.com report.

'These outrageous allegations are simply false. I took the photos given to the media nearly 15 years ago and the reality behind them is nowhere close to what is being described,' Porter said in a statement Wednesday. 'I have been transparent and truthful about these vile claims, but I will not further engage publicly with a coordinated smear campaign.

... Liberals roll their eyes at the claim that President Obama violated democratic norms or abused his power. But putting aside the specific arguments, conservatives saw plenty of abuses and violations, from the IRS scandals and Benghazi to the Iran deal. Obama said many times he couldn’t unilaterally implement the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program because he wasn’t a “king.” Then he did it anyway. And the process repeats itself, getting worse and more egregious each time. When I criticize Trump, the first response from countless Republicans is, “Oh yeah, why was it okay for Obama!?” If I point...