Free Republic

Democratic and Republican members of the Gang of Eight split Monday over a proposal to block millions of immigrants from receiving earned income tax credits, a major cash assistance program. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) broke with Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) over the issue of giving federal payments to illegal immigrants who would receive temporary legal status under the legislation. Graham and Flake supported an amendment sponsored by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) to deny earned income tax credits (EITC) to people with Registered Provisional Immigrant Status (RPI). An estimated 11 million illegal immigrants...

Hundreds of villagers have gathered in traditional Bavarian costume to celebrate one of the most important dates in the Catholic calendar. With religious flagpoles hoisted above their heads and dressed in their best lederhosen, men and women of all ages parade through their picturesque mountain villages to commemorate Ascension Day. In contrast to the rest of Germany, Bavaria is heavily Catholic and the religious calendar plays a strong role in its deeply-ingrained folk traditions.

I'll start by mentioning that I saw Led Zeppelin at Madison Square garden for two of the three nights during the Song Remains the same. Oh la, ain't I cool. They were good, almost great. John Paul Johns and John Bonham were the voice of the Norse Gods. Page was in top form and Plant couldn't hit the high notes. Those shows were Led Zeppelin in their prime. What most of the later generations of music fans don't seem to understand is that Led Zeppelin was just another band. They were not the Beatles. They were not the beginning and...

Dear Dave, Can you please define “necessities� in today’s world while trying to get out of debt and live on a budget? Matthew Dear Matthew, Whether you’re talking about the world today or 50 years ago, necessities haven’t changed. Necessities are still food, shelter, clothing, transportation and utilities. We’re talking about needs versus wants. The problem is that many people were never taught that there’s a difference between the two—a big difference. Most people have enough food to eat and a decent place to live. Those are necessities. I’m not talking about eating out or having a big, fancy house....

It’s now official. The Vikings have cut punter Chris Kluwe. The 31-year-old was given the news Monday morning at Winter Park during a meeting with General Manager Rick Spielman. (snip) Kluwe’s release will not come without some controversy. The veteran punter has raised his profile in recent years by speaking out on political and social issues, most notably taking a firm stance in support of gay marriage and gay rights.

Reading Sherry Weddell’s excellent Forming Intentional Disciples is making me think about the American church and what ails her. Can anybody deny that there is a sickness in the body ecclesia? When 50% of Catholics vote for a man who stoutly defends same sex marriage and partial birth abortion can we say that Catholics in America are okay? I don’t think so. Thus a series of posts on what’s killing Catholicism. All the words begin with the letter ‘C’. I can’t help it. I was brought up as a Biblical Evangelical and our pastors always used alliteration to make their...

It is well known that most college students engage at one time or another in what is known as a “hookup” — an emotionless, commitment-free sexual encounter. Recently I interviewed Donna Freitas, author of The End of Sex: How Hookup Culture Is Leaving a Generation Unhappy, Sexually Unfulfilled, and Confused About Intimacy. In our dialogue, we agreed that her book’s subtitle was accurate, but we disagreed as to the cause. Freitas, who holds a Ph.D. in religious studies, blamed it on peer pressure, the sex-drenched social media of young people, and the ubiquity of pornography. I blamed three other culprits:...

In an open letter to UC President Susan Herbst, self-described feminist student Carolyn Luby wrote that the redesigned team logo will intimidate women and empower rape culture. Not realizing that she was being over-the-top ridiculous, and claiming that she was threatened with rape, she went to he campus police and was told by a UConn police officer to keep a low profile and wear a hat. We get an insight into what Luby views as rape by this comment: Luby, who openly shared her experience as a survivor of rape and sexual assault at Take Back The Night, an event...

Don't Webb's words pretty much sum up what the Obama administration and the progressive left is all about? Aren't these same views on Southern rednecks also . . .

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Visitor’s Center on Independence Mall closed for a short period of time Sunday while police investigated a suspicious man. Authorities say a man wearing a full camouflage suit inside the Visitor’s Center quickly drew the attention of police.

TUCSON, Ariz. -- At least five people were killed and more than a dozen hurt when an SUV crashed while it was being chased by the Border Patrol, authorities said Sunday. Pima County Rural/Metro Fire Chief Willie Treatch said the midsize SUV was carrying 22 passengers, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection said 18 were aboard.

New York (MYFOXNY) An electronic fork that vibrates when you eat to quickly has hit the marketplace. It's called the HAPlfork. Its makers say it allows the consumer to quickly monitor and reduce the speed at which they eat.

As Orwell knew, taking over the culture starts with corrupting the language. Imagine if, during the campaign of 2008, someone had written the following: “If Barack Obama is elected president, then each year from now on the federal budget will be a trillion dollars in the red. He will pile up in two terms more debt than all previous presidents combined. Interest rates will stay at near zero; 7.6 percent unemployment will be proof of progress in creating jobs. Record use of food stamps, unemployment, and disability insurance will be hallmarks of recovery.

It’s called Potomac Fever. Senator Marco Rubio – seduced by the establishment – is leading the charge for amnesty for illegal immigrants. Rubio took the April 14 Sunday news shows by storm. But the senator degenerated into pure political spin. First, Rubio claims that this plan is not amnesty, because trespassers have to “qualify.” How do they qualify? They fill out a form. And they have to continually steal a job from a U.S. citizen. They have to remain employed, while tens of millions of American citizens are out of work. They must pay taxes. But they can’t be turned...

Jacksonville, FL — The man Jacksonville Police say is responsible for killing a teenaged mother has been found in South Florida. JSO Lieutenant Rob Schoonover says the US Marshals located 26-year-old Jose Valle at his sister’s home in Palm Beach County on Saturday. Valle has been charged with the murder of 18-year-old Rosa Garcia.

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, a song from the Wizard of Oz, has sold 20,000 copies this week after anti-Thatcher campaigners encouraged people to buy it to celebrate the death of the former Prime Minister. It is currently number four and on course for a place in the top five by the time The Official Chart Show airs on Sunday, three days before Lady Thatcher’s funeral.

It seems people have misunderstood, as well as misrepresented, the church's role and influence in "secular society." The early Christians lived in the secular society of Rome, but by heralding the good news of salvation, what some might call "thumping," their words along with their deeds changed all of society of their day. In present-day America, however, secularists have taken over and changed the rules of the debate on so many key cultural issues. Religion, or more accurately, the Christian way of life, is being shoved out of not only politics but the American culture. We believers are being forced...

Are women equal to men? Are Jews equal to gentiles? Are blacks equal to Italians, Irish, Polish and other white people? The answer is probably a big fat no, and the pretense or assumption that we are equal -- or should be equal -- is foolhardy and creates mischief. Let's look at it. Male geniuses outnumber female geniuses 7-to-1. Female intelligence is packed much closer to the middle of the bell curve, whereas men's intelligence has far greater variability. That means that though there are many more male geniuses, there are also many more male idiots. The latter might partially...

“Counter-revolutionary” is an apt term for these days: President Obama has promised to make a fundamental transformation, a veritable revolution in American society and culture. Those who oppose such an ongoing agenda are suspected of all sorts of racism, nativism, misogyny, homophobia, and general counter-revolutionary activity. So — here are some thoughtcrimes: Global warming The latest news on “climate change” was not good for global-warming, cap-and-trade zealots. The planet did not heat up in the last decade and a half, despite substantial increases in carbon emissions. ... Guns I have met very few academics, politicians, or journalists who knew much...

The sibling conflict teased on the cover of Batgirl #19 may be the hook that pulls readers in, but it will be another reveal in the issue that will occupy a spot in comics history, as one of the book's characters will reveal she is transgender, the first time a character has done so in a mainstream superhero comic. Wired reports that writer Gail Simone was inspired to create a transgender character by a conversation with Batwoman co-creator Greg Rucka at Wondercon a few years ago. Simone asked why there seem to be fewer gay male comics characters than...