Free Republic

This is a pic i took of Mars with a 6 mega pixel Kodak digital camera in my back yard. Its not a telescope view but it goes ta show how close Mars actualy is this year to Earth. I have a friend who has a nice telescope and we can see the ice caps and crators on Mars like looking at the moon, but have no way to hook a camera up to it.

OBAMA: NO NUKES... Obama said Thursday he would not use nuclear weapons 'in any circumstance'... 'I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons in any circumstance,' Obama said, with a pause, 'involving civilians' Then he quickly added, 'Let me scratch that'...

I think Charlize Theron is my ultimate Goddess of a Woman.

As a pleasingly debauched symbol of his transformation into a top-tier, top-paid newsman, Keith Olbermann has bought a sprawling 40th-floor apartment in an Upper East Side Trump condominium. According to a deed filed late Tuesday afternoon in public records, the Countdown with Keith Olbermann host paid $4.2 million, the exact asking price for the five-room apartment.“The most fabulous views!!” says a giddy Brown Harris Stevens listing with brokers Lisa Lippman and Scott Moore. “On a clear day, you can see forever.” There are different perches for those inestimable views: The 31½-foot-long living room, master bedroom and den each have balconies.Which...

Is America worthy of being presided over by Chuck Hagel? That's the question Chuck Hagel is pondering, and he has promised to get back to us with an answer no later than March 17, 2008--just 357 days from today. Earlier, of course, Chuck Hagel promised us an answer by March 17, 2007--but it turned out he wasn't ready to commit one way or another. That's OK, though. We're not going to rush Chuck Hagel. Chuck Hagel needs his space. Yesterday was the first Sunday of springtime. We spent the morning fast asleep. Maybe you were in church, or hanging out...

Storm trooper: Let me see your identification. Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don't need to see his identification. Storm trooper: We don't need to see his identification. Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for. Storm trooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for. Obi-Wan: He can go about his business. Storm trooper: You can go about your business. Obi-Wan: Move along. Storm trooper: Move along... move along. In spite of both Mitt Romney's and Rudy Giuliani's long records of extreme-left governance, they are nonetheless traveling the country seeking to snatch the mantle of Reagan. And,...

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards acknowledged Monday that he may have been too inexperienced in national politics for his White House run in 2004. The former North Carolina senator was serving his first and only Senate term four years ago when he declared himself a presidential candidate. During a forum at Wake Forest University on Monday, Edwards said he might agree with critics who said he left Congress too soon to seek the presidency.

US Democratic Senator from Massachussetts John Kerry speaks to the press on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Democrats in Congress planned a direct challenge to President George W. Bush's latest strategy for Iraq with symbolic votes that could shape the political landscape for years.(AFP/Getty Images/Joe Raedle)

Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich, (D-OH), announces he will stand for the Democratic party presidential nomination in 2008 as his wife Elizabeth watches. This will be Kucinich's second run following his candidacy in 2004 which was won by John Kerry(AFP/Getty Images/Bill

<p>FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON ON NOT CAPTURING BIN LADEN: 'At least I tried. That's the difference between me and some, including all the right wingers. They ridicule me for trying. They had eight months to try, they did not try. I tried. So I tried and failed'...</p>

Robin Williams, the latest Hollywood star whose alcohol problems have come to public attention, has checked himself out of rehab and moved in with a "sober" companion. The star of Dead Poets Society, Mrs Doubtfire and Patch Adams has traded the confines of an Oregon clinic for Los Angeles, where he will spend three months of assimilation into the real world. The hired companion will undertake the surreal task of curbing Williams' urges should he attempt to reach for the bottle. The Daily Mail reports that it could be as long as a year before Williams moves back in with...

It has finally happened. The left is beginning to turn against New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr., known far and wide as “Pinch.” It is simple to understand why: the New York Times is becoming a failing business under his stewardship, and the Left needs the NYT. Faithful readers of The American Thinker have known this for over two years, as we have chronicled the journalistic and economic decline of the New York Times Company. We started warning investors that their money was at risk before the common stock lost half its value. We slogged through to SEC...

by Mark Finkelstein August 9, 2006 - 17:26 Tucker Carlson stopped short of saying that some of his best friends are Jewish. But he did let us know that "I love Israel, I think it's a wonderful place, I support it completely, I support it instinctively." That was just before he declared that "I think this war helps Hezbollah. I think it's bad for Israel, bad for the United States. I think you can love Israel and believe this war is a disaster." And it was just after he criticized President Bush for "taking the side of Israel to the...

DENVER -- An Air Force officer with hundreds of hours of combat time pleaded guilty Friday to defacing cars with bumper stickers supporting President Bush. Lt. Col. Alexis Fecteau, a decorated officer who flew 500 combat hours in the Gulf War, Kosovo and Bosnia, pleaded guilty to felony mischief and must pay restitution to the owners of the damaged cars. Fecteau, 43, of Colorado Springs, declined comment after a brief hearing. "This episode has had a very significant impact on his Air Force career," defense attorney Patrick Mulligan said. Mulligan said the plea agreement "affords Lt. Col. Fecteau the opportunity...

I am sorry for my first thread to be a vanity. I have lurked so long here and have enjoyed the give and take. I just graduated HS, and I know I am not as learned as most of you out there but I have a question...... Why not just open up to NK? The worst possible thing that douche would want is open borders. Let ustrade, and our allies trade with NK and then the people there will see what the truth is and rise up. I knoe this seems over simplified, but this nut in NK scares me.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., acknowledges applause alongside his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry at Faneuil Hall, Monday, June 26, 2006, in Boston, where Kerry unveiled an energy plan reprising themes from his 2004 presidential campaign. Kerry called for reducing oil imports, increasing the number of cars powered by renewable fuels and focusing on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. (AP Photo/Julia Malakie)

Washington June 7, 2006 - "It isn't about medals, it's about honor betrayed," retired Air Force Col. George E. "Bud" Day said today, responding to the New York Times' report that Sen. John Kerry is attempting to resurrect his disputed Vietnam service and decorations as he readies for another Presidential campaign. "The New York Times would be wise to stop dodging the real issue behind the veteran animus towards Mr. Kerry. He is anathema for a vast majority of Vietnam veterans who believe he betrayed them 35 years ago," Col. Day said. A former Vietnam POW (1967-73) and Medal of...

WAKE UP WAKE UP! It's time to do the pinapapetapoch! YES! THAT GLORIOUS DANCE FROM ITALY FROM THE STATE OF TUSCANY! Come join the fun or just have fun watching us!

Prince Charles stirred a small controversy in Egypt even before his scheduled arrival in the country Monday, as some Islamic scholars objected to plans to award him an honorary doctorate. Al-Azhar University has decided to give Prince Charles the award in appreciation of his interest in Islam and his promotion of greater understanding of Islam in the West. The university in Cairo is part of the Al-Azhar complex, the foremost Islamic institution in the Sunni Muslim world. Several top lecturers at the university say the heir to the British throne does not merit such a high award. "All that Prince...

Arthur "Pinch" Sulzberger Jr. apparently was given quite a chilly reception in his annual state-of-the-Times address..... Newspaper Guild members have already had to give up their raises for the year to rescue their embattled healthcare coverage, and 500 employees are losing their jobs. Floyd Norris, a business columnist, was said.... to be particularly intense in grilling Sulzberger on why (Pinch) would not give back his hefty million-dollar bonus this year to save jobs. "He kept ducking [the question]," ......"It was lame, lame, lame."

(NOTE: reporters are wetting their collective pants over an accident while hunting. I suspect that not many of them had much interest in finding the truth about the death of Vince Foster. I've seen the affidavits from troopers Perry and Patterson. Helen Dickey (Chelsea's nanny) phone the Arkansas governor's mansion to tell them of their friend's death. Perry took the call. The call was likely before 6:30 pm (that would have been Arkansas time, so it was before 7:30pm in D.C. Clinton claims he found out at 10pm when he finished the Larry King show. Dickey claimed she found out...

He's quick to call George W. Bush ``the worst president'' of his lifetime and criticize Bush's lack of vision. But former U.S. senator and vice presidential candidate John Edwards hesitates to put himself into the next race for president. If he does run, he'll keep a close eye on Ohio, still ``the consummate swing state,'' he said Thursday before a speech at Mount Union College. ``Had Ohio voted differently in 2004, I wouldn't be here right now -- or I'd be here with a different title,'' he said. ``... I think this is a state that will be critical for...

KERRY CLAIMS: 53% OF CHILDREN DO NOT GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL Wed Feb 01 2006 10:43:40 ET Sen. John Kerry claimed this morning on NBC TODAY that 53% of America's children do not graduate from high school -- a claim that raised eyebrows in the NBC control room, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT. Kerry made the comments after host Katie Couric asked the former presidential candidate about Bush's State of the Union call to train 70,000 additional teachers in math and science. COURIC: He wanted to train 70,000 additional teachers in math and science. KERRY: That's terrific. But 53 percent...

MIDI - CALIFORNIA HERE I COME - click on the word Melody La la la...la la la la la.....la la la...la la la la la Because Diane Feinstein is so out of touch, we need something that's new There's one woman who is popular and knows exactly what to do California hopes she'll run...Cindy Sheehan, you're the one We had wondered who could challenge Feinstein...we know she'll be coming through California hopes she'll run...yes, sir, she can get it done Big donors, big ad buys...leftists rejoice Such brilliance, such insight...we think there's no other choice....so California hopes she'll run...it...

A Los Angeles Times columnist has precipitated a firestorm of outrage by proclaiming that he doesn't support the troops serving in Iraq because they've become "a fighting tool of American imperialism." On Tuesday, LA Times columnist Joel Stein began his screed with the words: "I DON'T SUPPORT our troops . . . "Being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken . . . It's as if the one lesson they took away from Vietnam wasn't to avoid foreign conflicts with no pressing national interest but to remember...

Christopher Columbus is my all time number one hero. Hence I've come up with a Columbus alphabet akin to the Marian alphabet I shared in another post. A - Admiral of the Ocean Sea B - Bible Enthusiast C - Crusader for the Gospel D - Defender of the Faith E - Evangelist of the Americas F - Franciscan Tertiary G - Genoa's Greatest Son H - Holy Cross Bearer I - Immaculata's Soldier J - Just Man K - Knight of Christ L - Lover of Knowedge M - Mary's Faithful Son N - New World Discoverer O -...

If you are single and live in SAN ANTONIO,TX---BEWARE of one greedy, self-centered @#$!$ !! Believe me I know...Back in August of 2002 I was married to "IT". I went to CA to work, sending her $1000.00 a week to pay bills. In December of 2002, she told me we were divorced. I got no notice of divorce papers or even a phone call. She claims she had no idea where i was...Yeah right!! She had some guy living in my house 2wks after I left (I found this out later on..)and he was wearing MY clothes. With my money,...

Billionaire Democratic Sen. John Kerry has finally sent his own aid package to hurricane-ravaged New Orleans more than two weeks after the storm hit - and a week after most of the city had been successfully evacuated by the Bush administration. Kerry traveled to New Orleans on Monday aboard a UPS Boeing 757 loaded with 5,000 bottles of baby formula, 5,000 pairs of sneakers and an array of cleaning supplies, the Associated Press said. "Everything that any of us can do is so welcome, and it provides just a little bit of help at an extraordinary time," the Massachusetts Democrat...

Governor Blanco just said on Fox News Channel that Mayor Nagin does not have the authority to order evacuation of New Orleans, that the authority rests with her....and she doesn't have evidence that it is unsafe!

'Hey Sheryl, Teresa gave me the money out of her purse to buy these front row tickets today!'

... Whatever the reason, being a nerd, a geek, a dork -- whatever you want to call the tragically unhip -- is becoming a source of pride. ... And, increasingly, people are parading around in shirts that say "Dork Pride!" among other things. Such items have gotten so popular that CafePress.com, an online merchandiser, has created a special category for shirts and other items celebrating geeks, dorks and nerds. ... For now, though, he's going with it and has put a bumper sticker on his motorcycle that says "Talk Nerdy To Me" so he attracts the kind of women he's...

Dear [ ], Tonight, President Bush will speak to the nation about the situation in Iraq. It's about time. I hope tonight he'll address his words not just to us, and certainly not to Karl Rove or Donald Rumsfeld, but to a young American soldier in Iraq right now -- the soldier carrying an M-16 in a dangerous place where he or she can't tell friend from foe, the marine out on patrol at night who doesn't know what's coming around the next bend. America's brave young men and women deserve to hear the truth. For too long, the Bush...

Excerpt from Q & A: Dave Grohl By: Andrew Beaujon June 24, 2005 Q: I've read that the title of your new album is a tribute to John Kerry. A: A few of the songs were written when I came home from the campaign trail. Every day, before he got up to speak, I'd go play acoustic music. And the audiences weren't Foo Fighters audiences. The front row was World War II veterans and teacher's unions and blue-collar workers. I came back from that so inspired by the people and the real emotion and the feeling of a small community...

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, unapologetic in the face of recent criticism that he has been too tough on his political opposition, said in San Francisco this week that Republicans are "pretty much a monolithic party. They all behave the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party."

Unless you have a copy of his signed SF-180, you're not doing your job. If Kerry hasn't granted their release to the media by putting a reporter's name in Section III of the SF-180, you're not doing your job. If you don't evlaute what Kerry has asked to be released as specified in Section II of the SF-180, you're not doing your job.

Mayor Tom Potter reponds to Pentagon plan to reduce strength of Portland Air National Guard Press release from the Office of Mayor Tom Potter "I am saddened for the 452 civilians who will lose their jobs with this decision, and concerned about the safety of our community. "I am going to work with our delegation in Washington, D.C. to reverse this decision. It makes little sense to send family wage jobs packing to other states just as Portland's economy is finally moving in a positive direction. "At the same time, I don't want to see our area's ability to respond...

Weve all seen and heard of a place called Free Republic, its full of divorced or wife-beating conservative slobs who have the hygene of John Goodman after a long picnic. They thrive on stupid,worthless topics that focus around the "wonder of life" and "lets keep people who cant feel or think alive because were to stubborn to admit that its pretty damn foolish". But above all other abominations in this world is the wretched "Admin Mod", a man of horrible values and the judgement of a meth lab. It is he who makes free republic, well not free at all,...

Well it’s finally over. I’ve been kicked off of Free Republic. The moderators have lost their sense of humor and are drunk with power. Laugh a little boys don’t be so serious. My guess is that this post won’t even get posted but will see. Because of your actions this day I have gone to the dark side. The battle is joined, the end is near. The ZOT will not stop me. I will reincarnate myself over and over again. It is a sad day, my former friends, a very sad day.

Local bomb suspect posed as ministerFeds say Reamstown man who was angry over plastic surgery mailed explosive to Chicago doctor. By Tim Mekeel Lancaster New EraPublished: Apr 15, 2005 2:00 PM EST LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - A Reamstown man, unhappy with his penile-enlargement surgery, allegedly posed as a Methodist minister when he mailed a small bomb to his Chicago surgeon, a new indictment says.Blake R. Steidler, 24, of East Church Street, was charged by a federal grand jury on Wednesday with four counts of wrongdoing. He faces up to life in prison and a $1 million penalty. The eight-page indictment...

Wiccan boy booted for wearing lipstick Student claiming discrimination, violation of free-expression right Posted: April 14, 20052:53 p.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com James Herndon, a practicing Wiccan, plans to return to class with makeup, (photo: San Bernadino Sun) A California high-school student who practices Wiccan beliefs says his rights have been violated after being suspended this week for wearing lipstick and makeup. "If I can't wear makeup, then the girls or the staff can't wear makeup either," 16-year-old James Herndon told the San Bernadino Sun, believing his constitutional right to free expression is being violated. He says the cosmetics help him express...

Sen. John Kerry, whose sailboarding and skiing trips were campaign fodder during last year's presidential race, is recuperating from knee surgery. The Massachusetts Democrat, who is in Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II, had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee during the recent congressional recess and will be on crutches for a couple of weeks to keep weight off his knee, said his spokeswoman April Boyd. Boyd said it was an outpatient procedure to repair cartilage in his knee, which was damaged by "years of soccer, hockey and marathon running."

Al Franken is best known for his role as self-help guru Stuart Smalley. Franken has a new character these days, talk radio host. But the role is no joke. As part of the South by Southwest Interactve Festival, Franken broadcast his show from Austin Monday. Franken wants people to know liberal radio is now in Austin. "There is a right-wing media, and a big part of that is right-wing radio so I decided this is what I should do," Franken said. So how much credibility can a comedian with a political agenda really have? Apparently in Austin, a lot. "I...

Psalms 1 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly...

There was a time when embarrassing talents were a purely private matter. If you could sing the Star Spangled Banner in the voice of Daffy Duck, no one but your friends and family would ever have to know. But with the Internet, humiliation - like everything else - has now gone public. Upload a video of yourself playing flute with your nose or dancing in your underwear and people from Toledo to Turkmenistan can watch. Here, then, is the cautionary tale of Gary Brolsma, 19, amateur videographer and guy from New Jersey, who made the grave mistake of placing on...

Is anyone else watching Chris Matthews's embarassing attempt to exploit the mistake involving Purple Hearts given to soldiers from the Iraq War who didn't deserve them?

What's become of Teresa Heinz Kerry? Preceding its Women Who Make a Difference Awards Dinner on March 1, the National Council for Research on Women is featuring "a conversation with Teresa Heinz," chairwoman of Heinz Family Philanthropies and, up until Election Day, the highly visible better half of Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. "Teresa Heinz will speak to her commitment to women's economic security, including Social Security and retirement," writes the council, not bothering to mention her married name in several references. "I just checked, and she no longer uses her [entire] last name; only during the [presidential] campaign did she...

A bitter-sounding Sen. John Kerry dismissed the historic Iraqi election on Sunday, warning Americans not to "overhype" the watershed event. "No one in the United States should try to overhype this election," Kerry told NBC's "Meet the Press." The failed presidential candidate questioned the historic referendum's legitimacy, saying, "It's hard to say that something is legitimate when a whole portion of the country can't vote and doesn't vote." Kerry also pooh-poohed reports of a surprisingly high 72 percent turnout by Iraqi voters, insisting instead that the election has "gone as expected." Asked if he thought Iraq was now less of...

"This is personal. As I traveled across the country last year, I learned a lot about the dreams, hopes, fears and frustrations of the American people. Nothing touched me more than the parents I met who feared that illness would strike a child who is uninsured. A sick child is always a worry. A sick child that you can't get help for is a parent's worst nightmare. Helping the 11 million children who have no health coverage isn't even on the radar screen of the Bush administration and the Republican leaders in Congress. But, we're going to put it there....