Free Republic

(CNSNews.com) – Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan said the high court should be focused on ferreting out improper governmental motives when deciding First Amendment cases, arguing that the government’s reasons for restricting free speech were what mattered most and not necessarily the effect of those restrictions on speech. Kagan, the solicitor general of the United States under President Obama, expressed that idea in her 1996 article in the University of Chicago Law Review entitled, “Private Speech, Public Purpose: The Role of Governmental Motive in First Amendment Doctrine.”

Senators Press for Broader Definition of ‘Inherently Governmental’ Federal Daily - March 23, 2010 http://www.federaldaily.com/federaldaily/archive/2010/03/FD032310.htm?s=fd_032510#a A contingent of 11 Democratic senators urged the Office of Management and Budget to more broadly define what constitutes inherently governmental job categories that can be performed only by federal civil servants. In a March 18 letter, the senators urged OMB Director Peter Orszag to define “inherently governmental” work in expansive terms “to cover all sensitive functions so managers won’t need designations like ‘core,’ ‘critical’ and ‘mission-essential’ to shield jobs they know are best performed by federal workers.” The letter is part of the larger...

Now it is another Vietnam. Again, a nonmilitary branch of the government is sticking their nose where it doesn't belong and demanding withdrawal before victory. America must not abandon another just cause. America must not betray another nation of people who are hoping for freedom and representation. It is the ideal of relativism that says freedom and democracy are not superior to tyranny and terror. Liberals who adhere to this philosophy may need to experience the latter before changing their mind about the superiority of America's way of life. Yet, a proper study of history would make that unnecessary. America's...

GOVERNMENTIUM A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science. The new element has been named "Governmentium." Governmentium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected because it impedes every action with which it comes into contact. A second's worth of exposure to Governmentium will...

Pollution plan proposed Governor says goal is to remove 15,000 polluting vehicles from roadBy Hank Shaw Capitol Bureau Chief Published Thursday, March 17, 2005 RANCHO CORDOVA -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to scrap one polluting car for every California kid hospitalized with asthma. Schwarzenegger on Wednesday proposed to nearly quadruple the state fund for retiring or repairing "gross polluting vehicles," a move he hopes will go a long way toward cleaning up the state's air. California's air quality is fragile, and the San Joaquin Valley suffers particularly because smog and other pollutants get trapped in the low-lying region and cannot...

PAINESVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- Of all the challenges the homeless face, Michael Padula may be in for his biggest to date. The 50-year-old homeless man living out of a van in a city park wants to run for city council. "I am not showboating. I am not doing this for the publicity," said Padula, a self-employed carpenter. "I would not wish my circumstances on anyone." However, Padula's opponent in Ward 2, eight-year council veteran William Horvath, says Padula should be removed from the November ballot. Padula has not established residency for one year, thus rendering him ineligible, Horvath said. Elections...