Free Republic

Very few individuals who were not politicians or generals have had a major impact on American political history. Phyllis Schlafly is one of the exceptions. Twice. In 1964, she helped launch the grass-roots conservative movement that flourishes today, transformed by the internet, and in 1972 she inaugurated what came to be called “social conservatism.” More than any other individual, she was responsible for the nomination of Barry Goldwater, and thus, indirectly, Ronald Reagan. And virtually single-handedly, she defeated the so-called Equal Rights Amendment. Schlafly was born 90 years ago today in St. Louis, the daughter of John and Odile Stewart....

Lovers of liberty are today recognizing the birthday of intellectual powerhouse and Nobel laureate Milton Friedman, who was born 102 years ago in Brooklyn, New York to immigrant parents. Friedman, who died in 2006, was my intellectual hero. As I have noted in previous blog posts, Friedman revolutionized the economic science while teaching it to the everyman. He is arguably the most influential economist of the 20th Century, perhaps (unfortunately) next to John Maynard Keynes. Friedman cut so many new paths it is difficult to sum up his contributions to economics and public policy in a book, let alone a...

Today is President Obama’s birthday, and among those who have been encouraging people to join their fundraising email list sign his birthday card is retired NBA player Alonzo Mourning....

Her hearing isn't great, and her legs are weakening too. She doesn't have much appetite either, often finishing only a small portion of her meals. But you will never hear Madam Chua Sua Teh complaining about her age. Indeed, the 100-year-old woman can still play a mean game of Wii bowling. Despite the usual effects of ageing, Madam Chua is simply happy that she has hit the 100-year mark this year. She told The New Paper last Thursday in Teochew: "I don't worry myself with thoughts about death or illness, I simply live one day at a time, and make...

Google has a penchant for honoring left wing ideologues, facilitators, criminals by including them in their Google Search icon, symbolic of the high regard they have for left wing, liberal scum. Today is no different. July 18, 1918 is the birthday of the man who became the symbol of the African National Congress, served in many positions within the organization.

Our nation, this generation, will lift the dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail. - George W. Bush Sept. 20, 2001. Today is George W. Bush's 68th birthday. A man who, according to his father, "faced the greatest challenge of any president since Abraham Lincoln.” Happy Birthday, President George W. Bush. Great to visit the @GWBLibrary earlier this year! pic.twitter.com/6u3f12FF1T — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) July 6, 2014 His presidency will...

George W. Bush’s 68th birthday is today. In honor of the 43rd President of the United States, here are fifteen of his most classic and classiest moments:

Saturday is Ray Davies' 70th birthday, but I'm not writing this as an offering or a note of congratulations.. Having bought 53 pieces of vinyl or CD plastic by the Kinks, both of his books, his two solo albums of new songs and 30-odd concert tickets, I think I've already thanked and celebrated him in the way he can most appreciate. I hope what I’ve paid him has given him a fraction of the enjoyment I’ve had in return.

<p>A helicopter jump might not have been the most special part of Former President George H.W. Bush's birthday on  Thursday.</p>

Justina Pelletier, the teen at the center of a legal battle between the Pelletier family and Boston Children’s Hospital over custody and proper medical treatment, received a surprise 16th birthday party from her friends over the weekend. The case is drawing national attention, as Boston Children’s Hospital filed a “medical child abuse” complaint against Justina’s parents last year, leading the state to take custody of her and hospitalize her for almost a year. justinapelletier18The tragic case has been dragging on for well over a year as pro-life groups have complained about how she has been denied education, religious services or...

Believe it or not, Doris Day is now 90 years old. Looking back on nine decades, all she can do is appreciate all she has. "All I ever wanted in my life was to get married, have kids, keep house and cook, and even though I did all these things, I still ended up in Hollywood," she told Closer magazine. "It was a great trip. I've had an amazing life and wonderful times. And I'm happy!" Day, who lives a quiet life in California, told the magazine that aside from "little aches and pains," she has been "blessed with good...

But who gets to blow out the candles? What’s believed to be a lightly-camouflaged 50th Anniversary Ford Mustang has been spotted out on a test drive just a few weeks before its expected debut at the 2014 New York International Auto Show. The GT-spec ‘Stang features several retro styling cues to mark the occasion, including a unique grille with a horizontal chrome bar and corral around the Mustang logo, what appear to be rear quarter window louvers hidden under a black panel, and forked-spoke wheels reminiscent of the ones seen on

Screen legend Doris Day is celebrating a landmark birthday with an auction to benefit her favorite cause: animals. A spokesman for Day said Tuesday the nonprofit Doris Day Animal Foundation will mark her 90th birthday in April with a bash in Carmel, Calif. A sold-out fundraising celebration at Day's Cypress Inn will include a doggie fashion show, adoption event and an April 4 tribute dinner for fans and friends.

Ninety years ago today, the song millions of people sing around a candlelit cake was published in a songbook. Although by 1924 the recognisable melody had been sung in American primary schools for nearly three decades, the publication was to trigger almost a century of legal wranglings which would result in Happy Birthday To You being one of the most lucrative songs of all time. Even though nobody knows who actually wrote Happy Birthday's lyrics, Warner Music contentiously owns the copyright to the song in its entirety. The media giant has therefore been earning millions from people celebrating their birthdays...

An Italian exchange student once asked me what he should know in order to understand America. The best I could come up with on the spot was the U.S. Constitution, jazz and baseball. Later it would come to me that to study each of those only in the abstract, as just a rule book or a series of notes on a page, would be less than useful to someone trying to understand America. The notes would be there, but not the music. The rules of the game would be there, but not the spirit. That spirit cannot be appreciated...

Looks like Sarah Palin is turning 50 and there are many wishing here a Happy 50th Birthday in this new video by ShePAC:

Beyonce and Stevie Wonder rocked the White House at a star-studded, late-night dance party celebrating first lady Michelle Obama's 50th birthday, two guests told the Tribune on Sunday. President Barack Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha joined family friends, elected officials, entertainers, athletes, business executives and big donors at the gala, which kicked off Saturday and lasted until the wee hours Sunday morning, the sources said. The event was closed to the press, and the White House did not release a guest list or any other details. But two guests spoke to the Tribune on condition of anonymity, describing a...

Happy Birthday card from AARP: Best wishes and sincere thanks for all you’ve done for us! You’ve probably noticed: the photo embargo, backed by the full faith, credit and retaliatory power of the U.S. government, was in full force for Lady M’s big, historic, Fab Fifty bash last night. So it’s unlikely that you will see much of the actual party that you paid for. The photo-Gestapo gendarmes were out in full force. As of this morning they had confiscated “detained” over 350 cameras and smartphones that will be scanned for data by the NSA before and if they are...