Free Republic

Shortly after joining the U.S. Senate and while enjoying a surge in income, Barack Obama bought a $1.65 million restored Georgian mansion in an upscale Chicago neighborhood. To finance the purchase, he secured a $1.32 million loan from Northern Trust in Illinois. This Story The freshman Democratic senator received a discount. He locked in an interest rate of 5.625 percent on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, below the average for such loans at the time in Chicago. The loan was unusually large, known in banker lingo as a "super super jumbo." Obama paid no origination fee or discount points, as some...

There is a huge blogswarm going on about this photo, from Chicago Magazine, of Obama's unrepentant terrorist associate, Bill Ayers stomping on the American flag. The photo was taken in 2001, the same time Obama served on the Woods Fund Board with Ayers. This was also the same time that Ayers donated to Obama's campaign. ... many political bloggers are saying it is long past due for Obama to disown his association with this controversial radical. ... It's worthy of recycling this to further probe into Obama's judgment, the one thing he says he should be measured by.

According to Schlussel [syndicated columnist] "...a former Obama insider says that Obama's sudden aversion to NOI and Farrakhan is belied by the fact that Obama employed and continues to employ several Farrakhan acolytes in high positions on his Illinois and U.S. Senate campaign and office staffs." ... Cynthia K. Miller, who served as Treasurer of his Senate campaign. ... Jennifer Mason who currently serves as Obama's Director of Constituent Services and who oversees the hiring of interns for Obama. ... Obama's Illinois Senate district consisted of prime Nation of Islam territory including Hyde Park where Farrakhan's mansion is located...

The macabre execution of a Hyde Park man whose mouth was sewn shut and hands bound behind his back before he was fatally shot in the chest has moved homicide detectives to appeal to the public for help. ``They're asking for anyone who knows or may have witnessed something to come forward,'' Beverly Ford, Boston Police Department spokeswoman, said yesterday. Kyle Andrews, 36, was clinging to life when police found him face down Thursday night in the first-floor hallway of 25 Business St., a trail of blood spatter leading to his empty apartment one floor above. An hour later, he...

CAPTION THE PICTURE - In London, Scott Ritter, former American, inflames thousands In London, Scott Ritter, former American, inflames thousands of proterrorists, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002.