Free Republic

SANTA BARBARA: THE HORROR, THE HORROR! Published July 18th, 2008 “Santa Barbara is sometimes referred to as the American Riviera. Her beautiful beaches, majestic mountains and colorful culture make Santa Barbara a premier resort destination.” (Quoted from the City of Santa Barbara home page: http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Visitor/) Do note that the first feature mentioned is the town’s “beautiful beaches.” Not mentioned is the fact that some of the most expensive real estate on the planet is located in and around the area. No, I’m not a Santa Barbara realtor. However, Santa Barbara’s beauty and prosperity put the lie to Speaker of the...

It is an example of the stale and distasteful practice of social engineering that many Canadians outside of Alberta have come to think of as part of Canadian culture.....

(English-language translation) Police in Glendale County, Arizona confirmed yesterday that 44-year-old Glendaly Vigoreaux Echevarría, daughter of the late [Puerto Rican] TV producer Luis Vigoreaux and actress Lydia Echevarría, was found dead by her husband Paul Hacker in their home on Frier Drive in Glendale, Arizona. According to Glendale Police report PD 08-77459 signed by Sergeant Jim Toomey, agency detectives are investigating Glendaly Vigoreaux's death as a suicide, as confirmed by the autopsy performed by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office. The report indicated that officers responded to a call on Tuesday, July 15 at 9:58 AM from the residence of...

Every once in a while, there is a news story that so perfectly illustrates one of today's political absurdities, no made-up illustration could ever be so effective. According to Michael Graham's article, "Bank unduly scapegoated": "activists for the newest civil right - the right to skip your mortgage payments - have taken to the streets of Roxbury." The protest is over the fact that a bank that loaned a certain Paula Taylor, $260,000 to buy a condo, now, "actually want her to pay it back!" If you think this is absurd, the politicians are on the side of Paula Taylor...

We all know John Semmens, who posts regularly from his AzConservative satire site. People regularly mistake his work for reality, sometimes to hilarious effect, but sometimes just to a sad conclusion. In this story, we will look at two letters to the editor to a local paper here in Manassas. First, "On Barack Obama and Patriotism", A. Vic Poillucci, July 11, 2008: Mr. Obama’s response — “As I’ve said about the flag pin, I don’t want to be perceived as taking sides. There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American Flag is a symbol of...

SEN. VOINOVICH STATEMENT ON LIFTING OF OFFSHORE DRILLING EXECUTIVE BAN July 14, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after it was announced that President Bush will lift an executive ban on offshore drilling that has been in place since 1990: "Today’s action by President Bush is an important step forward, but it must be matched by Congress lifting its moratorium as soon as possible. Ohio families are being hit hard by sky-high gasoline and diesel prices and we cannot afford to wait...

RFFM.org Commentary In 1994 Republicans steam-rolled their way into national Congressional power behind the ideals of moral certainty, fiscal responsibility and a promise to change the way things were done in Washington, D.C. However, it didn't take long for the trappings of political intrigue to ensnare many of those who were swept into power by the 1994 Republican Revolution and, by the year 2000, it was hard to tell a Republican from a Democrat. Using the state of Illinois for an example, conservative members of the GOP probably reached their zenith of influence right around the time the national Party...

Even in Quebec the public is split about 50-50 on the Green Shift plan, and if you can't fool Quebecers with an environmental plan that screws Alberta, who can you fool?.....

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Canada is a cultural dichotomy. We are a collection of very singular and – dare I say? – distinct peoples who have very little in common, yet are feebly tied together through pseudo-patriotic themes such as beer commercials and donut shops. Confederation, that wonderfully impossible concept of complete and total Canadian national unity, has never worked and never will. One trip to a different part of the country proves that unequivocally. That is what became apparent to me during my camping venture in British Columbia.....

Fox News channel is the only one with No Signal in Sierra Vista. Does anyone know what is going on?

RFFM.org's Executive Director, Dan Zanoza, writes a monthly column for the Illinois Family Institute, titled, Media Watch. Recently, Illinois Family Institute's Executive Director Dave Smith pointed out how Chicago Tribune "columnist" Eric Zorn apparently claimed the state of California was divinely rewarded for its high court ruling that the ban on same-sex "marriage" was unconstitutional. Smith had referred to a recent piece by Zorn where the Tribune writer asserted California was experiencing nice weather because of the court's ruling on homosexual "marriage"...

In a nation where around 25% of the citizens categorize themselves as ‘French’, and a province where that number is drastically lower than that, we find ourselves now force-fed a different language and a different culture. And people wonder why I am an Alberta separatist.

TEEN SEX RING IN VERMONT There may be something about Mary but there is definitely something about judges. Perhaps the job, the power, the judicial robes go their heads? Who knows? The Supreme Court of the United States has made more than its share of screwy decisions, from the Dred Scott miscarriage of justice to the horror of Roe v. Wade and its subsequent result of 50,000,000 legal murders of the pre-born to its recent decision that child rapists can’t be executed. On my local scene, I still recall Judge “Cut ‘Em Loose Bruce” who was notorious for his years...

Izhak David Nakar served in the Israel Air Force and developed the intelligence system for the Israeli Defense Force. Ido Schechter is a captain in the Israeli Air Force. They are both behind PDRM’s computerisation program. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Malaysia Today The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is in the process of computerising its operations so that it is better-equipped to solve and reduce serious crimes such as Bloggers slandering the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife and whatnot. The computerisation program entails various phases as the two-page chart below shows. Three companies have been short-listed to undertake this work -- Master...

Over at S.D. Watch, Todd Epp has reported a truly breath-taking story that has the potential to derail Barack Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s big Unity push just as it’s beginning. … the Clinton campaign offered a major fundraiser to the state (SD Dem) party in exchange for two superdelegate votes … Todd promises more details, and I, for one, am waiting at the edge of my seat. Given what he’s reported so far, this seems to be an ongoing offer from Clinton rather than something that faded away after the June 3 primary. An intra-party dispute erupted Thursday during the...

KFYI Radio in Phoenix is reporting an incident that took place this past Monday morning in a Phoenix residential neighborhood. Former Congressman turned talk radio host, JD Hayworth, reports that three suspects were captured in an attempted ambush on Phoenix Police which may have turned deadly. The three suspects were captured with two AR-15 assault weapons, full body armor and dressed in black assault gear impersonating a Phoenix Police Tactical Team.

If you can get to Chicago (and even if you normally make a point of avoiding Chicago--an easily understandable policy) on July 11th, you need to do so. The Illinois gun rights movement, with the help of ISRA and Illinois Carry, has a little surprise for the purveyors of the forcible citizen disarmament agenda in Illinois. (Click on image for larger view, or click here for the pdf version). That's right--a Second Amendment rally in downtown Chicago, featuring Suzanna Hupp (if you don't know who she is, or how compelling she is as a speaker, see this). IGOLD was a...

WINFIELD, Mo. -- Floodwaters punched a 150-foot hole in a Winfield levee last night, and firefighters spent hours in the dark going door-to-door to warn residents in one subdivision that water was coming faster than expected. Bill Byram, assistant chief and fire marshal of the Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District, said the levee just east of Winfield along Pillsbury Road broke about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday. Water was quickly flowing toward a second levee, and the National Guard was fortifying that with sandbags.

Want to do a kind of informal poll: Does anyone here know anyone, other than a very far-lefty or an African American that is voting for the "Messiah" Obama? How can the national and state polls show Barack Obama leading when NONE of us knows anyone besides Latte Liberals, AAs and kids that are planning on voting for the guy? Hillary's supporters are going to McCain, many conservatives will "hold their nose" and pull the lever, and Appalachia and the South sure aren't Obama country. So who's answering the questions in these polls, or are they being made up out...

Last Edited: Tuesday, 17 Jun 2008, 9:17 PM CDT Created: Tuesday, 17 Jun 2008, 4:33 PM CDT(KTVI - myFOXstl.com) -- An artists' town where the Mississippi River is expected to crest at record levels Friday was hanging on with prayers from strangers and volunteers from as far away as sympathetic New Orleans.

One of these days I expect the Toledo Blade to change its name to something softer, like maybe the Toledo Spoon or Toledo Safety Scissors. Referencing the blade of a knife or sword is just too aggressive sounding for such a liberal, feel-good paper who apparently all believe if we'd just ban all weapons that crime would magically stop and we'd live in a rosy tinted Mr. Roger's neighborhood for the rest of time. Unless I'm missing the point, and they're referring to a lawnmower blade. Well, that still won't work since Karl Childers used one to kill Doyle Hargraves....

A little bit of background information on the subject first: as many of you may know in most States Americans have the right to carry a concealed gun for their own protection. In 37 states, you can apply for a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon Permit) with the County Sheriff or the local PD after you passed through a CCW safety class, demonstrated your ability to safely handle and fire a handgun, demonstrated you have the knowledge about the laws dealing with the right of self defense, passed a background check and pay an application fee. The law requires the law...

It was my pleasure to help bring together various employees of Torrance. You could actually feel the love in the City Hall Council Chambers as they each received personal copies of the Federal Complaint. What made this so exciting for City Council members is that they were served both individually as civilians and in their official capacities. Served Chief Neu at PD HQ after waiting for 45 minutes in the lobby while he was in an important meeting. Lobby officer asked me to make an appointment to serve him. Told her it does not work that way. I would sit...

No, No, no, not the written content which most people agree deserves the appellation of mental compost for midgets. I’m talking about the actual physical paper product you touch with your hands. Now, I’m no more squeamish than the next guy, but I was reminded of the the deadly hazards that can be found in paper when I picked this morning’s paper up in my gloved hands and noticed this headline: “Researchers: AP’s Sludge Story Sloppy, Unfair” As is typically the case with stories found in the Virginian Pilot, this one was not written by one of the few writers...

Obama is green and naive. Has never had to actually run a competitive race. When he won his state senate seat he knee-capped a respected liberal woman icon and had and all other contenders tossed off the ballot. Obama ran unopposed. When he won his US Senate seat partisan judges went and opened up the divorce files of his rivals, and he ran unopposed (the challenge by Alan Keyes, at the time a MD resident, was a joke). But now he has had to face real opposition. And this is a national race, which is like nothing he has had...

Pravda was a beacon of journalistic truth and technical prowess compared to the Virginian Pilot. Isn’t it the Drive-by-media that is always opining that we should “stick to the issues?” That “negative campaigning” (defined as telling the truth about Democrats) is taking the low road? Why, yes it is! So what’s the headline news in today’s Virginian Pilot? Senate candidates' staffers look for that 'macaca' moment. And why is that, boys and girls? The writer, Austin Wright, explains: Two years ago, former U.S. Sen. George Allen looked into a video camera and doomed his re-election bid. This year, the campaigns...

I'm not sure where to publish this so I put it in Personal and Misc. This is a link to a sermon that Sam Thomsen (one of the Scouts that died in the Little Sioux tornado) wrote and delivered to his church. He wanted to be a minister. He was my son's patrol leader. Here is another link to a page about all of the Scouts that died. Please remember them and their families in your prayers.

I went to the Yuma Regional Medical Center Plaza Lab for annual tests today. They had a prominent sign on the door saying “No Firearms”. As they are a public facility, I went to the receptionist desk, showed them my doctor’s request for tests, and asked them to check my personal firearm. The nice lady at the desk looked puzzled, and I explained that they had a sign on the door saying “No Firearms” and that I wished to check my personal firearm, as required by law. I said “security has a policy for this if you with to call...

Pennsylvania’s Governor Ed Rendell (D) says lying under oath is “necessary in some circumstances.” The Governor said “however, perjury must be used judiciously, not indiscriminately.” To illustrate this distinction, Rendell argued that it would “never be permissible for an ordinary citizen to lie, but it might be for public officials such as myself. We have broader obligations that could require such prevarication.” “Take the issue of adultery, for example,” Rendell said. “There would be no need for an ordinary person to lie about this under oath. The same isn’t true for a public official like me. An admitted instance of...

------------------------------------------------------------------- AOPA ePilot Special Airspace Bulletin June 9, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ==> ATTENTION PILOTS <== TFR GOES INTO EFFECT OVER KENNEDY COMPOUND Pilots flying in the Hyannis, Mass., area are cautioned that a temporary flight restriction (TFR) is now in effect until Friday, June 13. Pilots are urged to check notams before every flight because the TFR may change with little advance notice. ==> TFR DETAILS <== SIZE: 3-nm-radius TFR Surface up to 5,000 feet msl LOCATION: Centered on the MVY VOR's 060-degree radial at 19.8 nm EFFECTIVE TIMES: Immediately until 6 p.m. local Friday, June 13 IMPACTED AIRPORTS: Barnstable Municipal-Boardman/Polando...

...try it: pick a day next week, walk into your boss’s office and inform him/her that you have voted yourself a 34% raise, with a clear 1/3 tax-free, with all the perks that go with public office. Depending on your boss, you will be considered the ‘life of the office’, tagged for some ‘employee therapy program’, or escorted out the front door....

Northrop Grumman official said that the construction of a new Air Force tanker in Mobile, Ala., could have an economic impact in south Mississippi of more than $12 million annually. Leroy Barnidge, vice president for state and local government relations in Melbourne, Fla., where Northrop's tanker program headquarters is located, spoke Wednesday to a Pascagoula civic club. Northrop-EADS plans an aircraft assembly center in Mobile estimated to cost $600 million and create more than 1,000 jobs. If the Northrop and EADS North America's joint tanker contract survives a protest by rival Boeing Co., Barnidge said a couple of hundred new...

Boeing protested. The GAO has until June 19 to review the contract selection. They'll most likely approve USAF's selection, What happens after that is anybody's guess. Howls from the Washington and Kansas congressional delegations, certainly. Political accusations between Obama and McCain, probably. when do we find out if the USAF are able to stick with the original decision to buy the European designed tanker ? Will true democracy and freedom of choice prevail or will we see a U turn of all that is supposed to be good in the USA.

Forty-four of about 90 dogs rescued from a squalid Randolph house last week are now in Framingham and Ashland, receiving much-needed care from local animal control officers. The pooches, some caked in filth when they were first discovered, were bathed and groomed Monday at the Framingham Animal Control facility on Western Avenue, courtesy of about 10 PETCO employees. "They were in very sad, filthy condition - incredibly matted," said Katherine MacKenzie, Framingham's animal control director. "They look beautiful now." MacKenzie and Cheryl Rudolph, animal control officer for Ashland and Holliston, agreed to provide the dogs temporary homes to aid the...

WESTBORO, MA — A Northboro man scheduled to go on trial in September for $25,000 in credit card fraud and threatening to kill the alleged victim and her family was arraigned yesterday and charged with fraudulently obtaining nearly $16,000 by using a Grafton woman’s credit information. Natalino L. Silva Jr., 41, of 210 Brewer St., Northboro, is charged with forgery of a document and identity fraud. He was arraigned in Westboro District Court yesterday. Judge Paul S. Waickowski set a July 9 pretrial hearing and cash bail at $2,500. According to court records, his wife, Maria D. Amaral-Silva, posted the...

A former Gainesville radio personality, Elvis Presley backup singer and emcee at Lanierland Music Park in Cumming has died. Hugh Jarrett was the bass singer for Elvis Presley’s back up quartet, the Jordanaires from 1954 to 1958. Hugh’s voice can be heard on over 50 of Elvis’ recordings including the $10 million seller Don’t Be Cruel. During part of his career, when rock 'n' roll was in its heyday, Jarrett was a radio disc jockey, known as "Big Hugh Baby." That was when he was heard virtually coast-to-coast on WLAC in Nashville, Tennessee, and when he worked for WPLO in...

How can any logical person think this is a good idea? Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, a Democrat, signed Senate Bill 200, which essentially let’s any man who says he’s really a woman, use the women’s facilities in public places. By facilities, I mean the restroom and locker room: The bill initially outlines requirements for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and also bans discrimination based on sexual orientation for things like housing, car insurance, funeral services and public accommodation. The bill also extends bans on discrimination, where previously unwritten, for things like race, creed, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital...

In the small town of Winnemucca Nevada a man bent on performing a mass shooting at a bar was stopped by an armed CCW permit holder who happened to be in the right place at the right time. The alleged mass murderer had already killed two victims & had injured two others with gunshot wounds, but after reloading to resume his shooting spree he was shot & killed by an armed CCW permit holder who was also at the bar. The alleged mass murderer & his two dead victims were already dead by the time Police arrived on the scene...

I used to wonder if Obama had a mind nimble enough to be President. Now, I’m wondering if he has enough on the ball to be a moderately successful contestant on “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?”. Behold, the Obamessiah’s fearsome grasp of where the hell he is on any given day. At first, it seemed as if Barack Obama might just be speaking figuratively, as is his wont sometimes. “How’s it going, Sunshine? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you everybody. It’s good to be in Sunshine!” Obama declared on taking the stage this afternoon for a...

The afterglow didn’t last long, however. The proverbial ‘red flags’ soon began to appear. The volume of complaints from authors steadily grew; the production backlog became the elephant in the room, and uncertainty over company funds became fodder for water cooler chat. Then on August 31, 1997, an event occurred that signaled the beginning of the end.....

The interview itself, however, was quite bizarre. A pleasant if not docile woman, Ms. Hillman seemed not to know how to conduct an interview. She seemed unprepared and unsure of what to do from one moment to the next. In short order, I became the one keeping the conversation afloat, even offering suggestions as to what questions should be asked. Indeed, an interesting first impression. The next day I received a call back from Faye. It took me a moment to realize who she was on voicemail when she referred to herself as ‘Lorraine Phelan’ – Don’s wife. Odd, I...

Catholic Church Chooses Wrong Side Again With the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) raid in Postville, Iowa, and the resulting protests coming from the all too sanctimonious “religious”, maybe it is time to step back and take a look at what is behind these “do gooders” and “saviors” of the criminals crossing our boarders. First of all let's get this straight. An “illegal alien” is a criminal. This person is not misunderstood and needs to be cared for. They are not a pet. They are criminals that made a decision to break our laws when they came across...

...In the city of Edmonton, Alberta in the early 1990’s, there was one such man. His name was Donald Phelan, and what he built – and subsequently destroyed – left a long trail of broken promises and shattered dreams.....

Below is the FairTax resolution I submitted to the Platform & Resolutions Committee of the Illinois GOP Party Convention. Marilyn Rickert, Illinois FairTax, President The FairTax reflects the values, ideals and principals of the people of Illinois and the nation. I respectfully submit this resolution to be adopted as part of the Illinois Republican Party platform. FairTax Resolution background: The resolution was adopted by the ...

By The HeelSpecial To The Stiletto BlogAfter the Rev. Al Sharpton’s massive protest last week that shut down several major roadways in New York City during the evening rush hour, NY Gov. David Patterson said: “They felt that they had no other choice but to take the action that they took, and I respect the decision that they made to take that action.”Patterson should not be so understanding, considering that protests of this type appear to fall within the definition of domestic terrorism given at 18 USC §2331: (5) the term "domestic terrorism" means activities that – (A) involve acts...

An ever-growing number of residents of the city of Edmonton, Alberta are starting to ask the question: What the hell is wrong with the Edmonton Police Service? In roughly a twenty year span, successive serious incidents and allegations have wreaked havoc to the public image of the Capital City’s police force and have now begun to shake the confidence of the citizens in their Finest....

Purchasing a pistol with your stimulus package money is foolish if you consider that for the same money...

Event coming up: Military Appreciation Day at the Tacoma Mall Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 10:00 to 5:00 - in response to the protest on March 15th. Stop by and see us if you are in the area! Freebies and fun stuff for the kids - Volunteers welcome! (face painting and balloon animals) All materials will be provided. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post announcements - I don't know where else to post it.

Dan Zanoza, Executive Director of RFFM.org, interviews John Biver, Editor of Champion News, formerly Family Taxpayers Network. Biver answers questions on the state of Illinois politics and specifically addresses the Republican Party's demise in recent years. Biver also delves into the roles of conservative activists and how individuals and groups can help conservatives turn the tide in state politics. Biver's thoughts on GOP politics apply at a national level as well...