Free Republic

Now that Free Republic is back up and running, I am curious about what Freepers like best and what they miss most when Free Republic becomes not available. For instance, for me, it's often the first place to learn of an event -- sometimes even a half hour before Fox News gets something on the air -- or CNN. I specifically remember the shooting at the school in Virginia, and then there are the earthquakes. Just curious about what other Freepers like most about FR. Husband Quint says that if everybody donated a monthly fee charge to their credit card,...

At a California racetrack the souped-up cars that have been revving their way around the circuit stop and fall silent. Their roar is replaced by a deeply soulful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner as a gigantic American flag is unfurled across the course as part of 4 July celebrations. The race commentator, Wild Wayne, gives a patriotic pep talk emphasising that Independence Day means more than an opportunity to eat hot dogs and sink a few Buds. ... There have been a whole host of books about American decline. There is also a more general malaise, a worry that America,...

The mainstream media ask all the wrong questions. A CBS survey concluded that: Americans overwhelmingly approve of the use of full-body digital x-ray machines — a new technology in use at some airports in the U.S. Most, meanwhile, do not approve of racial or ethnic profiling — a practice not in place.The following questions apparently were not asked: “Have you or an immediate family member flown on a commercial airliner in the United States since November 1, 2010?” and “Do you or an immediate member of your family intend to fly on a commercial airliner in the United States in...

You know the old saying that "Opinions are like noses; everybody's got one." Well, not those words, exactly, but you get the idea. In any case, it's true, and it's a real problem. Not that having an opinion is a problem; but that everybody seems to think that having an opinion is their right and that every opinion is of equal value. The fact of it is that that's far from true: Opinions vary in......

Scott Rasmussen's Daily Presidential Tracking Poll gets a lot of national attention -- as it should -- with the index balancing the strongly approve numbers versus the strongly disapprove numbers. Taken with the three day rolling average concept, an argument could be made that Rasmussen's poll and his index is the best snap shot of informed and engaged Americans at any given time. Certainly the fact that sometime around July 4th this poll crossed into negative territory and has stayed there is significant. Also important and telling is the fact that the strongly disapprove numbers have hovered around 40% for...

During Judge Sotomayor’s public Senate confirmation, she was asked if she would use foreign laws to interpret American laws. The question, asked by Senator Coburn, arose from Judge Sotomayor having repeated stated in the past that she approved of the use of foreign laws to interpret the American constitution, particularly the fifth, eighth, and fourteenth amendments. Judge Sotomayor’s answer to Senator Coburn was “I will not use foreign law to interpret the Constitution or American statutes. I will use American law, constitutional law to interpret those laws except in the situations where American law directs the court.” Unfortunately, no one...

I am currently reading a book written by a friend about movies. He has asked me to read it and write a book review for him. While I am reading his book, I would like to get an idea of where my fellow Freepers stand as to what you think about today's movies. I have learned in my 11 years as a member of Free Republic, to trust and respect the opinions here more than anywhere else I could go to on the WWW. I guess I would have to say that your opinions reflect the truest conservative points...

I have been faithful lurker for several years and this is my first post. I have many years of apparel experience along with my wife. Anything and everything to do with clothing we have accomplished. Retailing, manufacturing, buying, etc. I have been trying to come up with an idea that could benefit conservative and traditional minded Americans. Why not put together a website that would provide access to hundreds of retailers that would give conservatives great deals on clothing, shoes, books, services, etc., and provide rebates to help fund their favorite charities or bloggers? Why not put our hard earned...

Network/Cable Television ABC News 77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023 Phone: 212-456-7777 General e-mail: netaudr@abc.com Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com 20/20: 2020@abc.com CBS News 524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-975-4321 Fax: 212-975-1893 Email forms for all CBS news programs CBS Evening News: evening@cbsnews.com The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com 60 Minutes II: 60minutes@cbsnews.com 48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com CNBC 900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 Phone: (201) 735-2622 Fax: (201) 583-5453 Email: info@cnbc.com CNNOne CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366 Phone: 404-827-1500 Fax: 404-827-1784 Email forms for all CNN news programs Fox News Channel...

The view of the US's role in the world has deteriorated both internationally and domestically, a BBC poll suggests. The World Service survey, conducted in 25 nations including the US, found that three in four respondents disapproved of how Washington had dealt with Iraq. The majority of the 26,381 respondents also disapproved of the way five other foreign policy areas had been handled. Poll findings in more detail The number of those who said the US was a positive influence in the world fell in 18 nations polled in previous years. In those countries, 29% of people said the US...

United States Declaration of Independence [Incident: 061229-000185]

Is it terrible that I spend most of the time reading this whole Foley/Hastert disaster with my eyes firmly planted at the top of their sockets in mid-roll? Is it wrong that when I hear Representative DoubleChin of Some-Town-I'll-Never-Visit, MN* has had an affair, my first thought is "Dear Lord, who in their right mind would marry this guy in the first place, let alone have sex with him?" I've learned in life that someone's moral failings in one area do not necessarily translate into universal moral failings. I have a terrible temper, but I would never take drugs, steal,...

LOS ANGELES Two national Mexican-American organizations are launching a "popular referendum" to collect the opinions of hundreds of thousands of Spanish-speaking immigrants both legal and illegal on immigration reform legislation pending in Congress. Starting late next week, the Mexican Brotherhood Latin America and the Mexican-American Political Association will begin distributing questionnaires in Spanish at churches, work sites and activist organizations in over 20 states with high concentrations of immigrants. "This will reveal what immigrants think, what they are willing to accept, fight for and reject," said MAPA President Nativo Lopez. The nonscientific surveys come on the heels of massive national...

    The national media is a power-hungry institution. It maintains its power to determine what is important in American politics and government by making dupes of the American public. The "duping" occurs though media opinion polling.     To preserve their agenda power, the mainstream media have an ace in the hole: opinion polls. By asking the right questions of the public, the media can validate the legitimacy of their agenda focus by claiming the public has a similar view.     What is the mainstream media's favored agenda focus? They have long devoted disproportionate interest to political conflict, scandal, horse races and bad news....

The Committee of 100 survey that I have mentioned here in the past asked the question of the American general public and American opinion leaders - Should the US take a more active role in Cross Strait relations? Interestingly enough, the American general public and the American Opinion Leaders were about equal, with 44% saying the US should be more active. Just over half (52%) of the opinion leaders said, "no!", and just under half (47%) of the general public said, "no!" The majority opinion is for the US to mind its own business. One in ten persons in the...

The Committee of 100 survey that I have mentioned here in the past asked the question of American opinion leaders - What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear "China?" 4. Human/religious/civil rights - 16% (This is the percentage of the US population that are treehuggers and activists.) 3. Communism - 16% (They think this means everyone eating off of the same table and sharing the car.) 2. Population - 40% (Finally someone realizes that China has something the rest of the world doesn't - the largest population in the world) and.... 1. Economic growth -...

I have mentioned the Committee of 100 survey many times in this blog and will mention it again. It has presented numerous insights into American attitudes toward China and the views on China and US-China Relations. Here are some facts about the poll. Opinion leaders - 203 in-depth interviews were conducted nationwide of Americans from diverse fields in leadership positions that influence public opinion and have some US-China relation familiarity - margin of error abt. 7% General Public - 1202 adults at random nationwide - margin of error abt. 3% Congressional Staff - 101 in-depth interviews of US Congressional Staff...

A growing number of students and parents are becoming painfully aware of the anti-American bias that occurs at universities throughout the United States. This is not just a matter of indoctrination, but can actually undermine the security of our country, as generations of students learn opinions rather than facts and are taught that defending the United States is a foolish cause. FSM Contributing Editor Charles Mitchell offers the examples of indoctrination that you've never heard and raises the question - why should parents, students, and taxpayers have to pay for professors who would rather teach their own beliefs rather than...

USA Citizens Day - July 1st Immigration Control Rally Nationwide Rally on Saturday, July 1st, at noon, at your City HallMay 1st - Million of Illegal Aliens Marched in our StreetsTwelve million illegal aliens demonstrated their political power, and declared May 1st to be A Day Without Undocumented Workers ( illegal aliens ). They boycotted the USA, all US businesses and institutions. Millions of them marched in our streets, carried Mexican flags, shouted "Si se puede!", and demanded new laws from our Congress. July 1st - U.S. Citizens Nationwide Rally for Immigration ControlRally to stop our continuous invasion by...

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The third anniversary of the Iraq invasion unleashed a surge of pessimism at a local farmers' market here, where stalwart Republicans, standing amid aisles of produce and miracle cures, said President Bush has messed up a war that looks more like Vietnam every day. ''It's chaos," said Roger Madaras, who voted twice for Bush. ''How many more people are going to be killed? We were going in to free the people of Iraq, but as far as I'm concerned, a lot of them are worse off today than they were under the dictatorship." Madaras, the owner...