Free Republic

EN ROUTE TO OSHKOSH, Wis., Nov. 12, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today condemned a spate of leaks regarding both the Afghanistan strategy deliberations and last week's shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, threatening to fire anyone in the Defense Department he finds is involved. "I am appalled by the amount of leaking that has been going on," Gates told reporters traveling with him today in the wake of media reports following yesterday's national security session on Afghanistan, President Barack Obama's eighth in the past two months. Gates said he has little doubt that some of those leaks have...

(IsraelNN.com) The self-proclaimed pro-Israel J Street lobby opened its nationwide conference this week, trying to survive a growing tide of American Jews who oppose its anti-Israeli government policies. Speaking at the opening of its three-day conference this week in Washington, the group's director, Jeremy Ben-Ami, declared that J Street is “defining support for the creation of a Palestinian state as a core pro-Israel position.” He claimed wide backing for its policies despite the boycott of the conference by Michael Oren, the Israel Ambassador to Washington. Also absent were dozens of Congress members, concerned with the organization’s pro-Arab position and its...

Espn's commentators tell politicians to govern and worry about our troops, the economy, etc and stay the heck out of football...

I know what she is trying to do. She wants to channel Jackie O, but she comes across as a Walmart wannabe. Is this the best her staff of 20+ clucking hens can come up with? Her every outfit is progressively worse and her "Jackie O on the Shortbus" look is not catching on. Is America rushing to imitate the trends of the first lady? NO. Are women's fashions showing up with belts worn under the bosom? NO. Are trendy stores introducing a line of Fabulous Fall MO clothing? NO. Its time to come out and say it. Michelle, your...

WASHINGTON (AP) - General Motors has quit working with a partnership that collects toxic parts from scrapped automobiles, jeopardizing an effort to prevent mercury pollution just as hundreds of thousands of clunkers are headed to recyclers. Participants in the environmental program told The Associated Press the timing of GM's departure could hurt their work. The government's "cash-for-clunkers" program will lead to trade-in and recycling of an estimated 750,000 vehicles, some of which contain mercury switches.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford requested stimulus cash for the state's schools Monday, telling the U.S. education secretary he's doing so under duress and the $700 million in bailout money will create more problems. The request to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, sent by e-mail, caps months of Sanford's criticism of the $787 billion federal economic recovery law that raised the national political profile of the Republican Governors Association chairman and speculation of a 2012 White House bid. The state Supreme Court ordered him Thursday to follow a state budget law and request the money for the state's...

Members of the business community today are starting to sound off in opposition to President Obama's new plan to crack down on offshore tax evasion, denouncing the initiative as a "foolish" program that would do more harm than good.

Lays out why this bill is dangerous..

WASHINGTON, March 23, 2009 – During Women’s History Month, many Americans take time to salute the contributions of women. Manhattanville My Soldier, a New York-based troop-support group, is paying special attention this month to women serving in the U.S. armed forces. “The military women I met while serving in Iraq were courageous and kind,” My Soldier co-founder Juan Salas, an active-duty Army sergeant and Manhattanville College student, said. “We are asking civilians to pay respect to these brave women during Women’s History Month.” In observance of Women’s History Month, the group has created “My Soldier: Her Story,” a program that...

(IsraelNN.com) MK Rabbi Dr. Michael Ben-Ari gave his first speech to the Knesset on Monday. Ben-Ari discussed the economic hardship being felt by many in Israel as well as the costs of making concessions to Arab enemies. Arab MKs left the hall during his speech, leading Ben-Ari to express satisfaction at what he called “my first great achievement in Knesset.” Ben-Ari reminded those assembled of the suffering in Hatzor Haglilit, where workers are protesting the closure of the factory that provides many of the town's jobs. “As we gathered here, all of us beautifully dressed, in splendid garments, in Hatzor...

"Why on earth would 168 leading republicans in the RNC pick “the most moderate candidate” after such a huge defeat of the centrist, moderate McCainiac’s Disease in 2008?" http://conservativeamerican.org/conservatives/does-this-sound-conservative/

States Consider Selling Off Roads, Parks to Confront Financial Meltdown Saturday, New York Gov. David Paterson is considering selling assets like the Tappan Zee Bridge, seen above, which connects two New York counties. New York Gov. David Paterson is considering selling assets like the Tappan Zee Bridge, seen above, which connects two New York counties. ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota is deep in the hole financially, but the state still owns a premier golf resort, a sprawling amateur sports complex, a big airport, a major zoo and land holdings the size of the Central American country of Belize. Valuables like...

Burr will vote yes, Dole no, on bailout Barbara Barrett, Staff Writer Comment on this story U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, plans to support tonight's Senate vote on a bailout deal for the financial markets. In a statement on the Senate floor, Burr said he believes both the markets and small businesses need the stability that a rescue plan will offer, warning of an economic downturn rivaling the Great Depression if action isn't taken. Burr also blamed the crisis on "greedy behavior." "Much of what got us to this point was not only reckless behavior on Wall Street,...

Gutless McCain sells out conservatives.

August 29, 2008 Statement of NOW PAC Chair Kim Gandy on the Selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain's Vice Presidential Pick Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is a cynical effort to appeal to disappointed Hillary Clinton voters and get them to vote, ultimately, against their own self-interest. Gov. Palin may be the second woman vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket, but she is not the right woman. Sadly, she is a woman who opposes women's rights, just like John McCain. The fact that Palin is a mother of five who...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been awarded a prime speaking slot at the Republican National Convention, joining at least five others at the St. Paul event who are considered potential running mates for Sen. John McCain. Perhaps the most atypical convention speaker, and potential running mate, is Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who ran for vice president as a Democrat in 2000 and is now an independent and one of McCain's strongest supporters. For Pawlenty, the speaking role on the climactic last night of the Sept. 1-4 convention caps months campaigning for McCain, raising his national profile and speculation about his...

Should Sen. Hillary Clinton bow out of the presidential race?

See link for video -- John Boehner leads Republicans out of the House, protesting the Democrats not addressing FISA extension.

I spoke to one of my Thompson sources. He's still with his ailing mother. "He's just being a good son." He has not spoken to any other campaign or any other candidates, nor does he intend to at this time. He will not endorse, I am told by this source close to Thompson. I am also told, "he has no interest in a vice presidency or a cabinet position." At an "appropriate time" he will outline his plans for the near future. This source believes that the race has demonstrated that whatever happens from here on out, the GOP has...

TALK OF HILLARY EXIT ENGULFS CAMPAIGNS Mon Jan 07 2008 09:46:28 ET Facing a double-digit defeat in New Hampshire, a sudden collapse in national polls and an expected fund-raising drought, Senator Hillary Clinton is preparing for a tough decision: Does she get out of the race? And when?! "She can't take multiple double-digit losses in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada," laments one top campaign insider. "If she gets too badly embarrassed, it will really harm her. She doesn't want the Clinton brand to be damaged with back-to-back-to-back defeats." Meanwhile, Democrat hopeful John Edwards has confided to senior staff that...