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Following on the hundreds who protested Barack Obama this morning in Raleigh, the Associated Press reports several hundred protesters were gathered in Bristol, Virginia as of 3:16 p.m. for the scheduled 4 p.m. Obama town hall meeting at a Kroger grocery store:A crowd of more than 200 protesters opposed to President Obama's health care overhaul have gathered outside a Kroger supermarket in Bristol, Va., awaiting the president's arrival for a town hall meeting. Some held signs reading, "Obamacare is political malpractice" and "Keep your hands off my health care." The Wednesday protest drew people from the tri-state region of Virginia,...

When things get tough, the tough get going. In California, local elected leaders continue to make tough choices to balance city and county budgets, while our state leaders have failed to lead. In the late 1990s, the state of California enhanced retirement packages for firefighters and law enforcement unions and approved binding arbitration for contract negotiations. This gave police and firefighters unions tremendous leverage at the bargaining table, essentially forcing cities to enhance their retirement benefits for public safety workers. Those enhanced benefits are an ever-increasing drain on city resources while other sources of revenue are shrinking. They cost Burlingame...

Remember this report from our nation’s history? CNN (Continental News Network) Boston, 1773: The city of Boston canceled a proposed protest over tea taxes today, citing the fear that too many people dressed as Indians would be gathered near the wharves. Organizers expressed sadness over the cancellation, but meekly returned to their homes fearful of upsetting the officers of the Crown. Taxmen breathed a sigh of relief as the tar and feathers were put away not to be used this day. You don’t remember that pre-revolutionary history? I should say you shouldn’t, because it didn’t happen. But flash forward a...

Azhar Usman, a US-Chicago-born Muslim comedian, worked as a lawyer for not too long. But he decided his calling was standup comedy and he had followed the acts of several good standup comics when he was studying law. Apart from his standup comedy, which is now in its seventh year, and which takes him to not only a number of cities in America and Canada but also to Egypt, Australia and the United Kingdom, he also works for a community organisation in Chicago. But standup comedy is his mainstay. Some people have called him the Bin Laughin of comedy, thanks...

In the coming weeks, I will acknowledge an anniversary of thirty (30) years as a registered Republican. I have always been a Republican and my first presidential election was a vote cast for Ronaldus Magnus, one of my heroes. I have always voted the GOP line in state and local races, except when there were only Democrats running wherein I would either vote for the most conservative or skip that particular match up entirely. I'm afraid that this year will be different. As a conservative who found a home in the GOP 30 years ago, I now find myself without...

Bill Clinton says Hillary gaining military support BY MELISSA NELSON ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER DESTIN, Fla. -- Former President Bill Clinton says his wife has strong support among military voters and that the Democratic presidential candidate is up to the task of rebuilding the nation's military after years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I think she will do better than you think (with military voters) because she has an enormous amount of allies around the country in the military," Clinton told The Associated Press on Monday night following a private, $2,300-a-plate fundraiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Florida Panhandle....

We had our fourth comedy and music show at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, last night. It was all guys, and no one thought to bring a camera. That means, no pictures. This night's performers were: Baltimore Bluesman - John Pappajohn, comedians: Ron Bender, Key Fitz, Tom Myers, and guest comedian - Giovanni Diviacchi. John brought in the crowd with some preliminary guitar playing that just wowed the crowd. Tom got up and prepped the crowd for a night of laughter. Giovanni, a relatively unknown DC comedian, delivered the funny that I would put up against any seasoned veteran. Key,...

Last night was our third show. Our next one will be in June, featurig ROn Bender, TOm Myers, and an as yet unnamed comedian, with a guest spot from another DC comedian. We were also graced by Talk Show Sensei-tion, Eeevil Conservative! Our crowd was somewhat smaller than past shows, but someone in the know at WRAMC said it is because there are fewer residents. (That is a subtle hint that our "surge" in Iraq is working.) On to the pics: (More may come) The whole gang of performers Jessica and I. Jessica and Brett the Irish COm'Mc. Jessica and...

Carville Slams Journalists For Not Appreciating Hillary’s ‘Sophisticated’ Comedy Posted by Scott Whitlock on January 29, 2007 - 17:59. CNN analyst, author, and former Clinton operative James Carville appeared on Monday’s "Good Morning America" and complained that journalists are too tough on Hillary Clinton. Referring to the comment made by the New York Senator and 2008 presidential candidate that she has experience dealing with "evil and bad men," Carville asserted that members of the media should be lauding her strong sense of humor. The Louisiana native also touted Mrs. Clinton’s nascent White House run, saying that it was the best...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2007 – President Bush’s new strategy for Iraq includes expanding the number of provincial reconstruction teams from 10 to at least 18 in order to better support political and economic progress, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during a news conference today. Rice joined Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in discussing some of the measures President Bush outlined in last night’s address to the nation about the new way forward in Iraq. The plan includes 20,000 more U.S. troops on the ground, increased responsibility for the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces, and more diplomatic and...

TEAR GAS!What's the difference between Iraq and Vietnam? - Sand  How many suicide bombers does it take to screw in a light bulb? - No one knows suicide bombers don't last as long as a light bulb!   catch the video of my new act Stand-Up Saddam here:Stand-Up Saddam

BAGHDAD, Iraq (April 28, 2006) – As Iraqi security forces develop and the permanent government is seated, the Iraqi government, with support from the international community, is working to reform security institutions and eliminate insurgent resources. Praise for the Iraqi’s national unity government was one of the topics in this week’s Multi-National Force Iraq press conference. MNF-I Spokesman Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch started the press conference by congratulating the people of Iraq and Iraqi leaders for reaching agreement on the top leadership posts for a national unity government. “There will be challenges … remember, democracy in Iraq equals failure for...

WASHINGTON, April 4, 2006 – President Bush sent his secretary of state to Iraq to tell elected leaders there it's time "to stand up and do their job," the president said at the White House today. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice waves to airmen at Sather Air Base, Iraq, April 3 after she and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw attended meetings with Iraq government officials in Baghdad. She is accompanied by U.S. Air Force Col. Dennis Ployer, 447th Expeditionary Group commander, and Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Photo by Master Sgt. Will Ackerman, USAF  (Click photo for...

On Taxes: Buffalo, New York The people of Buffalo, New York are starting to get it. They have begun their fight against the big government machine and have formed the FreeBuffalo.org project designed to peacefully revolt against taxes in the city of Buffalo and in Erie County, New York. The revolt started on a cold March morning with 280 people ...

If there were an Emmy category for stand-up comedy on C-SPAN, she would be this year's odds-on favorite. Cedric the Entertainer, who had expected to follow the prez for the evening's laughs, knew he was in trouble long before Laura sat down. Her sallies were stingers, with references to her husband as "Mr. Excitement," in bed by 9 o'clock, and to herself and Lynn Cheney and Karen Hughes as "desperate housewives" who sneak out to watch the Chippendales (male strippers) for post-9 o'clock thrills. "I wouldn't even mention it," she said, "except that Ruth Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor saw...

In Afghanistan, comedians joke their way to civic renewal In a country that had been stung by violent regimes, humor has long been a trusted coping mechanism. By Lane Hartill, Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor KHOST, AFGHANISTAN - Mubariz Bidar would give Robin Williams a run for his money. He's an Afghan comic who has this city - once ruled by severe Taliban - howling at their former oppressors. His spot-on impressions of everyone from a Taliban soldier to an Afghan drug addict would have even Mullah Omar giggling into his turban. At a recent impromptu performance, Mubariz wraps...

The Bush administration expects to focus much of its attention in a second term on promoting a political transformation of the Arab Middle East. But it may also have to spend some time on a parallel problem: preventing the unraveling of the democratic change the United States successfully nurtured a generation ago. As Ronald Reagan began his second term 20 years ago, the United States was struggling to foster democracy in Latin America. Amid deep skepticism in Washington, Reagan's team promoted imperfect elections in Central America while trying to train the feckless army of El Salvador to defeat insurgents. Meanwhile,...

Address given at Midwestern Seminary, Kansas City. September 6, 2000 The Sin of Silence A Defining Moment It is a joy to be with you here today in a place where God has done great things, in a place where, once again, you stand for the truth of God’s Word, for the verbal inspiration of Scripture, for the inerrancy of that which God has written from the first chapter of the book of Genesis to the 22nd chapter of the book of Revelation, and I applaud you for that stand, and I stand with you in that faith. And on...

Republican RiotatAn Evening of Stand-up Comedy Starring Fox News Columnist Julia Gorin andNew York Post Columnist Robert George So a Jewish Republican and a black Republican walk into a cabaret… With New York the designated host city of the impending 2004 Republican Convention, it was only a matter of time. The Republican Revolution, at once dreaded and celebrated, has hit the New York stage. WHAT: Stand-up Comedy with a conservative bent WHEN: Saturday, November 8th at 5:30 pm (Seating starts at 5:00.) WHERE: Don’t Tell Mama Cabaret, 343 W. 46th St., between 8th & 9th Aves (All major subways nearby at 42nd St., Times Square: N/R,...

. . . When is Enough Enough? . . . For those who haven't been paying attention, HR25 was introduced in the US Senate by Saxby Chambliss this week. John Linder made an appearance on the Neal Boortz show about two weeks ago promoting the National Retail Sales Tax. John Linder said the bill has the support of Congress, it has the support of Vice President Cheney and it has the support of the White House. The problem with the bill right now, according to John Linder, is that not enough people know about the bill to make a difference....

America Stand Up and Operation Support our Troops, along with several other organizations are promoting a Nationwide "National Support our Troops Day" We are encouraging all Americans to Stand Up on April 26th for our Troops, Our President and Our Freedom. For more information go to ( www.americastandup.com ) if you will be joining us on April 26th please let us know and we will post it on our website. Thanks to all of you and to Free Republic for Supporting our Troops.