Free Republic

• South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford: Strong conservative credentials, would be great for outreach to Mr. McCain's conservative critics. • Florida Gov. Charlie Crist: Popular governor who helped deliver Florida in the primary, could help deliver it in the general election. • Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas: Provides a conservative-leaning female face to round out the ticket. • Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: Moderate Republican who was an early supporter of Mr. McCain's, could help deliver his swing state in the general election. • Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal: Rising star among Republicans, he has many already thinking president. • Rep....

With Romney's pull-out (suspension, anyway), and barring huge unforeseen events, the GOP Pres nomination will go to McCain. I didn't see any prior threads devoted to discussing a range of VP options. (I did see some suggesting particular people, like Condi Rice.) As I see it, McCain SHOULD want to address three factors with his VP pick, although the 3d is far behind the first 2: 1. Ideological Balance. Someone to McCain's right on those issues where McCain is left, such as Amnesty, Gore-Bal Warming, Judges. 2. Relative Youth. McCain's age is a factor, making his VP pick more important...

What would you say if I told you that there is an American business that drops metric tons of toxic waste on your country and in your homes every day? I'm not talking about chemical waste or nuclear waste but toxins far more lethal - the byproducts of what's called entertainment, which are destroying the social environment. I refer to Hollywood, whose primary products are sex, violence, perversion, nihilism, attacks on religion and a thoroughgoing anti-family ethic. They are produced both for domestic consumption and export. It wasn't always so. As fans of old movies can attest, in the 1930s...

Scores of Boston-area hookers are using a major Internet site popular with soccer moms, apartment seekers and job hunters to post hundreds of daily pornographic ads for unbridled sex romps that can be set up within minutes. A two-week Herald investigation of free “erotic services” ads on the craigslist.org Web site uncovered prostitutes shacked up in hotels, operating from Spartan apartments rented by pimps or willing to meet for “car dates” in parking lots. Fees ranged from $50 to $250. “Craigslist has made it much easier for women to engage in this sort of business,” said Boston police Detective Sgt....

The Houston Police Department's Vice Squad is putting together plans to start raiding dozens of the city's sexually oriented businesses. That crackdown, 11 News has learned, could begin within weeks. Owners of more than 120 topless clubs, modeling studios and adults bookstores in Houston will soon receive a two-page letter from the city's Legal Department. The letter says the businesses are in violation of the city's sexually oriented business ordinance; too close to neighborhoods, schools or parks. The City of Houston has spent more than $1.3 million in court costs over the last decade fighting to enforce this ordinance. Now,...

Rudy Giuliani is hardly the presidential candidate of the religious right. But he sure looks like the candidate of the politically incorrect. Just consider where he's getting his money. Underreported from the first fund-raising tallies: Giuliani is by far the most popular figure in the gambling and casino industry. He's raised $94,900 from bookies of all stripes so far -- twice as much as anyone else.

Nigeria: He Abused His Office - ObjDaily Champion (Lagos) September 13, 2006 Posted to the web September 13, 2006 David Idonor Abuja PRESIDENT Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday rose in stout defence of his decision to send the report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which investigated Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the National Assembly, insisting that the V-P abused his office. In a press statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, Obasanjo advised Atiku to "address pertinent issues at hand, rather than alleging it was a case of political persecution". The...

KABUL - The Afghan government's move to reactivate the Department of Vice and Virtue has set alarm bells ringing among sections of the international community. Under the Taliban, a full-fledged ministry was responsible for formulating some of its most contentious laws. The Taliban's tal-Amr bi al-ma'ruf wa al-Nahi 'an al-Munkir or Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice was responsible for implementing a wide range of codes governing public behavior, including bans on activities ranging from homosexuality and apparently innocent pastimes such as kite-flying and music to the absurd, including on women showing their ankles, as...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Vice President Dick Cheney spoke to approximately 3,200 Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1 Sailors, Marines and family members here May 23. While aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), where the event was hosted, Cheney thanked the ESG 1 service members for their hard work in supporting the war on terror and providing humanitarian aid to Pakistan after an October 2005 earthquake there killed more than 70,000 people. "This operation would not have been possible without the effort of ESG 1," said Cheney. "Thank you for your exemplary work in this great time of need." Rear Adm....

Rush Talks with Vice President CheneyMay 16, 2006 BEGIN TRANSCRIPT RUSH: And once again, we are thrilled and honored to have with us the vice president of the United States, Dick Cheney. Mr. Vice President, welcome back. As always, great to have you here. THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, good afternoon, Rush. RUSH: All right, question: Is the president -- are you and the president, the administration -- aware of the dissatisfaction on the whole issue of illegal immigration that exists, not just within the Republican base but within the country at large? THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes we are, Rush. In...

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A proposed law to curb prostitution in the U.S. capital has some homosexual activists worried that the profiling would unfairly target transgendered people. A coalition of 22 homosexual rights groups has signed a letter of protest against the proposed Omnibus Public Safety Act of 2005, which would allow police to establish “Prostitution Free Zones” in public areas. The group warns it “will increase harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.” Program coordinator Darby Hickey, from the homosexual rights group Different Avenues, complained that the program would unfairly target transgendered people. “There’s widespread profiling...

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2006 – An enthusiastic crowd of about 1,000 airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines and civilians gave Vice President Dick Cheney a Lowcountry welcome as he traveled to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., today to thank them for their support in the war on terror. Vice President Dick Cheney thanks servicemembers at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and vows that the United States will see the war on terror through to success. Photo by Master Sgt. Mike Buytas, USAF  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Cheney visited "Team Charleston," home of the 437th Airlift Wing, to praise the...

Site requires membership to pull up story but here is excerpt... Grandson Wants Russian Authorities to Investigate Stalin’s Death Joseph Stalin’s great-grandson has appealed to the Russian authorities with a request to investigate the circumstances of his great-grandfather’s death, news agencies reported Thursday. “When Stalin was disposed of, Khrushchev, who imagined himself to be a statesman, was able to come to power. His so called activities were nothing but a betrayal of the interests of the state that he headed,” Jacob Jugashvili said in a statement. The betrayal committed in the Kremlin should be judged in the Kremlin, too, he...

Clooney film faces censorship (But You Know The New York Slimes...) by Julia Wheeler The film which won George Clooney an Oscar may be banned in one of the countries where it was shot because of political sensitivities. Syriana was partly filmed in the United Arab Emirates. The authorities there are still deciding whether the film, which is a political thriller, will be shown.

DALLAS, Texas (Army News Service, March 7, 2006) – More than 260 troops from the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force were treated to a special ‘welcome home’ from Gen. Richard A. Cody, vice chief of staff of the Army March 4. Cody joined airport staff and volunteers from the “Welcome Home a Hero” program at the airport to greet the service members. “America is behind you,” Cody said in an address to the troops. “I know how important that it is for you to know, and you are about to see exactly what I mean here at Dallas/Fort Worth.”...

Bloggers Battle Over Cheney Misfire (But You Know The New York Slimes) By Melissa McNamara -snip- The Kenedy County Sheriff's Department has closed its investigation into Cheney's accidental shooting of hunting pal Harry Whittington and issued a report that largely supports the vice president's account of the weekend's events. But that hasn't stopped the shooting in cyberspace, where liberal bloggers were particularly riled up over the role alcohol might have played in the mishap. Many bloggers on the left also smelled a cover up, while many right-leaning bloggers said it was all much ado about nothing.

Cheney accident not unusual (But you know The New York Slimes By REAVIS WORTHAM "Ultimately, I am the guy who pulled the trigger and fired the round that hit Harry," said Vice President Dick Cheney. -snip- "It's bad, all right," I said. "But unfortunately it isn't uncommon for people to be hit while hunting quail or dove. Hunting is dangerous."

DNR seeks input on deer hunting (But You Know The New York Slimes) Realigning deer-hunting zones and expanding otter trapping are two topics the DNR wants to discuss with hunters at this year's public-input meetings Tuesday through March 9.

CAMP VICTORY, Iraq, Feb. 20, 2006 – It was a day for some troops serving in Iraq to remember. Some were re-enlisting, some received Purple Heart Medals and other troops were being awarded combat infantryman, medical and action badges. The day meant even more to the soldiers because the presenter was Gen. Richard A. Cody, the Army's vice chief of staff. Gen. Richard A. Cody, vice chief of staff for the U.S. Army, recites the oath of enlistment to soldiers of 1st Battalion, 327th Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, during a reenlistment ceremony last week. Cody visited troops at various...

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Vice President Dick Cheney awarded medals for valor in combat to two Army aviators and two infantrymen during a visit with the Combined Joint Task Force-76 troops Dec. 19. Cheney awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor to Staff Sgt. Jonathan Brooks and Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Holland, both infantrymen assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry (Airborne), for their actions in combat May 30. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Guy Betts, a pilot from Company B, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, received the Air Medal with Valor for engaging the enemy during a medical evacuation mission June...