Free Republic

Here's the first teaser image

<p>In her new book, according to the Associated Press, Sarah Palin alleges that the McCain campaign gave her a $500,000 bill to pay for the campaign vetting her for the VP nod. She also makes the charge that the McCain camp said they would have paid all the bills had they won, but since they lost, the bills were her responsibility.</p>

I like to make a big batch of this and have it for lunch during the week, or as a snack with crackers.

Boy I sure am glad I went drinking tonight. That is all.

Showing that the media sees every act by the Obamas as an historic achievement, at the end of Sunday’s Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer was amazed by the romping of First Lady Michelle Obama: “Michelle Obama took it to another level as she set records as the first First Lady to run barefoot across the White House lawn. She also became the first to jump rope there.”Schieffer began his pointless rambling by looking at how past first ladies, all wives of Democratic presidents, shaped the position: There was a time when presidential wives were seen on occasion but almost...

Hi, First day back to school for my two younger sisters. I read the speech. Obama invokes the word "I" 56 times!!!! I am sending my 14 year old sister to school with her Ipod and my 10 year old sister has no interest in anything Obama has to say, so I imagine she will be busy talking with the girls seated next to her. Elizabeth Grace San Diego

Police: Wanted reality TV star found dead Jenkins was accused of killing ex-wife before fleeing to Canada VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A reality show contestant wanted for murder in the gruesome death and mutilation of his ex-wife was found dead Sunday of an apparent suicide after hanging himself in a secluded Canadian motel, authorities said. Sgt. Duncan Pound of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police border integrity unit says police responded to a call about a dead person in Hope, east of Vancouver, and then called investigators who were part of the massive manhunt for Jenkins. The real estate developer and...

Many GOP insiders, Beltway mavens, and East Coast conservatives have held up Mitt Romney as the presumptive 2012 GOP presidential nominee and, indeed, he appears to be quietly laying the groundwork for another presidential run. However, with all of the Tea Parties, town meetings, and ObamaCare protests, he has been strangely silent. This is exceedingly odd behavior for a man who would be president. What could he be thinking? Well, I am not a mind reader, but I would guess that his silence is motivated by two concerns. First, he wants to keep his powder dry for 2012. He does...

POLITICO Breaking News: ----------------------------------------------------- Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) has told the Hartford Courant that he has early-stage prostate cancer. For more information...http://www.politico.com

What kind of beer would you order and what would you talk about/ask him?

Q: Do Mormons believe in the Trinity? A: Yes, Mormons believe in the reality and divinity of the trinity of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost; however, Mormons believe that the trinity is composed of three separate and distinct beings with individual bodies. As seen in Matthew 3:16-17 the Son “was baptized” and “went straightway out of the water…and he saw the Spirit…descending like a dove…And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Thus the three divine beings that constitute the trinity are separate beings, yet one in purpose.

The older brother of the man who allegedly shot and killed an undercover Houston police officer last week is wanted in a gang-related slaying last year of a South Carolina man, authorities said. Juan Pedroza Carrillo, 40, was one of three men linked to the November 2 fatal shooting of Jorge Alberto Vindel Ramos, 51, in Lexington County, S.C., authorities said. Ramos was shot in the head and chest with a .380 semi-automatic pistol as he was working on his car outside his home, officials said. While the motive for the killing remains under investigation, federal immigration officials confirmed that...

Thought I'd give everyone an update.

Below are excerpts of e-mails, obtained by The State newspaper in December, between Gov. Mark Sanford's personal e-mail account and Maria, a woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The State has removed the woman's full name and other personal details, including her address, e-mail address and children's names. McClatchy special correspondent Angeles Mase visited the 14-story apartment building in Buenos Aires Wednesday where the woman lives, according to the emails, which included her address. The woman at the address answered to the name in the emails and, at first, agreed to speak to a visitor, but she declined after the visitor...

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is being sued for millions of pounds by a former lover who claims she was dumped without warning after nearly eight years. Toni Layton, 56, who married the nine-times Wimbledon champion in an official wedding ceremony, is demanding a share of four multi-million dollar homes bought during their time together. Her lawsuit extends to the 'emotional, mental and physical trauma' she suffered after being 'removed' from 52-year-old Navratilova's life a year ago. Layton said: 'Martina has got a fight on her hands. Without any warning, my life came crashing down around me. I was kicked out...

The Daily Beast's Meghan McCain on being the newest poster girl for a celebrity photo campaign to overturn California's ban on gay marriage—and why more Republicans should follow her lead. I was so honored to be asked to pose for the NOH8 campaign. I am a proud member of the Republican Party and a proud supporter of marriage equality. I especially love the incorporation of the little elephant with his tusks duct-taped in the photograph. Marriage equality is not just a Democrat or Republican issue, it is a human one.

Which is worse? Network execs too scared to change a successful formula. Or network execs too willing to turn everything on its head. It's clear that Conan's version of NBC's cash cow The Tonight Show is just more of the same old/same old. And that's how O'Brien's longtime exec producer Jeff Ross and boss Jeff Zucker want it. But while they were golfing together this weekend in a foursome at Riviera Country Club (Ross, who just moved out here, is the better player, while Zucker has a 14 handicap and can barely keep up), they both worried how to prevent...

Reclusive author J.D. Salinger took legal action today over what he says is a copycat of his seminal work, The Catcher in the Rye, the Associated Press reports. Salinger’s lawyers filed suit in Manhattan federal court to recall the book 60 Years Later, thought to be a Catcher sequel by pseudonymous writer John David California. Salinger’s lawyers maintain that he retains sole rights to the Holden Caulfied character, and that in regards to any sequels, Salinger has “decidedly chosen not to exercise that right.”

Finally, a small victory in our battle against CNN, and their abuse of the DMCA take down procedures.Today we received the following message from YouTube: In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we’ve completed processing your counter-notification regarding your video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd2tg8gxCDU . This content has been restored and your account will not be penalized.Sincerely,Harry The YouTube Team Below is the clip that CNN fraudulently forced YouTube to take down, in a vain attempt to silence us. Very big thanks goes out to our attorneys at EFF and David Adler! We also want to thank Ben Sheffner, Patterico, Michelle Malkin...

Recently, a friend of mine asked me what I thought about the chances of gay marriage becoming the norm in this country. Well, the state of Maine just signed the same-sex marriage bill into law, making it the fifth of fifty to do so as of this date. In addition, New Hampshire's legislature just voted to legalize gay nuptials and is awaiting the governor's signature. Meanwhile, the City Council of the District of Columbia took a preliminary step, voting 12 to 1, to recognize marriages between gay people certified in other states. Furthermore, similar legislation is pending in other states,...

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appears in the new Terminator film - thanks to technology. An image of Schwarzenegger, who played the killer robot in the 1984 original, was inserted from earlier films because he was too busy to shoot new footage. The 61-year-old's appearance in Terminator Salvation was confirmed after a press screening in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger had said he was pleased by the prospect in case he wanted to "jump over again" into acting.

A new report is raising new questions about Lindsay Lohan's drug use. Despite claims that she's "been eating enough," as Lohan told E! News this week, those that spotted the star on vacation in Hawaii last week say she was nothing but skin and bones. Lohan admits that her recent, quite public breakup with Samantha Ronson has contributed to "a hard month," but she's consistently rebuked accusations of an eating disorder.

He said: "My doctor told me those mysterious new pills were methadone, which is used to wean heroin addicts off dope. Had I known it was methadone, I probably wouldn't have taken it. But as bad as I was back then, I can't even say 100 per cent for sure. “My doctor told me the amount of methadone I'd taken was equivalent to shooting up four bags of heroin. Even when they told me I almost died, it didn't click." The 36-year-old hip-hop star admits his substance abuse addiction had spiralled out of control by then. He added to Vibe...

The New York Times is expected to announce a newsstand price increase for its flagship newspaper early next week as it races to shore up liquidity amid industry-wide falls in advertising revenues and circulation. ... Wholesalers expect the New York Times to increase its price from $1.50 to $2.00 for Monday to Saturday editions and from $5 to $6 on Sundays. A spokeswoman declined to comment. Recent sales figures suggest the price rises could generate an incremental $40m a year, according to one industry source, although price increases have dented circulation at some newspapers. The New York Times has strengthened...

Kelly McGillis, best known for playing teacher to Tom Cruise in "Top Gun," has confirmed long-held rumors that she's a lesbian, according to an interview on the website shewired. "I'm done with the man thing," says McGillis, 51, who is twice married and twice divorced and has two teenage daughters. "I did that, I need to move on in life. It's a part of being true to yourself. That's been a challenge for me." The Daily Mail says McGillis' sexual orientation was Hollywood's worst-kept secret. (Funny, we thought the worst-kept secret was that Jodie Foster was gay. Or John Travolta....

Click the link to read the winners.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's father is taking the 19-year-old father of her grandson to task for not helping to pay for the baby's care. In the issue of Us Weekly magazine to be released Friday, Chuck Heath says Levi Johnston is capitalizing on national interviews but not spending money on Tripp, the nearly 4-month-old son of Johnston and Bristol Palin, the governor's 18-year-old daughter.

Scott Peterson – is now spending 19-hours a day in his 4-by-9 foot death row prison cell in San Quentin. In 2003 he was convicted of killing his wife and unborn child, Laci and Conner. He maintains – he’s the victim. More...

Willie Nelson announced that Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters will no longer be touring with him in Canada. The announcement comes after being booed in Toronto when he tried to explain why he was such a d!ck during a radio interview two days ago. Hopefully now Billy Bob will learn that being an a$$hole gets you cancelled and booed. At least he has acting to fall back on, oh wait, that hasn’t been going to well for him recently either.

The press has made an outlandish deal about Michelle "Guns" Hussein's agenda. She's chosen a Chicagoland hairstylist; she's on the college commencement hot air tour; she's being honored by the fashion industry for that bedspread she wore for her husband's balls after the inauguration. (To be honest, it would have made me sleep on the couch.) Even Politico is on the love fest. La de friggin' da.

WASILLA, Alaska -- Levi Johnston and Bristol Palin, the teenage daughter of Gov. Sarah Palin, have broken off their engagement, he said Wednesday, about 2 1/2 months after the couple had a baby. Johnston, 19, told The Associated Press that he and 18-year-old Bristol Palin mutually decided "a while ago" to end their relationship. He declined to elaborate as he stood outside his family's home in Wasilla, about 40 miles north of Anchorage. He also said some details of the breakup, rumors of which had been swirling on the Internet, were inaccurate. Bristol Palin said in a statement that she...

One of the nice thing about having a glamorous First Family is that it can provide cheap escapist entertainment amid a bleak economy and partisan political rancor. Rumors of Michelle Obama's pregnancy have surely helped lubricate many a cocktail-party conversation in recent days around Washington, DC, where the social scene is rebooting as a new Congress convenes and as Barack Obama's historic inauguration fades into the past. Now the gossip can likewise fuel small talk the rest of the country. WowOWow.com, passing along a rumor from Perez Hilton, notes it thought Michelle Obama was showing a bump back on election...

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger endorsed fellow Republican John McCain for president, but he's not passing up a chance to attend the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. The National Governors Association invited its members, including Schwarzenegger, to attend the swearing-in Tuesday. Schwarzenegger will be joined by his wife, Democrat Maria Shriver, a Kennedy family member who was an early Obama supporter.

At 8 pm, just as pres bush began his farewell speech peotus obama left blair house for the 30 second drive to equinox restaurant on connecticut and I st. Pool is holding outside... DEVELOPING...

<p>WASHINGTON -- Nine Muslim passengers removed from a flight from Washington to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security.</p> <p>AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson called the incident on the New Year's Day flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando, Fla., a misunderstanding, but defended the company's response. He said the airline followed federal rules and did nothing wrong.</p>

BAGHDAD (AFP) – The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at US President George W. Bush has a broken arm and ribs after being struck by Iraqi security agents, his brother told AFP on Tuesday. Durgham Zaidi was unable to say whether his brother Muntazer had sustained the injuries while being overpowered during Sunday's protest against Bush's visit to Baghdad or while in custody later. He said he had been told that his brother was being held by Iraqi forces in the heavily fortified Green Zone compound in central Baghdad where the US embassy and most government offices are housed....

Journalists and photographers at the US news agency the Associated Press (AP) are withholding their bylines to protest management's stance in contract talks, their union said. "Staffers recognize the tough times, but they also understand that quality journalism at AP means attracting and retaining the best employees," Tony Winton, president of the News Media Guild, said in a statement on Tuesday. The Guild said AP reporters and photographers were withholding bylines and personal equipment "in protest over the news agency's proposals that would threaten job security, dramatically raise medical costs, and freeze wages." "They're making it clear that AP's future...

The campaign manager for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s re-election effort is a former top deputy and trusted adviser to Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois, who was arrested on Tuesday amid a sweeping corruption scandal.

Chicago (AP) -- When it comes to her weight, Oprah Winfrey has always been straightforward. The talk show queen continues the honesty, saying in the January issue of "O" magazine out Tuesday that she now weighs 200 pounds and has "fallen off the wagon" when it comes to healthy living.

Looking to buy a semiauto assualt type rifle chambered in either .223 or .308. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Availability of recommended rifle would be a plus, don't want to be put on a waiting list, already have a NJ firearms card to buy rifles and shotguns. Thanks

WASHINGTON – A congressional committee is investigating the circumstances that led to the sex scandal causing the downfall of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and whether the case was politically motivated. The House Financial Services Committee seeks to determine whether federal agents misused their expanded powers under the Patriot Act.

China's disappearing land puts food supplies at risk * 15:45 21 November 2008 by New Scientist staff and Reuters Over a third of China's land is being scoured by erosion that is putting its crops and water supplies at risk, a three-year nationwide survey finds. Soil is being washed and blown away not only in remote rural areas, but near mines, factories and even in cities, according to the country's official Xinhua news agency. The agency is citing a report compiled by China's bio-environment security research team – the largest on soil conservation since the communist party took control of...

We sit in a situation that is beyond scary. We face financial ruin and are barely holding our heads above water. My husband has a decent job, but recently had is wages cut by 40 grand a year. He cannot find a job that will compensate for his loss, I took up a full time job to make ends meet which helps, but we are now so far in the hole we cannot get out. We are behind on our mortgage, maxed out credit cards, and struggling to pay simple bills. We are doing everything in our power to get...

sleeping corgi

A Shaved Butt for Obama? It's been a week now since the nation woke up to a new political reality, and there is still - to put it mildly - a chasm of of mistrust and uncertainty between hunters, shooters and our President-Elect. But this story is a golden opportunity for President-Elect Obama to reach out a tentative hand to the outdoors community in a gesture of conciliation and understanding. From the story: Peru Offers National Hairless Dog to Obamas LIMA, Peru (AP) -- Completely bald and older than the Incas, the Peruvian hairless dog seems like an odd...

The latest British Airways commericial "the aquarium".. The song is "the good life" sung by Julie London ..just one of those things I had to look up..enjoy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBwrmEpikPI

A number of Freepers across the country have been working behind the scenes over the course of the last week in a furious race to try to provide evidence in support of Jack Cashill's thesis which holds that William Ayers was at least a co-author of Dreams from My Father, if not in fact the majority ghost writer of Dreams. Our original goal had been to scan several thousand pages of material into our database, but it turns out that the meticulous digitization of paper materials is an enormously time-consuming undertaking, especially when care must be taken to ensure that...

Hey all! I was listening to Ramon Raquello and his orchestra (and who doesn't?) and just as they were playing "La Cumparsita", the program was interupted by a breaking news story from the Intercontinental Radio News with a bulletin on Mars. "At twenty minutes before eight, central time, Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory, Chicago, Illinois, reports observing several explosions of incandescent gas, occurring at regular intervals on the planet Mars. The spectroscope indicates the gas to be hydrogen and moving towards the earth with enormous velocity. Professor Pierson of the Observatory at Princeton confirms Farrell's observation, and describes...

VANITY - Is it just me or do we have a disproportionate number of newbies posting today?

Check out Hannity and Colmes - Sean is interviewing both Sarah and Piper! Sarah's so proud of her! I think Piper will be running for office - she's a natural like her mom! Very cute...