Free Republic

I know this is old news, but after this past election I became convinced that there needs to be some requirements needed by an individual before being allowed to vote. A high school diploma or equivalency for one. Another might be the person should not be currently on welfare. They should also speak English and pass a simple common-knowledge quiz on American history and a few basic questions about the current political landscape. Knowing who controls the House and Senate would be one. Knowing who your 2 U.S. Senators are would be another. But people also tell me that is...

GIVEN that is was designed to be the world’s cheapest car, should it matter whether the Tata Nano is any fun to drive? After all, base models start in India at $2,200 including taxes and fees — less than a quarter of the sticker price of the least expensive new cars in the United States. snip The rear wheels could even be coaxed into a sports car-style slide. I found the Nano hugely entertaining, snip Cheap though it is, I did not find the Nano to be so cheap that it squeaked. Nor did I hear any rattles on the...

Leo Tolstoy, wordy fellow that he was, used a lot of ink. He was also on the frugal side, eventually renouncing his fabulous inheritance, trying to free his serfs and opting to stay in his kid sister’s convent. So you’ve got to wonder, if the Russian novelist had a home office, what kind of ink-jet printer would he use? It’s a question worthy of a great thinker’s consideration. After all, depending on which system you choose, the cost of printing a black-and-white page can range from two to 14 cents. Whether you’re printing a 1,400-page novel or your favorite borscht...

I know this is going to sound crazy, but IÂ’ve been trying to get in touch with Jon and Kate Gosselin from the Jon and Kate plus Eight program on TLC. I have never written so much as a fan letter to anyone although I have interviewed a few celebrities in my magazine writing days. This has absolutely nothing to do with fan mail or interviewing them. I have a strong desire to contact them and say: WAKE UP!BackgroundI rarely watch television. My 13-year-old daughter liked this program because she loves babies and young children. The children are adorable and...

THRILLER TRIBUTE. Some 1,400 Cebu inmates will pay their last respects to the late Michael Jackson with a prayer before performing a routine of his hit song "Thriller." On Saturday afternoon, more than 1,400 orange-clad Cebu inmates who gained worldwide attention for an impressive “Thriller" performance on YouTube will pay their last respects to the late King of Pop. “Everyone’s sad," Byron Garcia, provincial security consultant of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. “Malaki talaga si Michael Jackson sa programa namin. [Michael Jackson really played a big part in our program]," Garcia...

<p>American Electric Power Co. (AEP) and Southern Co. (SO) are pulling out of Futuregen, a U.S. government-backed project to capture and store the greenhouse- gas emissions from a coal-fired power plant, the companies' top executives said Thursday.</p> <p>The companies, two of the biggest coal-burning utilities in the U.S., are exiting the Futuregen Alliance just weeks after it won renewed support from the federal government. The Obama administration earlier this month all but guaranteed almost $1.1 billion for the project, to be based in Mattoon, Ill., reviving a project that had suffered a major setback in early 2008 when the Bush administration backed out of funding plans after costs almost doubled. The companies' departure from the alliance was reported earlier by Bloomberg News.</p>

The goods news is that many feel 'cap and trade' doesn't have a chance in the Senate; kinda like last June when most pundits said Obama didn't have a chance to win the White House.The Lesson: Don't assume anything! Be pro-active 24/7.Your senators need to know that you are not concerned about global warming, nor should he/she be worried. Educate them so they understand you do not want to pay taxes, nor have the economy disrupted by massive government intervention, just because temperatures go up and down naturally, like they have for eons.We need to make sure we do not...

While patriotism was evident Friday night, many citizens, gathered at Wes Point Park in downtown Willoughby, questioned the government's current role. About 200 people filled the park and voiced their opinions, rallying for the nation, constitution and limited government. "I'm here for the constitution," said Tracy Bunner of Willowick, while holding a sign that read 'If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.' Tim Logan, left, of Wickliffe and Kathy Flanagan of Mentor listen to speakers during the Lake County American Heritage Club TEA Party Friday at Wes Point Park in Willoughby. "I feel like our rights have been violated,...

The Overshadowing of God’s Personal Deliverance ". . . I am with you to deliver you,’ says the Lord" —Jeremiah 1:8 God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally— ". . . your life shall be as a prize to you . . ." (Jeremiah 39:18  ). That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are to be a matter of indifference to us, and our hold on these things should be very loose. If this is not the case, we will have panic, heartache,...

Iran's hardline president lashed out anew at the United States and President Barack Obama on Saturday, accusing him of interference and suggesting that Washington's stance on Iran's postelection turmoil could imperil Obama's aim of improving relations. "We are surprised at Mr. Obama," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in remarks to judiciary officials broadcast on state television. "Didn't he say that he was after change? Why did he interfere?"

Hours after the House passed landmark legislation meant to curb greenhouse gas emissions and create an energy-efficient economy, President Barack Obama on Saturday urged senators to show courage and follow suit. The sharply debated bill's fate is unclear in the Senate, and Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address to ratchet up pressure on the 100-seat chamber. "My call to every senator, as well as to every American, is this," he said. "We cannot be afraid of the future. And we must not be prisoners of the past. Don't believe the misinformation out there that suggests there is somehow...

Jonah Goldberg's book "Liberal Fascism" has a fairly comprehensive section in it about Hitler's hatred and subversion of Christianity in Germany while he was in power. This is important because the Left has tried - with great success - to lump Hitler, Fascism, anti-Semites and Christianity together as part of a "right wing" Nazi "package." This could not be further from the truth, but it continues to work, as when the socialist, anti-Christian, anti-Semite nut and killer von Brunn was labelled "right wing." Jonah has excerpted part of his book dealing with Hitler's plans to destroy Christianity.

<p>U.S. agents trying to stop contraband, arms and drug smuggling at the port of Los Angeles will soon get a new partner in their decades-old battle - an officer from Mexico.</p> <p>The move is part of a larger effort at some of the nation's largest and busiest seaports to enlist officers from foreign countries. U.S. officials have invited officials from Argentina, Colombia and Mexico to join their anti-smuggling crackdowns.</p>

A jilted Long Island woman was arrested and charged after police say she broke into her estranged husband's waterfront mansion and attempted to start a fire. Nassau County police say Esther Hershko, 49, was arrested early Wednesday after she illegally entered her husband's Hewlett Bay Park home and poured charcoal lighter fluid throughout the house while 5 people slept inside.

Michael Jackson’s shtick was simply a more sophisticated, well financed variation on the molester with an ice cream truck. When after paying millions to his young accuser, Jordy Chandler, Jackson was later found to have gay porn producer Marc Schaffel, an un-indicted co-conspirator in Jackson’s 2005 child molestation trial, as his PERSONAL VIDEOGRAPHER and close pal on the very private grounds of Neverland Ranch.

Just when I thought that those in Congress responsible for the collapse of the housing market had diverted their attention to the destruction of other sectors of our free market economy (health care and energy), up pops Barney Frank and his trusty sidekick, Anthony Weiner. Turns out, they are once again pressuring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to relax recently tightened standards on loans for new condominiums. That is right folks, socialist hot dogs, Frank and Weiner, are at it again. According to the Wall Street Journal (a publication that can still be called a newspaper), the two democrat lawmakers...

The hot debate about climate change has now found expression in an actual piece of legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES). If a vote on the bill occurs, what Congress will in fact be weighing is the implementation of carbon rationing in the United States. The evidence is clear that the regulatory regime under consideration would be contrary to the public interest. Good economic sense should trump ACES. The bill represents a terrible deal for American taxpayers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ACES is projected to impose costs averaging about $1,100 each year on...

Reportedly, Senator John McCain wants Predators to provide with uncensored Wi-Fi coverage to the people of Iran. I don't know if this is even technically possible, but its so preposterous and fantastically cool that I love the idea: "During the Cold War, we provided the Polish people and dissidents with printing presses. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are the modern-day printing presses. They are the way to spread information and keep the hope of freedom alive amongst the Iranian people." Of course, the Predators—or whatever other method—could be taken down with missiles or fighter planes, but the basic idea is spot...

Caution: political-party purists may be miffed by this article; but I call ‘em like I see ‘em. Adolf Hitler was a poor student of mathematics, but he got the hang of it sufficiently to figure how to take over the German government. A “majority,” Hitler reasoned, consisted of 51 per cent of the votes necessary to control 51 per cent of the seats in the legislature – - 26 per cent of those voting, in other words. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans now find themselves victims of the same political calculation. Polls indicate that the liberal Democrats now in charge...

MRS. MADOFF SUFFERS $UITE REVENGE--agreed to surrender more than $80M in cash and property to cover billions looted by her scheming hubby....the jet-setters will have to cough up more than $46M in securities and $13M in cash---a $7M Montauk, LI beachfront home, a $7.5M Palm Beach property, tens of millions in loans to family members and a 55-foot yacht. Feds let her have $2.5M they couldn't tie directly to the $65B mega-fraud. But the agreement offers no protection from collection efforts, including bankruptcy trustees seeking funds for wiped-out investors. US Marshals will "facilitate the expeditious disposition of personal property" including...