Free Republic

(IsraelNN.com) In the latest in a recent series of increased American assistance efforts for Arab and Muslim states, U.S. President Barack Obama has allocated an additional $150 million to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The regimes leading Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates and even Saudi Arabia have all benefited from recent American policy shifts. (cut) Egypt received $310 million in supplemental appropriations from the U.S. House of Representatives, currently controlled by Obama's Democratic party. At the same time, 2009 State Department funding for the promotion of democratic initiatives in Egypt was cut from $50 million to $20...

What would you do if you opened up your cell phone bill to face a dizzying five-digit charge? You might do well to follow Mythbuster Adam Savage's lead. When the host of the Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters" learned he had rung up $11,000 in charges from AT&T while in Canada, he headed straight for Twitter. The culprit, he tweeted, was the USB modem plugged into his laptop that was running on a wireless plan suitable for the U.S., but not for Canada. "AT&T is attempting to charge me 11k for a few hours of web surfing in Canada. Pls RT!," he...

America is speaking out, but will the government listen? In a Rasmussen Poll released today, only 19% of US voters feel that the unread bill that passed the house on Friday will help the economy. Guess the people aren't drinking the Presidential Kool-aid about the bill producing jobs because 42% feel the Cap-and-Tax bill will hurt the economy. In fact the only ones who support, believe in the global warming measures are those who Identify themselves as democrats. The force feeding of Cap and Trade may be having an effect on the Presidents ratings, because Rasmussen also reports Obama's approval...

Am I the only person in the world not moved by or concerned with the death of Michael Jackson? Like all bereavements my heart goes out to his family and close friends. But — a “genius”? “The greatest entertainer of all time”? Why am I writing this article at all? I believe it is important, especially for the young, to understand the true meaning of greatness and to appreciate the real essence of “genius.” This may sound like a sacrilege but, as I write, millions of youngsters are breakdancing to Jackson tunes and evidently thinking this is the be-all and...

The top U.S. military commander in Iraq says that Iran still supports and trains militants who carry out attacks _ mostly with mortars and sophisticated roadside bombs _ inside Iraq. Gen. Ray Odierno says the attacks have been reduced but are still a problem. He spoke on Tuesday at his base outside of Baghdad, as Iraqi forces took control of security in the Iraqi capital and other urban areas. June 30 was the deadline for American troops to pull out of Iraqi cities under a U.S.-Iraqi security pact. The pullout was completed on Monday. Odiero says Tehran is "still supporting,...

When the Sharia Courts in the UK were first announced anyone who can see past the day that they are in knew that this would lead to nothing but more demands and trouble. In a followup to the "85 Sharia Courts in UK, Says Report" story we learn what the UK Sharia Courts are calling for.

In the '80s, it was the politics of dancing. In the '90s, the politics of caring. Today, in bailout nation, we have the politics of driving. The Volvo-driving liberal and the redneck in a Chevy pickup are long-held stereotypes. But a map of car ownership - produced by R.L. Polk & Co. - overlaid on the electoral map reveals the surprising extent to which how we vote corresponds with what we drive. Blue-staters on each coast, from Los Angeles to Seattle and from Boston to the District, are the most likely to drive foreign cars. Domestic brands have their highest...

Obama blasted McCain for his desire to tax health insurance benefits. Now, he wants to do the same thing. Obama said in 2008, "John McCain's health care plan "leaves you on your own to pay McCain’s health insurance tax." It was a horrible tax when McCain wanted it, but now its another urgent crisis to be met by Obama's brilliance. This exclusion is your biggest tax benefit. There are billions in government revenue waiting to be stripped from American pockets. Obama's latest effort is to be "fairer and more equitable" for everyone in order to fund "free" national healthcare for...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Unemployment rates rose in all the largest U.S. metropolitan areas for the fifth straight month in May. The Labor Department says jobless rates in May rose from a year earlier in all 372 metropolitan area it tracks. The unemployment rate in Kokomo, Ind., jumped to 18.8 percent, up 11.7 percentage points from a year ago, the largest increase of all metro areas. The second-highest jump occurred in Indiana's Elkhart-Goshen. Its rate jumped to 17.5 percent, up 11.4 percentage points from a year earlier.

Featured Term (selected at random):   VOW A free, deliberate promise made to God to do something that is good and that is more pelasing to God than its ommission would be. The one vowing must realize that a special sin is committed by violating the promise. A vow binds under pain of sin (grave or slight) according to the intention of the one taking the vow. If one vows with regard to grave matter, one is presumed to intend to bind oneself under pain of serious sin. Vows enhance the moral value of human actions on several counts. They...

MAKE NO MISTAKE:"CAP-AND-TRADE" IS A TAXThe Hidden Costs: Obama's Energy Scheme Means Higher Prices, Fewer Jobs______________________________________________________________________   Obama: "[The bill is] paid for by the polluters who currently emit dangerous carbon emissions." (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Energy Legislation, The White House, 6/25/09) THE TRUTH: SO-CALLED "CAP-AND-TRADE" SCHEME A HARD-HITTING TAX ON ALL AMERICANS CBO Says National Energy Tax Will Hit Consumers, Not Corporate Profits. "Under a cap-and-trade program, firms would not ultimately bear most of the costs of the allowances but instead would pass them along to their customers in the form of higher prices. Such price increases would stem from the...

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Health experts are warning parents against holding "swine flu parties" in the hope of infecting their children with the H1N1 virus. Talk of swine flu parties has emerged on Internet forums. The idea is that exposing a child to the H1N1 virus while it remains relatively mild will give the child immunity if the virus returns in a more virulent form later on. The idea is an extension of chicken pox and measles parties that were once a popular way of exposing children to those diseases so that they might acquire resistance to subsequent infections. But...

And how will this bill affect you? It has regulations on every single aspect of your daily life. There are light bulb restrictions (no more than 60 watts in your candelabra); in fact there's a whole section that deals with lamps. If you decide to build a new home, it must meet new and specific energy requirements. If you decide to sell your existing home, a federal inspector must inspect your home, determine it's energy rating, and if your home is found to be unacceptable then you must retrofit and make changes before you will be able to sell. it.

July 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., I will be joining other concerned Ventura County citizens on the sidewalks lining the Ventura County Government Center to send a message to Sacramento and Washington. We, too, want the freedom our Founding Fathers fought for. After the election, and during the first 100 days of the Obama administration, I realized there were some very dramatic changes being made to my country. Creeping socialism, loss of personal rights, a government grab for my pocketbook — all were adding to a sense of dread I couldn’t shake. I wondered whether anyone shared my...

Michael Jackson is Alive !!!! The man who died June 25 looked like him, spoke like him and in fact doubled for him many times when Michael did not want to be seen. But it was not Michael. Michael is alive and well and happier than ever. The plot was 10 years in the making but it had to be done. Michael could not go on hampered with past debt , law suits , contracts etc. The Buisness Entity known as Michael Jackson had to die. to free Michael the artist to go on living..

LONDON (Reuters) – Quiet please -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth is preparing to have her swans counted. Buckingham Palace has announced that the annual Swan Upping, a tradition dating back to the 12th century which involves a census of the swan population on the River Thames, will be conducted by the queen's official Swan Marker from July 20-24.

However, GM has other ideas as it tells its dealers not to spread the good news. Seems as though the corporate chieftains can't stand the thought of someone else getting any credit: "But at least for now, GM has asked Saturn not to trumpet the Penske connection -- even though some dealers think it is the biggest thing the brand has going for it -- lest it overshadow the Saturn brand name. The deal may not be sealed until late in the third quarter, Ms. McGill said.".....

RABAT -- If you want an antidote to the photographs of police officers beating demonstrators and girls dying on the streets of the Iranian capital, take a drive through the streets of the Moroccan capital. You might see demonstrators, but not under attack: On the day I visited, a group of people politely waving signs stood outside the parliament. You might see girls, but they will not be sniper targets... Welcome to the kingdom of Morocco, a place which, in the light of the past two week's events in Iran, merits a few minutes of reflection. Unlike Turkey, Morocco is...

"No malpractice report required as attorney is on court ordered inactive status." rest of report at link

NEW YORK STATE government is not working. This has been true for some time. But the paralysis and confusion that has overtaken the capital demonstrates the need to confront this dysfunction directly and take decisive steps to solve it once and for all. That’s why I’m calling on Albany to convene a state constitutional convention. This is not a partisan criticism. There is enough blame for all to share. Recently, though, the situation in our state has gone from bad to worse. There are more New Yorkers unemployed than at any time in 33 years, and the poverty rate is...