Free Republic

Why won’t she say it? Because, and I quote, “The political situation in Iran is for the Iranians to work out internally.” Now, based on that statement alone, what’s the painfully obvious follow-up question? Right: Why that principle doesn’t also apply to Honduras. Reliable O-bot Andrea Mitchell never asks, of course, choosing to toss a softball instead about America’s defense of Zelaya to which Rice replies, amazingly, “A coup is a coup.” Well, no — the whole point of the double standard between Honduras and Iran is that a coup isn’t a coup when acknowledging it would force Obama into...

California has begun to issue IOUs to many state vendors as it grows low on cash. The largest state in America as measured by GDP is up against a $24 billion deficit. According to the FT, “Once the US’s richest state, California now has the dubious distinction of having the worst credit rating in the country.” The state could be joined by Michigan, Florida, and New York as those states face similar problems balancing state budgets. The IOU issue has far-reaching consequences. The first of these is that many critical vendors may refuse to take IOUs. Companies that work for...

These firms might be ''too big to fail,'' but your portfolio isn't. The U.S. government may believe that some firms are too big to fail, but does that mean that you should invest in these federally backed hulks? After all, if a company is being inflated with taxpayer dollars, that means it's been deemed important, and if it's important that means eventually its shares will reflect this, right? Not necessarily, says our team of industry observers. In fact they recommend investors flee failing, but subsidized, behemoths in favor of firms that have actually managed their accounts in a smart and...

The year was 1994. Nirvana and Pearl Jam had already begun revolutionizing the way bored teenage angst would forever sound. Something called Snoop Doggy Dogg was frequently seen rolling down the street, while smoking "Indo," sipping on Gin and Juice, and getting paid. Nobody could figure out the plot sequence of Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, and a then-likable Tom Hanks scored his biggest hit with Forrest Gump. Sports were godawful. O.J. Simpson and Al Cowlings interrupted the NBA Finals when they decided to go for a nice slow drive in a white Ford Bronco. The Super Bowl was tarnished by...

7/1/2009 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- One step on May 11 changed the life course of an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron here. Staff Sgt. David Flowers, 28, was deployed with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, when he was wounded by an anti-personnel mine on May 11. "My team was tasked to go out and dispose of a weapons cache that was called in by the Afghanistan National Police," Sergeant Flowers said. "We went out to the location and found a bunch of ordnance." After finding...

AP source: Jackson kin considering LA Coliseum MICHAEL R. BLOOD The Associated Press LOS ANGELES - One site under consideration for a public Michael Jackson memorial is the Los Angeles Coliseum, where the Los Angeles Lakers held their championship celebration last month. A City Hall official not authorized to speak publicly says representatives for the Jackson family have inquired about using the site. The person stresses that talks were "completely preliminary" and a date for the event was not discussed.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So reads the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, which the original 13 states of America passed unanimously on July 4, 1776. It is worth noting that the independence that Congress had in mind when it passed its declaration was not from religion, reason or rectitude, but from Great Britain. More specifically, it was from an “absolute despotism.” Life, liberty and the pursuit of...

American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) is under pressure. This morning is the effective date of a 1 for 20 reverse split. Our closing bell price was $1.16 yesterday, and that would imply a $23.30 share price this morning. Just one problem. The “20-factor” is not even close as the very early trading indications are down by almost one-third and trading around the $15.00 handle in early trading. As part of the annual meeting, holders approved that reverse split. This was something we did not have firm on the calendar for today as an effective or ex-split date, and that...

Rory Holland, the man charged with killing two brothers in Biddeford Tuesday morning, made his initial appearance in York County Superior Court in Alfred this morning. Holland was formally charged with two counts of murder in the killing of Derek Greene, 21, and Gage Greene, 19. He was not asked to enter a plea and was held without bail pending a hearing next week Assistant Attorney General Lisa Marchese said the state will fight to keep Holland held without bail. Holland is being represented by Clifford Strike of the Portland law firm Strike, Goodwin and O'Brien. Strike asked the court...

7/1/2009 - BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Haish Saidqi Girls' School in the Panjshir province in Afghanistan resounded with laughter of children for the first time June 23. Panjshir Governor Haji Bahlol dedicated the school-opening ceremony in honor of Lt. Col. Mark E. Stratton II, the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team commander who was killed May 26 when a suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device against the PRT's convoy. The Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team demonstrated its commitment to education by joining Governor Bahlol, Zulami Saheen, the province's director of education, and other distinguished guests to celebrate the school's grand opening....

The new release as of today from Alice In Chains. This has been my favorite band since I was 14 years old. This harkens back to the days of Dirt in terms of the heavy riffs and the melodic feel. Very cool. I can't wait until they announce their US tour. Enjoy!

Airbus is expected to face calls to ground its worldwide fleet of long-range airliners tomorrow when French accident investigators issue their first account of what caused Air France Flight 447 to crash off Brazil on June 1. It is believed that the accident bureau will report that stormy weather was a factor but faulty speed data and electronics were the main problem in the disaster that killed 228 people. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is likely to be asked why it had never taken action to remedy trouble that was well known with the Airbus 330 and 340...

[Constitution for the United States of America][1] We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Article. I. Section. 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. Section. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen...

 July 1Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, Aux. Bishop, Archdiocese of Chicago; Fr. Frank Phillips, St. John Cantius Church Rebirth of a dying parish

DuPont made a killing in the battle over CFC regulation. Now it’s poised to do it all over again with carbon dioxide. Fourth in a series.

July 2009 sees nearly 6 months since George W Bush entered private life and as we have done in previously monthly threads I have collated photos from the month we are in from previous years. Tonight I will post July 2001 and July 2002 photos and then over the next few days post 2003 and 2004 photos. I have also found some photos from this June which I will also post in the next few days starting with one of them as the photo of the month. Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island

Health reform can reduce the deficit, but not nearly enough to address the country's debt problem. Higher taxes and spending cuts will be needed. FIXING HEALTH CARE Why taxes will need to go up Health reform FAQ: Cutting through the noise Health debate: A little clarity, please Can't afford health care? Barter for it How health reform may help ... or hurt House GOP outlines health care bill NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The promise of health reform is to make care more accessible for everybody -- and to reduce the federal deficit by slowing the growth rate in costs. But...

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2009 – It would be easy to confuse Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with the NATO International Security Assistance Force there. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal commands both organizations. The biggest difference, officials say, is the mission. Operation Enduring Freedom was the U.S.-led operation that toppled the Taliban in 2001. American and coalition servicemembers worked with the Afghan Northern Alliance soon after the terror attack in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Part of Operation Enduring Freedom retains that mission: to find and kill or capture terrorists. Since 2001, servicemembers assigned to Operation Enduring Freedom also have...

VICENZA, Italy, July 1, 2009 – Even as Army Staff Sgt. Conrad Begaye relived the firefight that took the lives of his fellow soldiers, and even as he was awarded the military’s third-highest honor for valor yesterday, his thoughts were on his comrades. Army Staff Sgt. Conrad Begaye stands before fellow soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, during a ceremony in Vicenza, Italy, June 30, 2009. Begaye was awarded the Silver Star for his valorous actions during an enemy ambush Nov. 9, 2007, in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Joseph Sanfilippo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image...

To The Office Of The President Of The United States, Dear Mr. Obama We are the heads of a few of your largest constituents, including Dow, GE and DuPont. This letter represents our sentiments in wishing to express our gratitude for your and Ms. Pelosi’s efforts on our behalf. We thank you, our shareholders thank you, and certainly all of us look forward to contributing to your Presidential Library, once you leave office, if we did not sufficiently contribute already prior to the election. We can appreciate that neither yourself nor your dear friends in Congress have had time to...