Free Republic

The reasons to oppose Obamacare are almost endless, but here are enough of them to give you the perspective you may need. 1. President Obama wanted this bill passed before the August recess. But, his answers to town hall questions demonstrate he hasn’t even thought the issues through and doesn’t have the foggiest idea about how the final bill should shape up. For example, when a student asked him about how private insurers can compete on a level playing field with a government insurer, Obama went into a long discourse about how the level playing field should be maintained. But,...

If you like living in the suburbs, having your own little piece of God's green Earth, and being part of the community schools, churches and civic groups, well, too bad because the "Smart Growth" progressives in Congress and the National Reseach Council have a new report that shows how much better things would be if instead you and your family lived in an urban high rise. According to a news alert from the NRC, the report examines "how suburbanization -- made possible largely due to the prevalence of automobiles and the extensive U.S. highway system -- impacts the number of...

An executive order issued by the Obama administration poses a significant challenge to nonunion contractors, right-to-work advocates and, those groups assert, American taxpayers. Issued in February, it has undergone several months of governmental review and enhancement and it could begin impacting federal contracting policy any day now. Nonunion outfits are weighing their options to oppose it. On February 6, President Barack Obama signed an executive order recommending that federal agencies enter into project labor agreements (PLAs) every time they hire a contractor for a construction project costing at least $25 million. These documents are accords between labor organizations and an...

After nearly a week of incessant post-mortem vacuity, not a single commentator has hit upon the real legacy of the late Kennedy political dynasty. The Kennedys are largely responsible for making African Americans dependent on an alliance with liberal Democrats. The result--highly unstable in a democratic society -- 90% of black voters regularly pull the Democrat lever. The 90% solid black vote tips the balance in favor of Democrats in Missouri, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland. Without these votes, Democrats would simply cease to function as a national party. Without the Kennedys around...

Changes are coming to the Catholic English-speaking world in the form of a new translation of the Mass. The Roman Catholic liturgy, which has been said in English for over 30 years, will undergo a significant revision. English-speaking bishops will vote on final portions of the new translation in November. The translation will bring a new translation of the Mass to the United States, Canada, the U.K., Australia, and the rest of the English-speaking world. The book with the translation, known as the Sacramentary for the past 30 years, will be known again by its original name, the Roman Missal....

He Collects Your Tears Today's Scripture "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book" (Psalm 56:8, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Do you know how important you are to God? He cares so much about every detail of your life. He cares about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In fact, what you are going through is so important to Him that He records every sorrow and collects every tear you've shed. Why would God record your sorrows and collect your tears?...

Shortly after the announcement of Ted Kennedy's death, I had already received several interview requests. I declined them, not wanting to be uncharitable to the man upon his death. Since then, I've seen the need to step up and provide some clarification. The issue is a remarkable 1983 KGB document on Kennedy, which I published in my 2006 book, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism (HarperCollins). The document is a May 14, 1983 memo from KGB head Victor Chebrikov to his boss, the odious Soviet General Secretary Yuri Andropov, designated with the highest classification. It concerns a...

Here is video of a medical doctor, Dr. Jane Orient, turning the tables on President Obama by likening what he is trying to do to Health Care to a doctor who "cuts off a leg because there is a sore on the leg." She was referring to Obama's insinuation that doctors will sometimes refer patients for amputations because there is more money involved. He also previously had suggested doctors remove tonsils in order to make more money. Orient was speaking at the Tucson Tea Party Meeting on August 28, 2009. She said ObamaCare is the "most radical piece of legislation"...

While conservatives level complaints and criticism of President Obama's various policies, an obvious question comes to mind: What do liberals think of him? See for yourself how they see their man in today's "Geeks On Caffeine" cartoon. NOTE: The author of this comic requests that you visit his web site and please refrain from copying the cartoon within this thread. Thanks!!

Report: Cassel could miss 2-4 weeks ESPN.com news services Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel has a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and could miss the Chiefs' season opener and beyond, Yahoo Sports! reported on Monday. Citing a source within the organization, Yahoo Sports! reported Cassel could miss two to four weeks. He was hurt Saturday night when sacked on the third play of a 14-10 preseason loss to Seattle. The Chiefs open the regular season Sept. 13 at Baltimore. They return to practice Monday and are expected to have injury updates on Cassel and others, including wide...

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The cowards at WMAL are continuously reporting the thesis story of Bob McDonnell with no mention of no one allowed to see the thesis of Hillary Clinton or Obama. The cowards at WMAL hung up on my when I demanded why they don't mention this. The news room phone number at WMAL is 202-686-3020 if you want to call in. The talk show number is 202-432-WMAL, toll free 888-630-WMAL.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will effectively phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2012-2014 in favor of compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs. Other countries around the world have passed similar legislation to ban most incandescents. Will some energy be saved? Probably. The problem is this benefit will be more than offset by rampant dissatisfaction with lighting. We are not talking about giving up a small luxury for the greater good. We are talking about compromising light. Light is fundamental. And light is obviously for people, not buildings. The primary objective in the design of any space is...

A Catholic pro-life leader has some scathing words concerning Senator Ted Kennedy's Catholic funeral. Thomas Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, released this statement concerning Senator Kennedy. "We must, as a matter of precept, pray for the salvation of heretical Catholics like Senator Edward Kennedy, but we do not have to praise him, let alone extol him with the full honors of a public Catholic funeral and all the adulation that attends such an event." He adds that while Senator Kennedy called himself Catholic, like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joe Biden, they are actually wolves...

"My Joy . . . Your Joy" "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" —John 15:11 What was the joy that Jesus had? Joy should not be confused with happiness. In fact, it is an insult to Jesus Christ to use the word happiness in connection with Him. The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— ". . . who for the joy that was set before Him...

Shanghai Shares Tumble 6.75% By MARK McDONALD HONG KONG — The Shanghai composite index plunged 6.75 percent on Monday to close out August with a drop of 21.8 percent, the worst performance for the month among the world’s major exchanges. Monday’s fall, coupled with a drop of nearly 3 percent last Friday, has made for “a huge, huge decline,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, chief investment strategist at SJS Markets in Hong Kong. The overall index was down 192.94 points on Monday to finish at 2,667.75, the lowest closing figure in more than three months. Shares on the Shanghai exchange had rocketed...

Myanmar Army Routs Ethnic Chinese Rebels in the North By THOMAS FULLER BANGKOK — The Myanmar military has overwhelmed rebels from an ethnic Chinese minority in the northern reaches of the country, the junta’s second victory over armed opponents in three months. The routing over the weekend of the forces of the small, Chinese-speaking Kokang ethnic group gives Myanmar’s governing generals momentum in their campaign to quell armed opposition before elections and the adoption of a new Constitution next year. Several well-armed groups, notably the Wa and Kachin, still stand in the way of the junta’s goal of complete control...

THE Taliban chief who threatened to slaughter Prince Harry has been assassinated by special forces soldiers. Australian marksmen "took out" Mullah Abdul Karim in a secret mission sanctioned by top brass. It was part of a concerted campaign designed to rid lawless Oruzgan province of hardcore militants. Similar covert operations are believed to have wiped out more than half a dozen senior Taliban leaders. Karim gained notoriety last year by describing Harry, then serving with the Household Cavalry in southern Helmand, as an "important chicken". Threatening to kill the prince - third in line to the throne - he added:...

In the vernacular preferred by most men I know, Obamacare could be called the "Screw-You" plan. Just about every special interest in this Country will make out like bandits, while you and I will be...well yes, I hate to say it, but here goes: we taxpayers will be royally screwed. We pay; they play. The special interests that elected this president are conducting multi-million dollar ad campaigns to seal the deal on Obamacare. Every one of them has had a very cushy seat at the power table where the bill was written, not on C-SPAN as candidate Obama promised, but...

We all experience losses in our lives that hit our emotions in different ways. The loss of family members may create an especially deep wound or, for that matter, it may be a public figure whose death impacts us. For some of us, the events of 9/11 will never be diminished in our minds. I experienced a loss recently that cut into my soul. I am not unfamiliar with loss. Both of my parents are deceased. The loss that hit me even harder was my older brother at the early age of 42. I lost some friends long before their...