Free Republic

As members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate return to Washington, to their cushy retirement programs, choice of non-government controlled health care insurance, cut rate haircuts, manicures and shoeshines, meanwhile expecting Americans to lower their expectations and accept the leavings, along with higher taxes, that are being dished out to them.

Disgraced former Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been privately talking with friends about a possible comeback, and is considering a run for statewide office next year, several sources told The Post. Less than 18 months after he left Albany in a prostitution scandal, Spitzer has held informal discussions in recent weeks about the possibility of making a bid for state comptroller or the US Senate seat currently held by Kirsten Gillibrand, sources said.

During his presidency, Lyndon Johnson notoriously said of an international ally that he was a “sonofabitch, but he’s our sonofabitch.” LBJ, no sentimentalist or stylist, nonetheless often had a way with words. His public attitude might also be ascribed, from time to time, to leaders on both the left and the right when they’re confronted with some of their more radical supporters — even if, in private, they can only shake their heads. Presumably responsible Democratic and liberal leaders found themselves sometimes embarrassed by Code Pink and other protesters who resorted to violence and goofy street-theater tactics to bring attention...

John Kerry has written an op-ed for the Huffington Post comparing the inaction in response to a heating planet to the inaction of President Bush before September 11th. Kerry reaches deep into the bag of global warming hysterics to uncork this piece, saying that the fate of the nation hinges upon the passing of some sort of climate change legislation. It's ridiculously over the top, but we suppose it might get a few supporters all riled up and ready to fight for the bill this fall. Of course, it's so over the top that it might just turn off a...

Former EBay CEO Meg Whitman -- who's been under fire for skipping political debates and reporters' questions -- won't be attending a September Silicon Valley Leadership Group forum billed as the first major gathering of California's 2010 gubernatorial candidates. The SVLG event, titled "Leadership California: Solutions from the Innovation Economy,"' will include the two Democratic candidates, former two term governor and current State Attorney General Jerry Brown, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. And there will be just two Republicans -- State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former Rep. Tom Campbell at Projections 2010, which will be held Sept. 16...

Seventy-four percent (74%) of Republican voters say their party’s representatives in Congress have lost touch with GOP voters nationwide over the past several years. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 18% of GOP voters believe their elected officials have done a good job representing the base. Most Republican voters (55%) say that the average Republican in Congress is more liberal than the average Republican voter. Twenty-four percent (24%) say the average Republican in Congress holds views about the same as the average Republican voter while just 17% think the Congressional Republicans are more conservative than GOP...

The first Miss Cougar America did not cry, muss her mascara, carry a bouquet of roses or wear a crown. Miss Cougar America, Gloria Navarro, 42, of Redwood City, proudly accepted her title before more than 200 guests, most of them men in their 20s, 30s and 40s, at Dinah's Hotel in Palo Alto on Friday. She said she was proud to represent a new breed of woman: empowered, secure and willing to break boundaries. The contest was part of the first-ever National Cougar Convention produced by Rich Gosse and the Society of Professional Singles, billed as the largest singles...

The end of Ted Kennedy's long sojourn among us, splendidly splashed by the media, opened the renewed discussion of whether it's time that big government, in the Kennedy mode, came back. The late senator's eulogists -- in politics and the media, not to mention at the funeral -- tended to nod their heads enthusiastically. We needed the big ideas and projects of the senator's legacy for the sake of justice and the future. It was time to get wealth controlled, poverty vanquished and health care extended to all. The latter we had to do (so West Virginia's Sen. Robert Byrd...

Most politicos don't usually socialize with terror apologists. Generally, they are cautious to a fault. Which is why a political event today in Sacramento raises serious questions of what were they thinking. The extremist group CAIR (Committee for American-Islamic Relations) recently issued a press release announcing its 6th Annual Ramadan Iftar inside the Capitol Rotunda (see the release with a full list of legislative co-hosts attached to the bottom of this post). The Iftar is co-hosted by most of the legislative Democrats including Senate President Darrell Steinberg. Speaker Karen Bass, plus the Governor. Tragically, Steinberg, Bass and the Governor are...

Here is video of an ObamaCare Organizer telling Pro-ObamaCare supporters how to shout down anyone at a Town Hall Meeting who begins to ask a question or make a statement opposing ObamaCare. He tells them to stand up and start shouting "Health Care Now, Health Care Now" to silence the questioner. This was "recorded on August 31, 2009 outside Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) town hall meeting in Skokie, IL." For people who claim they are "not organized" but true grassroots activists, they look awfully "Astroturf" here to me. . . . . (Watch Video)

San Antonio health officials, along with the help of the of our beloved Major Julian Castro, and the San Antonio Restaurant Association have decided to change the way food is consumed in this city. They are targeting local eateries and encouraging (read: threatening) them to offer healthier meal options, lest the restaurant be faced with future regulations or fines for non-compliance. The argue that the city is "getting heavier" and this is a viable options to combat that. Lest we succumb to the ravages of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for healthier options,...

From what I read a couple of days ago....a letter was sent to all principals nationwide.

Congress needs to slow down when it comes to a national health care program, Sierra Vistans told their congresswoman. It was a message that Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords heard, often loudly, Monday night at a Sierra Vista town hall meeting on health care reform. It’s something she said she will take back to Congress when the country’s legislative arm resumes work after Labor Day. “The American people are frustrated. They think we are moving too quickly. It’s too confusing,” and that is evident by what many of the speakers said at the meeting, she remarked after the meeting. Even...

I am extremely pleased to announce that our new non-profit organization, the Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association, Inc. (STERA, Inc.), has received final approval and 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the I.R.S. and has begun to function. As you may have noticed on the Home Page of the site, I have already begun the process of transferring the ownership of www.shroud.com to STERA, Inc., which will become the formal publisher and legal owner of this website in the very near future. I will remain as Editor of the site and become Executive Director of STERA, Inc. I have also...

The latest telephone poll taken by the Texas Governor's office asked whether people who live in Texas think illegal immigration is a serious problem: 29 % of respondents answered: Yes, it is a serious problem. 71% of respondents answered: No es una problema seriosa.

The Video Project will ask students: 1. What is the President asking me to do? 2. What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think aobut?

SUNSPOT 1025: A new sunspot emerged yesterday and interrupted a 51-day string of blank suns. It wasn't much of an interruption. Sunspot 1025 is small and may already be fading away.

The U.S. financial sector was sharply lower on the first day of September as investors nervous about the summer run-up and the new month's bearish reputation fueled the selling momentum. Shares of bailed-out insurance giant American International Group Inc. (AIG 36.46, -8.87, -19.57%) took a major hit for the second straight session after their recent surge. AIG more than tripled in August as traders bid up other so-called high-beta financial stocks such as Citigroup Inc. (C 4.64, -0.36, -7.20%) , Bank of America Corp. (BAC 16.82, -0.77, -4.39%) , Fannie Mae (FNM 1.65, -0.28, -14.51%) and Freddie Mac (FRE 1.97,...

Featured Term (selected at random):ICXC NIKA Monogram from Greek letters Ihcuc Xpictoc Nika, "Jesus Christ conqueror." All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

Pink Slip post cards for Congress HERE!! (MAD as HELL) Date: 2009-08-30, 12:09AM PDT Reply to: comm-ha3su-1349560294@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?] Have YOU had ENOUGH? Take 5 min. to send Congress a MESSAGE!! Go to: http://www.resistnet.com/profiles/blogs/get-your-pink-slips-for There you can download the files to print these on AVERY post card stock. Print 'em, Mail 'em and post the link EVERYWHERE!! While you are there, please consider joining: http://www.resistnet.com Post card Front : Post card Back : * Location: MAD as HELL * it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests