Free Republic

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley last night issued a forceful defense of his decision to participate in the funeral of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, an appearance that has drawn sharp criticism from some conservative Catholics because of Kennedy’s ardent support for abortion rights. O’Malley, writing in his blog, also revealed the substance of a conversation he had with President Obama near the altar of the Mission Church as the congregation assembled for Saturday’s funeral. He said he told Obama that the Catholic bishops are “anxious to support a plan for universal health care, but we will not support a plan that...

Late Wednesday afternoon, MSNBC's David Shuster and Chris Matthews made clear their agreement with the message of a new ad from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) which ridicules former Vice President Dick Cheney's past judgments and thus proclaims him “WRONG” on the value of enhanced interrogation techniques, with Shuster declaring “he deserves” the “brutal ad” which makes, Matthews decided, an “obvious” and “undeniable” point.

Here is video of some parents who intend to keep their children home next week on Tuesday, September 8, rather than have them go to school for President Obama's speech to children across the nation. According to one of the guests, the Department of Education sent word of this plan directly to schools without going through normal protocols, including local Boards of Education. It is also the first time a U.S. President has tried to do such a message directly to children. I don't think the issue is what Obama is necessarily going to say. It could be. But even...

There's no doubt that Dr. Chacko had her supporters. Chief among them was Dr. Rashmikant Shah. Still after hearing all the testimony, the investigative board determined that Dr. Chacko needed to be removed. Dr. Chacko challenged the results and at some point, Dr. Chacko hired an attorney. The attorney saw that the investigative board wasn't conducted properly and the results were thrown out. As such, in May, another board, Summary Board for a Probationary Employee, was convened by the Pittsburgh VA in order to again try and remove Dr. Anna Chacko. Dr. Chacko, who often bragged about having political connections,...

This is a picture shown on Hannity's America of an organizer from the Obamacare advocacy group, Health Care for America Now. And here is what this organizer was recorded saying to his troops on how to stifle the opposition: "If they stand up and start asking questions and you're in that area, simply stand up, and start — no. Start yelling, 'health care now, health care now, health care now.' Yes. You people, why won't you — then simply stand up, 'health care now, health care now' until they get frustrated." The Obama forces are getting desperate. They are using...

Should the motto "In God We Trust" be removed from U.S. currency?

Once in a while, I get the most amazing emails. The one below was in response to the observation I made about Barack Obama's upcoming September 8th televised address to our nation's schoolchildren and how creepy something like that might seem to more than a few folks aware of fascist and communist history in other parts of the world. Well, it seems this gentleman just couldn't wait to school me on my proclivities and ultimate motivations, and I have to say that his missive was amusing on a couple of different levels. Here it is (profanity sanitized by me): "You...

"The Kennedy family, in particular the assassinated President, John F. Kennedy, were representative of a new generation of Americans confronting the old and dirty politics of men in the mold of Nixon...The Kennedy family's (role) in Barack Obama's electoral victory should not be overlooked. Without that moral, political and financial support, the dirty saga of the Bush and Nixon clans would be continuing." That was a portion of an editorial last week in Stalinist Cuba's version of Nazi Germany's Der Sturmer. But no one familiar with Cuban history should doubt the editorials' sincerity. Fidel and Raul Castro, after all, owe...

Despite the million-dollar vista, this is not the penthouse suite of a four-star hotel or a luxury condominium in the Back Bay. It’s the common room of a Boston University dorm, perhaps the most opulent residence hall to ever grace the local college landscape. Name tags taped to students’ doors say it all: “Skyview from the Center of the BUniverse.’’ “Sometimes I miss the elevator because I’m too busy looking out the window,’’ said Rina Beyda, a junior from Los Angeles and one of just 14 students lucky enough to land a room on the 25th floor, the highest residential...

This is a video of a couple healthcare rallies where Obama supporters infiltrated and got arrested. As far as I can tell, they didn't bite any fingers off this time.

A country boy can survive the Obama administration. Just ask Hank Williams, Jr. The country music artist -- best known to millions of Americans regardless of their musical taste for his "Are You Ready For Some Football?" theme to Monday Night Football -- was profiled yesterday by Bill Lynch of the Charleston [W.V.] Gazette. Lynch spent a considerable portion of his profile focused on Williams's politics, including his upcoming gig at a Labor Day TEA Party:

The advisers are to leave by the end of 2011, by which time the final two years of the U.S. military presence will have achieved … what?

Jerkwad, We didn't plan to email you again today. But yesterday, news broke that President Obama will make a big speech to Congress next Wednesday on health care -- an issue we know you care about. And according to news reports, "although House leaders have said their members will demand the inclusion of a public insurance option, Obama has no plans to insist on it himself." * In response, we got a truly depressing email from Christian S. in Texas: "Your recent health care ads are great, they hit home. But Obama has decided to drop the public option and...

A Tennessee teen has baffled doctors by regularly shedding tears of blood. Calvino Inman suffers bloody tears seeping from his eyes for up to an hour a day. The 15-year-old is being teased at school for being "possessed" and doctors have been unable to diagnose his specific condition

New jobless claims down 4,000 to 570,000 last week Continuing claims rise 92,000 to 6.23 million, U.S. data show on eve of payrolls By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The number of people filing for state unemployment benefits for the first time fell by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 570,000 last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Initial claims have held in a fairly narrow range for the past seven weeks, down about 100,000 from the peak in March but still well above levels seen in a healthy economy. The number of people claiming benefits of any kind remained...

Audi President: Chevy Volt Is a “Car for Idiots… the Intellectual Elite Who Want to Show What Enlightened Souls They Are.” Few consumers will be willing to pay $40,000 base price for a car that competes with $25,000 hybrids... “So there are not enough idiots who will buy it.” The Audi of America president ended with a bold prediction: The Volt will fall flat. And the federal government, having publicly forced GM to develop electric cars, will subsidize the Volt to save face and boost sales. CNET recently reported GM’s astronomical claim of the Volt’s 230 mpg are false, and...

To the chagrin of her detractors, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is sorting through 1,070 requests for her to speak. Most disturbing to them is that Palin will be the keynote speaker at the 16th Investors' Forum that is organized by CLSA, a Hong Kong-based brokerage firm. Palin is in good company as speakers in the past have included former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Desmond Tutu and President Bill Clinton.

Calling her a "singular champion," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) honored tennis star Venus Williams for her principled stand after an Israeli player was excluded from participating in a Dubai tennis tournament earlier this year. In February 2009, the United Arab Emirates refused a visa to Shahar Pe'er, preventing her from participating in the Dubai Tennis Championship. Ms. Williams publicly spoke out against the decision and called for equal treatment for all players.

Even A Cemetery Suffers In This Economy Historic grave sites are crumbling at New York's Green-Wood Cemetery -- the resting place of Leonard Bernstein, Louis Tiffany and others -- and the money to save them is scarce. Acid rain is eating away at statuary in the 171-year-old Brooklyn cemetery, where those buried include Leonard Bernstein and Louis Comfort Tiffany. (Tina Susman / Los Angeles Times / August 15, 2009) Reporting from New York - It's tough being an angel, even in as idyllic a setting as the Green-Wood Cemetery, where the leaves of shade trees rustle in the summer breeze...

On MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” (September 1st), Olbermann interviewed Dan Savage, a syndicated sex columnist, author, and gay-rights advocate about the ethics of the opposition to Obama’a policies. Savage stated and Olbermann agreed that some conservatives and leaders like Glenn Beck and Representative Michele Bachmann “are trying to get the President killed”. Olbermann: Conservatives Are Trying to Get Obama Killed