Free Republic

Thomas F. Bayard was a US Senator from Delaware between 1869 and 1885, which includes the Chester Arthur administration. From 1885 to 1889, Bayard was Secretary of State under Grover Cleveland. This is the same Bayard mentioned in Hinman’s book on Chester Arthur. Hinman wrote to Bayard and Bayard’s response has been erroneously cited by those who support Obama’s eligibility. For some reason I have yet to comprehend, they argue Bayard was aware of Chester Arthur having been born a British subject. But nothing in Bayard’s letter to Hinman supports that position. Regardless, due to a recent find by the...

The Congressional Research Service confirmed yesterday that illegals would benefit under the House version of the Heath Care Bill. From a press release issued today by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR): (Washington, DC) Tuesday, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the “research arm” for the United States Congress, issued a report validating an analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), that illegal aliens would be able to receive benefits under the House health care reform bill, America’s Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200). The report, Treatment of Noncitizens in H.R. 3200, states definitively, “H.R. 3200...

That’s right. In one month alone Americans made themselves and this nation safer (from enemies foreign and domestic) by choosing to exercise one our most precious rights–the right to own a firearm. I think Thomas Jefferson would be especially pleased with this news when we consider a letter he sent to one of his nephews: “A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the Body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind . . . Let your gun therefore be the constant...

"It’s time to start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care while improving quality. That’s what I heard over the past several months in talking to thousands of my constituents. Replacing your family’s current health care with government-run health care is not the answer. We can do better, with a targeted approach that tackles the biggest problems." – Rep. Charles Boustany, Jr. , MD, September 9, 2009

The culprit was South Carolina rep Joe Wilson, who felt moved to act when The One told what was, in fact, a lie. Although certainly not his biggest of the night: Where this jackass gets off lecturing Americans on civility after his cretinous cronies spent a month demagoging the hell out of every protester in sight is beyond me. You’re Mr. Clean, aren’t you, champ? And bottom-feeders like Harry Reid are your hatchet men. Nice work if you can get it. I’m told that his magic number of “47 million” uninsured Americans magically dropped to 30 million uninsured in this...

Republican State Senator Mark Amodei says he will run against Nevada Democratic Senator Harry Reid. Amodei made the announcement Wednesday morning at the World Market Center in downtown Las Vegas. Amodei graduated from the University of Reno, served in the army, and was voted "Outstanding Freshman Legislator" in 1997.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will tell Congress on Wednesday "the time for bickering is over" and call for quick action on a comprehensive healthcare overhaul that would dramatically transform the U.S. insurance market and health system. In excerpts of his high-stakes, nationally televised speech to the U.S. Congress scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT), Obama says lawmakers are "closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been" and issued a warning to critics. "I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve...

A few minutes ago Obama stated that he wants to mandate health insurance. This isn't what he was saying a few years back. The youtube clip I've linked to is part of and old ad that clearly shows him taking a different view than he does now. The clip states it is from a November 24, 2007 Town Hall meeting. Could this be used against him? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsu_DRzNOFY

Having my rapist's baby is the best thing I ever did: After being date raped, Miriam was horrified to fall pregnant, but her little girl is proof good can come of evil 09th September 2009 The party was a rare night out. Raised in a devout, Christian family in Reading, Berks, I was more used to going to choir practice than clubs with friends. But I had just landed a job with a telemarketing company and, when the new director announced he was taking us all out for a drink, I didn't want to seem unfriendly, so I agreed to...

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter has tied Lou Gehrig's franchise record on Wednesday night, and he did in his own vintage style. Jeter lined a first pitch fastball from Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann down the right field line, tying Lou Gehrig's mark of 2,721 hits as a Yankee. Jeter reached first base to the roars of the crowd, who have been counting down to the occasion. Jeter raised his helmet twice and pointed toward the stands, all as fans chanted "Jeter! Jeter!". He is one hit away from breaking the record that has stood for more than 70 years.

Harry Reid’s power is the stuff of legend in Nevada. But as the Senate majority leader prepares for his 2010 reelection run, voters back home are beginning to ask what’s in it for them. Nevada’s unemployment rate is 12.7 percent, 3 percentage points higher than the national average. Las Vegas has the highest foreclosure rate of any big city in the country. And economic forecasters are sounding the alarm about an impending crash in the state’s commercial real estate market. It’s all taking a toll on Reid. While Reid may be at the peak of his power in Washington, a...

The numbers don't add up to the "economy being pulled back from the brink"...Charts

Freep this poll! Thumbs up or thumbs down on Obamacare speech.

Health Overhaul Cost Cut to $900 Billion; Obama Warns GOP, Offers Malpractice Deal WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama, in a prime-time address to Congress on Wednesday, combined tough talk to opponents with fresh olive branches on policy to try to break the impasse on revamping health care.

The Great Recession and Americans' retreat into thriftiness are teaching retailers a new lesson: How to survive when consumers are focused on "needs" rather than "wants." For years, shoppers splurged on everything from $5 lattes to $200 jeans, and retailers responded by opening more stores and offering more choices. Now, beset by high unemployment and limited access to credit, shoppers are limiting most of their purchases only to essentials or the best deals.

I am curious to know if there is a legal requirement when someone applies for a loan modification that the financial institution must provide its decision in writing. If there is, and no such document exists, and you are told verbally of a decision, is there legal recourse?

The Obamacare Zero dollar is out and available for download, printing and passing out. take them to DC with you for the rally! For the whole series of Zero dollar bills, go here: "Flickr Zero Bill Archive"

...the iconic orbiting observatory is working just fine after its May upgrade which saw it get new batteries, gyroscopes and and a thorough overhaul of its instruments. It also got a new camera and a new spectrograph from the astronauts who spent five days under Hubble's hood. The upgrade, almost certain to be Hubble's last, should keep it producing tip-top images until 2014... Ed Weiler, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said that the telescope is "significantly more powerful than ever, well-equipped to last into the next decade." According to NASA, future observations will range from "studying the population...

US President Barack Obama has warned Congress that more Americans will die if it does not act now on health care, seizing the spotlight at a pivotal moment for his embattled reform drive. In a rare joint address to Congress that marked the biggest test of his leadership so far, Mr Obama bluntly warned he would not waste time working with Republicans bent on defeating his plan to damage him politically. "I am not the first president to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last," Mr Obama said. Months of charges by conservatives that he...

Jerry Coyne and Aquinas’ First Way Jerry Coyne and Jim Manzi have been mixing it up lately over the religious implications of evolution. Coyne asserts, quite rudely at times, that evolution disproves the existence of God. Manzi disagrees, and asserts that theism is compatible with evolutionary science. I’ve had a blog discussion or two with Manzi, and he’s a thoughtful courteous interlocutor. He doesn’t believe that intelligent design is a legitimate scientific inference (so he’s not perfect), but he is logically rigorous and very well informed on scientific matters as well as on the broader philosophical issues. He believes that...