Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After bungling five probes that should have uncovered Bernard Madoff's $65 billion fraud, regulators must learn to aggressively investigate tips and complaints to catch wrongdoers, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's internal watchdog said on Thursday. A scathing report issued last week by SEC Inspector General David Kotz found that the agency missed numerous red flags, did not properly follow up on leads and dismissed tips and complaints that might have uncovered Madoff's investment sham. At a congressional hearing to examine the SEC's shortcomings, Kotz outlined dozens of recommendations to improve SEC procedures for handling tips and...

Eight Years On [Mark Steyn] No dynamic culture can stand still, so we shouldn't be surprised that fewer and fewer people, from the president down, find it harder and harder to remember quite what "the day that changed the world" was all about. Nevertheless, there is unfinished business — starting with that hole in the ground in lower Manhattan. As James Lileks says: That we couldn’t stand there eight years ago was their fault. That we cannot stand there today is ours. At Ground Zero and in that field in Pennsylvania, we broke faith with the dead. What a small...

Here is video of CNN finally reporting on the ACORN undercover story. Wolf Blitzer said "this so called sting operation was conducted by political activists." (Watch Video)

Like a battering ram in a medieval siege, gold keeps hammering away at the gate. For the third time in less than twelve months, the yellow metal is once again crashing into the $1,000 per ounce level. As of press time, it looks like gold will close above that level today and will set a new record in the process. Even if the breach is fleeting, who can doubt that it will mount another assault soon? In the meantime, there is no shortage of market analysts who are not buying gold while questioning the motives of those who are. Although...

Some local mayors have joined "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" (MAIG) which was founded and is funded by activist anti-gun billionaire and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Is your mayor one of them? Click here to find out! You may also look at the list below.Despite its very misleading name, this national group of anti-gun mayors has lobbied Congress against national reciprocity of state Right-to-Carry permits, against much-needed reform of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE), for regulating gun shows out of existence, and for repealing the Tiahrt Amendment that protects the privacy rights of law-abiding...

The White House - Press Office - Statement From The President On The Murder Of DR George Tiller. "I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence." U.S. Department of Justice US Attorney General Eric Holder is dispatching US Marshals to protect abortion clinic and doctors around the country. Holder issued the following statement: The murder of Doctor George Tiller is an abhorrent act of violence, and his...

Today Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) was supposed have to an 911 anti-Islam rally outside the North London Harrow Central Mosque. They had planned a peaceful protest, but of course earlier in the day 100's Muslims had showed up and as usual started trouble.

When Manual Zelaya sought the Honduran presidency he knew his country’s constitution limited him to only one term. In June, 2009, Zelaya attempted to alter such constitutional limitation to allow himself another term. The only problem for Zelaya, his efforts triggered his own ouster under his country’s constitution. President Barack Obama, (BO) famous for decrying interfering in other country’s internal political systems, at least non-allied countries, now insists that Zelaya be restored to the presidency of Honduras. Not surprisingly BO’s position is shared with Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez and the Castro brothers. Chavez has threatened military intervention to restore Zelaya....

Maybe the example being set by Sarah Palin — in which she’s firmly and without hesitation stood up to the Barack Obama propaganda machine time after time when it comes to death panels and ObamaCare — is finally starting to catch the attention of male Republican legislators. It certainly seemed to have worked with South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson. Last night — in an unguarded moment that’s no doubt going to be used by Democrats in an effort to distract attention from Mr. Obama’s completely vacuous health care speech — Wilson just couldn’t stand the President’s use of the Big...

Terry Jeffrey of CNSnews says that the Obama birth certificate issue is ridiculous on Steve Malzberg's radio show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMbdxaxptyE&feature=channel_page Steve Malzberg can be heard on WOR 710 in NYC from 4PM-6PM. www.worradionet.com

Over the last several months, through ongoing communication with our regional offices, it is clear that ACORN's affiliation with the 2010 Census promotion has caused sufficient concern in the general public, has indeed become a distraction from our mission, and may even become a discouragement to public cooperation, negatively impacting 2010 Census efforts. While not decisive factors in this decision, recent events concerning several local offices of ACORN have added to the worsening negative perceptions of ACORN and its affiliation with our partnership efforts.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- State police charged a former GOP lawmaker on Friday with violating a protective order after his former girlfriend was found shot to death in downtown Lexington. Steve Nunn, who was being treated at The Medical Center of Bowling Green for undisclosed injuries, has not been charged with the slaying, said Lt. David Jude, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police in Frankfort. He was listed in stable condition.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department said on Friday it was prepared to hold direct talks with North Korea to try to coax it back into multilateral negotiations on ending its nuclear programs. Previously, U.S. officials had sent mixed signals about direct meetings, at times saying Pyongyang must first commit to resume multilateral discussions and at others saying bilateral talks could only occur "in the context" of the multilateral discussions. The department denied changing its policy on direct talks, saying any bilateral meeting would be to bring Pyongyang back to multilateral talks. "We are prepared to enter into a...

Eight years since the twin towers came crashing down, survivors of the ghastly terrorist attack are still picking up pieces of their lives from among the debris of terrible memories. Jyoti Dave Vyas was among those who were inside the majestic World Trade Centre towers on September 11, 2001, when terror struck and were lucky enough to survive the tragedy. Jyoti was seven months pregnant then. She remembers running down the stairs to safety when United Airlines Flight 175 hit the 78th floor of the South Tower at 9.03 am, and calls it the most tedious and longest journey of...

Baltimore, MD – September 11, 2009 – We have received inquiries from citizens and the media asking whether the Baltimore City State’s Attorneys Office would initiate a criminal investigation for acts allegedly committed at ACORN offices located in Baltimore. The only information received in reference to this alleged criminal behavior was a YouTube video. Upon review by this office, the video appears to be incomplete. In addition, the audio portion could possibly have been obtained in violation of Maryland Law, Annotated Code of Maryland Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article §10-402, which requires two party consent. If it is determined that...

America has been greatly blessed by God and has stood as the greatest country in the history of the world for over 200 years. America has many foreign and domestic enemies that are seeking her destruction.This thread is a daily call and reminder for people of faith who believe in God and in the power of prayer to make a commitment to intercede for America at this critical time in her history2 Chronicles 7:14If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I...

September 11, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Dr. Esteban Rodriguez, spokesman for the organization Derecho a Vivir (Right to Life) recently said Spanish doctors are willing to face jail rather than kill unborn children under a new law. "We are willing to go to jail rather than following a criminal law," Dr. Rodriguez said, "and we are willing to commit the supposed crime of disobedience before the crime of abortion." Dr. Rodriguez was responding to comments made earlier by Minister of Justice, Francisco Caamano, who said that Spain's abortion law would not allow doctors the right to refuse to commit abortions. "We...

OWOSSO, Mich. (AP) - A man carrying grudges against several people in town set off on a shooting spree Friday morning, authorities said, killing an abortion protester outside a school because he didn't like that the activist carried a sign with graphic images of a fetus in front of students. Before he was done, the gunman drove to a gravel pit and shot and killed the owner, apparently for different reasons, police said. Authorities believe they stopped a third killing by catching up with him before he could pull the trigger. "The defendant had ill will toward these three individuals—not...

LOS ANGELES -- Police in Los Angeles are offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of a multimillion dollar collection of original Andy Warhol artwork stolen from a West Los Angeles home. The thefts happened between Sept. 2 and 3 at the home of businessman Richard L. Weisman on Angelo Drive, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. An employee arrived at the home Sept. 3 and immediately noticed the artwork missing from the dinning room walls. The worker then went to a neighbor's house and called police. Among the stolen collection were 10 pieces made...

LOS ANGELES – Larry Gelbart, the comedy writer famed for his work on "M-A-S-H" and "Tootsie," has died. Gelbart died at his Beverly Hills home Friday morning after a long battle with cancer, .. He was 81. Gelbart won a Tony award for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and an Emmy for "M-A-S-H," the classic TV comedy based on the Robert Altman film about Army doctors during the Korean War. He was nominated for two Oscars, for .. "Tootsie" and "Oh, God!"