Free Republic

The federal government and states are girding themselves for the next foreclosure crisis in the country's housing downturn: payment option adjustable rate mortgages that are beginning to reset. "Payment option ARMs are about to explode," Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said after a Thursday meeting with members of President Barack Obama's administration to discuss ways to combat mortgage scams. "That's the next round of potential foreclosures in our country," he said.

In 1983 Obama wrote a piece against stationing Pershing cruise missiles in Europe in Columbia SDS* magazine Sundial, titled Breaking the War Mentality. His arguments closely following Soviet propaganda at the time - we know that anti-war movement was fueled by Soviet propaganda from archives opened after the fall of the Soviet Union. * About SDS. Weather Underground (Bill Ayers etc.) came out of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). The Sundial Magazine logo is identical to the Weather Underground logo and is also echoed in Obama’s logo. (h/t HotAir)

Sometimes you think that you have seen it all and then the UK leftists come along. In the act of completely bowing down to Islam, the Manchester Council is asking that an upcoming anti-Islam protest be banned. As it is not a "legitimate cause"! Apparently thought when Muslims are in the streets there calling for the death of those who insult Mohammad, that is an legitimate cause.

Yale grad student Annie Le's accused killer has been tossed into solitary confinement in a Connecticut jail, where he has been somber and silent, an official told the Daily News Thursday. Raymond Clark 3rd is being held in the private unit at the New Haven Community Correctional Center for his own protection. "He is in solitary confinement for his own safety because of the nature of his crime," Lt. John Bernard told the News. "We don't know who is out there maybe waiting to take action against him." In his first few hours behind bars, the 24-year-old Clark has looked...

Obama Gaffe right at the beginning of this clip, he says "drugs" instead of doctors..Listen carefully... President Obama pleaded with a crowd gathered today at the University of Maryland to "Stop paying attention to the folks who are spreading false charges, crazy rumors about our plan. Pay attention to the health care experts--the doctors and the nurses--who know our system best." Ok, that's a good idea. Let's do that.

See this link for detailed tables in PDF format - Z.1 balance sheet data for 2nd Quarter 2009

Archbishop Gomez: Health Care MUST Include Illegal Immigrants Lobbying Congress today on the issue San Antonio Archbishop Jose Gomez says any health care reform plan has to include coverage for illegal immigrants, 1200 WOAI news reports. "It must include immigrants, especially legal immigrants, but all immigrants," Gomez told 1200 WOAI news today from Washington DC, where he and other Catholic bishops are meeting with Hispanic members of Congress about health care and immigration reform. "We are concerned about the immigrants," Gomez said. "The immigrants are human persons too, and one way or another, they are going to need health care....

A former government official facing corruption charges for accepting improper gifts from Jack Abramoff is taking an unusually aggressive approach in fighting the Justice Department’s case. Horace Cooper, a legal commentator and conservative writer who was a senior aide in then-Rep. Dick Armey’s (R-Texas) office, is accusing prosecutors of dozens of mistakes and has invoked the prosecutorial abuse investigation that overturned the conviction of former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) in an attempt to undermine the government’s case. Cooper, an attorney himself, pleaded not guilty last week to felony corruption charges, including accepting nearly $15,000 in gifts, tickets to sporting events...

A committee of the North Carolina Board of Community Colleges on Thursday approved a policy that would allow illegal immigrants into the two-year colleges.

No, seriously. At least, that’s how it seems if this excellent piece in Salon is to be believed. The writer, Alex Zaitchick, dives into the fever swamps of the right to uncover the influence of someone named Cleon Skousen on the Glenn Beck crowd. Skousen, who died in 2006 at the age of 92, was a paranoid and racist crank whose screed, The 5,000 Year Leap, is now the subject of a popular revival on the right. Salon describes the book thusly: “Leap,” first published in 1981, is a heavily illustrated and factually challenged attempt to explain American history through...

TV's 'Newlywed Game' Features First Gay Couple By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer Thursday, September 17, 2009 Even as states and jurisdictions made gay and lesbian marriages legal, "The Newlywed Game" has played it straight — until now. The long-running game show, now on the GSN cable network, said Wednesday it will feature its first gay couple this season on a celebrity edition. George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu on "Star Trek," will appear with his partner, Brad Altman. They just celebrated their first anniversary after being married in Los Angeles last September, but they're nothing like the giggly young...

SNIPPET: "Thursday's report says Mohammad Sheikholeslam was killed at the gate of his house. The cleric represented the province in the Assembly of Experts, a key religious body entrusted by law with appointing and dismissing Iran's supreme leader."

Relations with the Russian Orthodox church have vastly improved, possibly paving the way for a papal visit to Moscow or a historic meeting between the pope and the Orthodox patriarch outside of Russia or the Vatican, a senior Vatican cardinal said Thursday.

If any know this soldier, it would be nice to let him know so many thinks his actions are well appreciated, not only by his fellow soldiers, but by everyone who has read this. We received this email via email and wanted to share with everyone. It really makes the term "Home Sweet Home" mean alot more. I hope the picture will go through for you - of this Army soldier in Iraq with his tiny 'plot' of grass in front of his tent. It's heartwarming! Lord keep them Safe. Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq , stationed in...

LONDON: Fake video footage can dramatically alter people's perceptions of events, even convincing them to testify to a non-event, says a new study. Kimberley Wade, psychology professor from Warwick University (WU), led an experiment to see whether such faux footage could induce people to accuse another of doing something they never did. Wade found nearly 50% of those shown fake footage of something they witnessed first hand were prepared to believe the video version rather than what they actually saw. "Our research shows that if a fake footage is extremely compelling, it can induce people to testify about something they...

Presenting his first Medal of Honor, President Barack Obama on Thursday praised the sacrifice of a soldier who braved enemy fire while attempting to save a comrade during the war in Afghanistan. Obama honored Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti of Raynham, Mass., during an East Room ceremony and praised the extraordinary valor while facing insurgent fire. Standing before Monti's parents, Janet and Paul, Obama said Monti personified the values of duty, honor, sacrifice and heroism. Americans often toss around such words too freely, the president said. "But do we really grasp the meaning of these values? Do we truly understand...

My last posting has sparked numerous and thoughtful responses, as well as lively discussions, in many quarters. Reading them I think the following analysis may be worth sharing. Some people adamantly make arguments based on the notion that we presently have a two party electoral system. This phrase purports to refer to a system in which people freely select from amongst a wide range of different possibilities, two alternatives, and then choose freely between them. My knowledge of the facts, as well as extensive firsthand experience, have forced me to conclude that this is simply not so. There is no...

September 17, 2009 Both Parties in Congress Near Record-Low Approval Republicans unusually critical of the Republicans in Congress Lydia Saad PRINCETON, NJ -- New USA Today/Gallup approval ratings of the two major parties in Congress show the Democrats faring slightly better than the Republicans, in line with the pattern in recent years. Thirty-six percent of Americans interviewed Sept. 11-13 approve of how the Democrats in Congress are doing their job; 27% approve of the Republicans. However, both parties' ratings are down significantly from earlier this year, returning them to the record-low levels seen in 2007 and 2008.

President Obama is about to undertake a full-scale blitz of all the Sunday talk shows to try to convince the American people one more time of the merits of his health care plan. This is after he has spoken on the subject publicly more than 100 times and after he just gave a nationwide speech before the Congress and the country. I know this is his highest priority, but what else can he say to turn around the nearly half the country that doesn't want his health care plan? And if he told us honestly that the plan he and...

PR Friend Paul over at Organized Exploitation looks at the latest power grab by the feds. Here's the full text reported by Thomas. (Note, sometimes Thomas search results time-out. If so, go here, take the first choice on the Google return, and then Version 2 of the bill.) NOW, the big rumor is that an ACORN defunding was amended to this bill. I've read the floor transcripts, and haven't found it yet. Will update when I do. Here's Paul's article: