Free Republic

Unemployment is rampant, and that’s just for starters in a country wracked by domestic violence, immigrant abuse, and a sorry standard of living. taly may be rich in cultural heritage and boast the seventh largest economy in the world, but the country’s social statistics are more in line with those of a developing third-world nation. By almost every standard of measure in sectors from women’s rights and youth employment, Italy scores far below the mark. The country has been weighted down by recession, but money is not entirely to blame. In fact, Italy’s economic situation has steadily improved under the...

The setting is familiar, even if the message isn’t. Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz is standing in a locker room giving what appears to be a pep talk. But instead of talking about offensive execution and defensive intensity, he is fervently reminding his listeners that “for victory in life we’ve got to keep focused on the goal, and the goal is heaven.” The divine pep talk is the newest “evangomercial” from Catholics Come Home, an independent media outreach intended to “inspire, educate and evangelize inactive Catholics and others, and invite them to live a deeper faith in Jesus...

So the Americans did it. They avoided the fiscal cliff – right at the 11th hour, much as many of us suspected they would. Not that America’s travails are over. Quite the opposite. The fiscal problem has been merely deferred, not cured. Meanwhile, even given Congressional agreement on immediate fiscal issues, the pace of economic recovery is set to be modest. Yet even this is better than the outlook for the eurozone, where the economy is likely to languish, if not to contract further. Why do the US and the eurozone present such different economic prospects? One possible answer is...

Capitol Hill sources tell me President Obama intends to nominate John Brennan to be the next Director of the #CIA. Told as soon as tomorrow.

video here

Apparently Alex Jones is supposed to be on Pier One Import's show.... Unless Morgan chickens out... Anyone else looking forward to this for popcorn value........

I was listening to Tom Gresham's Gun Talk radio program today (Sunday, December 30, 2012) and heard a FANTASTIC call from "Mark" in Corpus Christie, TX whereby he presented what he called the "Second Amendment Pledge" This was so good that I took a moment to transcribe in verbatim his brief but poignant call for all of us to enjoy. While he didn't say, but I am sure that this was intended primarily for all the lawful gun owners of the United States, but it seems just as applicable to any elected politicians (I am sure that only a hand...

Sometimes, watching a Democrat learn something is wonderful, like seeing the family dog finally sit and stay at your command. With President Obama back in office and his life-saving “fiscal cliff” bill jammed through Congress, the new year has brought a surprising turn of events for his sycophantic supporters. “What happened that my Social Security withholding’s in my paycheck just went up?” a poster wrote on the liberal site DemocraticUnderground.com. “My paycheck just went down by an amount that I don’t feel comfortable with. I guarantee this decrease is gonna’ hurt me more than the increase in income taxes will...

This week's feature is a classic western featuring cinema great and conservative Republican actor Gary Cooper. It's great to see him and Steve McGarrett battling each other 10 years before Jack Lord ever said "Book 'em Danno."

Bl. John Henry Newman said it best: “To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.” History paints an overwhelming picture of St. Peter’s apostolic ministry in Rome and this is confirmed by a multitude of different sources within the Early Church. Catholic Encyclopedia states, “In opposition to this distinct and unanimous testimony of early Christendom, some few Protestant historians have attempted in recent times to set aside the residence and death of Peter at Rome as legendary. These attempts have resulted in complete failure.” Protestantism as a whole seeks to divorce Christianity from history by rending Gospel...

JPMORGAN: The US Recovery Is About To Hit A Pothole Walter Kurtz, Sober LookJan. 6, 2013, 8:43 AM As discussed earlier (see post), US manufacturing sector has begun to recover. Manufacturing orders in the US as well as in Emerging Asia (see post) have diverged from other large economies. This trend is becoming reflected in the broader economic activity. However according to JPMorgan, the result of the latest fiscal negotiations will soon create headwinds for this expansion and dampen GDP growth. The tax increases on higher income households as well as the hike in payroll taxes will crate a drag...

In talking about the movie, Tarantino got into how African-American culture was a part of his life growing up. In fact, he claimed his mother dated Wilt Chamberlain in the 1970s. “Black culture is my culture growing up,” Tarantino explained. “Yeah, it was almost like a sitcom the way we lived in the ’70s. She was in her 20s, she was hot, alright, she was a hot white girl and her best friend named Jackie was a hot black girl and her other best friend, Lillian, was a hot Mexican girl. And they lived in this swinging singles apartment with...

The Left's battle against "Zero Dark Thirty" continues, but this time the Oscar-winning director of the film is being called far worse than an apologist for "torture." A trio of senators previously critiqued the minds behind the movie, detailing the hunt for Osama bin Laden, for daring to suggested enhanced interrogation tactics helped nab the terrorist leader. Now, progressive critic Naomi Wolf is comparing Bigelow to the Nazis' premier propagandist. In a time of darkness in America, you are being feted by Hollywood, and hailed by major media. But to me, the path your career has now taken reminds of...

Egypt’s minority Christians were celebrating their first Christmas after the election of an Islamist president and a new pope—and following adoption of a constitution many argue has an Islamist slant. … Concerned for their future and their ancient heritage in Egypt, some Copts are reportedly considering leaving the country. As Egypt struggles with the role of religion in society, many Copts are aligning themselves with moderate Muslims and secular Egyptians who also fear the rise of Islamic power. …

We have noticed many conservative Christians these days claiming to hold to a libertarian political philosophy. Libertarianism is the idea that government should allow complete freedom, except in the case when one person directly harms another. While this often sounds appealing to Christians, we see see a dangerous clash of worldviews in trying to mix Christianity with libertarianism. We think that “Christian libertarians” have been unwittingly duped into adopting a philosophy that has much in common with liberal secularists--and is contrary to the Bible at key points. Libertarianism and Christianity really do not mix like some think. Among the problems...

I just paused a documentary that I am watching on NetFlix, Camp 14: Total Control Zone, so that I can get the word out on FR that this is a must see documentary. It has subtitles, and it isn't filled with action packed adventure. But hang in there if you are a true patriot. It will make your blood boil. It is the story of Shin Dong-hunk who was born in a North Korean forced labor camp. He escaped at age 23. This isn't an old story, it happened in the last decade. This continues today. It is the only...

Hotel rooms remain unbooked ahead of January 21 inauguration ceremony Organizers expecting much lower turnout than 2009 ceremony, when nearly 2 million people flocked to the National Mall Crowds may have flocked to the National Mall to see President Obama make history in 2009, but the team behind the president's 2013 inauguration bash later this month are bracing themselves for a ton of empty seats. The ceremony that Washington will stage in a few weeks won't be the historic affair it was in 2009, when nearly 2 million people flocked to the Capitol to watch Obama take the oath of...

The Bible tells us that when Jesus returns to earth, he will physically raise all those who have died, giving them back the bodies they lost at death. These will be the same bodies people had in earthly life—but our resurrection bodies will not die and, for the righteous, they will be transformed into a glorified state, freed from suffering and pain, and enabled to do many of the amazing things Jesus could do with his glorified body (cf. 1 Cor. 15:35–44, 1 John 3:2). The resurrection of the body is an essential Christian doctrine, as the apostle Paul declares:...

Cheaters' day tomorrow? More illicit affairs start on January 7 than any other day of the year, experts say. According to a UK-based dating website, January 7 is the day more affairs start than at any other time of the year, The Sun reported. "This doesn't surprise me because now is when I hear from many who suspect their partner is cheating, or who start cheating themselves then don't know what to do - continue the affair, stop it, come clean or forever fib about it," relationships expert Dr Pam Spurr said. During December couples have complaints about partners -...

What's classier than a Marine in dress blues?A Marine in dress blues escorting a special needs child to the Cinderella Ball. Semper Fi!