Free Republic

Like spring, bipartisanship is busting out all over. Even more so maybe: Washington in a time of alleged global warming is suffering through a chilly, wet springtime, but bipartisanship is sprouting up like gangbusters. Exhibit A is the Corker-Cardin legislation, passed unanimously in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, providing for limited congressional review of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear weapons program. Exhibit B is the legislation combating human trafficking, passed unanimously by the Senate last Wednesday. Exhibit C is the elimination of the annual "doc fix," engineered by Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. These legislative...

GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is speaking out about the Baltimore rioting.“Today 85,000 Baltimore city children will not be going to school. Buildings have been set ablaze, stores have been looted, the police in the streets have been seriously injured, and strict curfews have been imposed,” Cruz says. “No man, woman, or child should fear for his or her safety in America–not in their schools, not in their neighborhoods, not in their cities–but today families are scared.”More than 15 police officers were injured Monday night after high school students began to riot after school and the violence continued...

The full extent of the damage done by the violence and rioting in Baltimore is graphically revealed today. Dozens of shops, businesses and gas stations were burned and ransacked across the city as the streets were turned into a 'war zone'. Shopkeepers told Daily Mail Online that they fled in terror as looters rampaged in as they were still inside - and stole everything. A family of four had to flee their apartment above the liquor store they owned when it was set ablaze underneath them. And a gas station owner said that he had lost $50,000 after his ATM...

TEHRAN (FNA)- An informed source in Iran confirmed earlier reports that the Iranian Navy has seized a US ship in the Persian Gulf, adding that the ship is Marshall Islands-flagged, but is owned by the US. "The ship is a trade vessel and has been seized by the Iranian navy at the request of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization," the source told FNA on Tuesday. "The ship was seized after a relevant court order was issued for its confiscation," he added, indicating that the the IPMO had monetary differences with the ship owner. The source said the ship is a...

A new poll shows Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker sitting atop a handful of 2016 GOP contenders in the early presidential state of Iowa, notching a 10-point lead over his nearest rival. Mr. Walker, who has not yet officially declared his candidacy, was the choice of 23 percent of Republicans, followed by Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida at 13 percent and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 12 percent, according to the survey released Tuesday by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling......................"

According to Professor Cody Pogue, the riots occurring in Baltimore are, in part, due to white privilege. Pogue teaches at Houston Community College and San Jacinto College. Today Pogue wrote an article titled, “The Baltimore riots within the context of White Privilege.” His article begins, “I do not approve of the riots in Baltimore. At the same time, I do not understand what else we expect them to do. Numerous studies have proven that, in America today, white people are more privileged than black people.” Pogue then writes about “white privilege,” saying that, “White people nearly always get the benefit...

Most of us have had a coach we just couldn't stand. Just the sight of him or her made you bleed as your incisors did jumping jacks on your bottom lip as you endeavored, sometimes unsuccessfully, to keep your mouth shut.

Suzanne Crough, who played Tracy on the sitcom "The Partridge Family," died on Monday, according to TMZ. She was 52 years old. Crough played the youngest Partridge daughter from 1970 to 1974. A family member told TMZ, she died suddenly in her Nevada home.

During an undergraduate Political Science class a few decades ago one of my professors discussed the difference between Stalin and Hitler. While both were indeed power hungry and responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people, they were distinctly different in motivation. Stalin, he suggested, was completely focused on power. He didn’t care how he got it or who he had to work with or betray in order to get it or keep it. If you were in his way, he would crush you and not think twice about it. If however you got out of his way...

Update 3: Turns out Iran did seize a ship, just not a US ship: PENTAGON SAYS NO US SHIP WAS SEIZED BY IRAN NON-U.S. SHIP MAY HAVE BEEN SEIZED BY IRAN, U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS IRANIAN MILITARY BOARDED MARSHALL ISLANDS-FLAGGED CARGO SHIP IRANIANS BOARDED MV MAERSK TIGRIS CARGO SHIP: PENTAGON Update 2: Curiously, while we were confident Iran would deny the report first, it was in fact the US: US NAVY DENIES CONFRONTATION WITH IRANIAN MILITARY: CNBC The good news is that it will be very easy to confirm who is lying and who is telling the truth, in a matter...

When Winchester produced its famous 1873 lever-action rifles and carbines, Colt wasted no time in chambering its single-action Army revolver in Winchester’s calibers from .44-40 down to .32-20. There are times when the quick handling and easy portability of a handgun is of paramount importance for self defense, but when faced with dire threats cowboys knew it was much better to have a repeating rifle. A handgun and long arm in the same caliber was a winner on the American frontier. From a self-defense standpoint, today’s shooters can find a practical, cost-effective, modern parallel to the 19th century Colt/Winchester...

As rioters rushed through the streets of Baltimore, torching police vehicles, looting local stores, and attacking police officers and reporters alike, some intrepid leftists justified the activity.

CNN ranked #2 in cable news in April, easily topping MSNBC in Total Day among both total viewers and adults 25-54, and M-Su and M-F primetime in the demo 25-54. The network has now beaten MSNBC for 10 straight months in Total Day among both total viewers and the demo. CNN Program Highlights: The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (5-7pm) ranked #2 in cable news in the demo (157k) ahead of MSNBC by +134% (67k) and up +9% vs. year ago, while MSNBC was down by -54%. Erin Burnett Outfront (7pm) easily beat MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews in the...

The White Sox game against the Orioles at Camden Yards was postponed for the second straight night due to security concerns amid the violent protests that broke out in the city’s streets. The Orioles said the decision was made in conjunction with Major League Baseball and local and state officials. There was no immediate word about the makeup dates for the games or the status of Wednesday night’s game at Camden Yards.

Words do have meanings. But the meanings do change. We all know the common usage of the word “brother” in differentiating siblings. Well, at least we used to. Now with all the trans-gender crossovers, I guess we can’t be really sure any more. Heard a good one the other day. “Sex” is what you is. “Gender” is what you thinks you is.” But I digress again. Baptist preachers like to have themselves called “brother.” Like, Brother John, or Brother Dave. A certain ethnic group addresses themselves as brothers, or perhaps more accurately, “bros” or “bruhs.” But I fear the word...

After writing about an MSNBC talking head’s comment about the “niggerization of politics” yesterday, and watching the latest threat by the New Black Panther Party against the Republican National Convention, I thought it time to update my posts on racism and the timeline of action and inaction. In a discussion of Civil Rights in America, how often do you hear the name of Republican Senator Everett Dirksen (R-IL)? Not often. How often do you hear the name of Democrat Senator Robert Byrd in connection to civil rights? Not often but for very different reasons. Dirksen was a champion for civil...

The state’s most dedicated activists are getting showered with attention.CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa—The Monday after Easter, 73-year-old Joni Scotter found herself at the hospital for the second time in as many days. The two-time cancer survivor, having just been treated for a skin condition, was about to be hospitalized for three days after a series of tests revealed another problem: kidney failure. It didn't take long for the well-wishes to pour in from concerned friends, family—and Republican presidential contenders. Jeb Bush sent flowers and a handwritten note. Ted Cruz passed along flowers as well. Scott Walker mailed a copy of his...

Tesla’s announcement last week about creating a new line of batteries for use by businesses, consumers, and the electrical grid at large is a game-changer for the industry. Currently, when individuals or companies need back-up power, they usually rely on generators. Effective battery storage for large amounts of energy would be a game changer in that it would enable a separation of generation and use of energy produced through clean fuels like solar and wind power. The big problem with solar and wind right now is that the energy is only useful when it is actually produced and, because a...

A new report from the U.S. Geological Survey has warned the risk of 'the big one' hitting California has increased dramatically. Researchers analysed the latest data from the state's complex system of active geological faults, as well as new methods for translating these data into earthquake likelihoods. The estimate for the likelihood that California will experience a magnitude 8 or larger earthquake in the next 30 years has increased from about 4.7% to about 7.0%, they say. ... The Third Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, or UCERF3, improves upon previous models by incorporating the latest data on the state's complex...

As riots broke out, cars were set on fire and buildings turned into charred piles of rubble, many politicians used social media to send messages of hope as the city of Baltimore was looted and destroyed by protesters. But presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appeared to miss a step as she posted a message about her free bumper stickers. The former first lady was criticized for posting the message on Twitter by users who commented on her poor timing to promote her bumper stickers.