Free Republic

As the Republican presidential contenders ratchet up their uncivil war —the carnival debates, the Twitter shootouts, the talk of third-party challenges and a brokered convention — the dominant political headline is the crisis in the GOP. But look more closely: The Republican Party isn't the only one in trouble. The real identity crisis may be the one in the party in which none of this was supposed to happen—the party with a well-financed, brand-name candidate who suddenly finds her coronation interrupted by a 74-year-old socialist with a Brooklyn accent as thick as Junior’s Cheesecake. That’s not the script anyone predicted...

Ted is the ultimate hypocrite. Says one thing for money, does another for votes. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/politics/at-new-york-reception-ted-cruz-is-said-to-strike-different-tone-toward-gays.html?referer= Senator Ted Cruz has positioned himself as a strong opponent of same-sex marriage, urging pastors nationwide to preach in support of marriage as an institution between a man and a woman, which he said was “ordained by God." But on Monday night, at a reception for him at the Manhattan apartment of two prominent gay hoteliers, the Texas senator and Republican presidential hopeful struck quite a different tone. During the gathering, according to two people present, Mr. Cruz said he would not love his daughters...

Ted Cruz’s "New York Values" quip may have been ill-advised politically (we'll see), but what New Yorkers generally and Trump supporters specifically need to understand is that Cruz was referring to a "Meet the Press" interview in which Donald Trump referenced how living in New York helped frame his [then] very Liberal "values." .... Russert: Would you ban abortion? Trump: No. Russert: Would you ban partial birth abortion? Trump: "No. I am pro-choice in every respect, as far as it goes."..... There are no doubt "good trees" in New York, which are producing "good fruit", but on the whole, politically,...

Speaker Paul Ryan gives the Republican Party's Weekly Remarks Here in Baltimore, over the last few days, Republicans have been talking about ideas to address the big challenges facing our country. Right now, Americans are anxious about their security and their futures. We want to save the American Idea for the vast majority of Americans who believe it's just not there for them anymore. We want America to lead again. We want America to be confident again. That is our mission. To do that, we can't just be an opposition party. We have to be a proposition party. If we...

Heads up

Rudy Giuliani on Friday said Ted Cruz should apologize to New York City for attacking its "values" in the presidential race."After all we have been through as a city and as one undivided nation, to have a United States senator running for President paint New York as a city consumed with greed, sin and media obsession is shocking," Giuiani, who has not made an endorsement in the 2016 race, wrote in the New York Daily News."Sen. Ted Cruz should apologize to the people of New York for his remarks and to the people of the United States for his crass...

Trump appeared on Meet The Press on October 24, 1999, where he had several exchanges with Tim Russert: RUSSERT: Do you think gays should be allowed to be married? TRUMP: It’s something I haven’t given lots of thought to. I live in New York City, there is a tremendous movement on to have and allow gay marriage. It’s just something that is too premature for me to comment on. RUSSERT: How about gays serving in the military? TRUMP: It would not disturb me. I mean, hey, I lived in New York City and Manhattan all my life, so my views...

127 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Since I called this race six months ago predicting it would be Trump and Cruz when everyone else was for Bush/Perry/Walker it is time to break down the two candidates before the actual voting occurs. I do not carry the baggage of working for an outlet or live in the Corridor or am even a Repub; it gives an objectivity and freedom none of the Echo Chamber has. If either one of them were...

I've been amazed how many so-called conservatives are appealing to Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Tribe as an authority on what a natural born citizen is. He's a very weak reed too lean on for lots of reasons. Pick almost any subject, and Tribe is most likely on the other side. Tribe has described Ted Cruz as one of his brightest students when he was a student at Harvard Law School. This should tell conservatives something. If Cruz is that intelligent and a formidable debater, and he is on the other side ideologically from Tribe, liberals like himself must make sure...

To our masters at the GOPe, No doubt you people remember your first reactions to Trump's major policy announcements (the wall, Muslims, etc.). It was one of pure attack at Trump, no credence to his concerns and absolutely no concern at all that the Republican voters, if not most of the country, just might agree with him. Nope, all you could do was ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK, both Trump and the 'Crazies' (what John McCain calls us Trump supporters). By doing so, you have driven us people that agree with Trump right into his bear hug and there is no way...

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has invited a controversial activist and journalist who has asserted that white men who like guns are compensating for "small penises and low sex drive" to campaign for him at historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) across the U.S. The journalist-activist, New York Daily News columnist Shaun King, made the announcement on social media on Friday. He said that he will attend Sanders campaign events held at HBCUs along with Cornel West, a prominent left-wing professor and activist, and other grassroots activists.

Teachers and students at one New Jersey school said they hit the jackpot with one of their teachers who’s been with the school for more than 20 years. “I think you have to take care of yourself and be happy,” said Zhelesnik. “I had a good life, a good life.” Zhelesnik, who has no plans to retire any time soon, said another part of her secret to longevity is good food.

TEHRAN - Iran announced Saturday that it had released four Iranian-Americans as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States. The announcement from the judiciary on state television did not identify the four, but Iranian news media said they included Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent; Amir Hekmati, a Marine veteran; and Saeed Abedini, a pastor. There were discrepancies in the Iranian reports about the identity of the fourth prisoner. It was not immediately clear whom the Americans released, but Iranian reports said seven Iranians were freed. The exchange was apparently orchestrated to coincide with the expected announcement...

Iran freed four Americans including a Washington Post reporter on Saturday in a prisoner swap, as diplomats gathered to announce the lifting of international sanctions and bring the country of 80 million people back to the global economic stage.

The developed world appears to be changing in the same direction, at the same time, at an alarming speed, relatively speaking. What is the common denominator and drive behind this change towards a one world global governance and global citizenship? What is rushing everything towards global socialism? How is this possible when countries have different levels of development, education, economies, government, history, religion, wars, and conflicts? The wails and demands of "equality" resound in the corridors of power and in the mainstream media around the globe. I've heard the tired-out claims that "Socialism means genuine social equality," giving "basic rights...

"Ted Cruz attacking Donald Trump for his "New York values" isn't all that surprising, nor was it a spur of the moment retort. The top two contenders for the Republican presidential nomination are competing aggressively for evangelicals and other socially conservative voters who are influential in the crucial Iowa caucuses. Cruz's implicit charge is that the thrice-married, four-times bankrupted Trump lives his life just like all the other Manhattan liberals, and an obvious play to depress the reality television star’s support among heartland conservatives." The swipe was straight out of the playbook of the Texas senator's bulldog campaign manager, Missourian...

Bill Kristol argues that because Republican presidential candidates aren't focusing on such issues as Obamacare and Supreme Court appointments-crucial issues on which Donald Trump is quite vulnerable—GOP voters are becoming "increasingly comfortable" with the notion of casting a ballot for Trump. A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll of likely Republican primary voters provides further evidence of this increasing level of comfort. The poll finds that as of ten months ago, less than a quarter (23 percent) of GOP voters "could see" themselves supporting Trump for the nomination. (Trump's 23 percent then trailed the tallies for all GOP candidates except for...

Once again, a Democratic debate is being held on the weekend, and this one could have a slimmer audience than usual -- coming on the same day as two NFL playoff games, not to mention "Downton Abbey." The Sunday night debate in South Carolina, hosted by NBC News, is the latest in a series of weekend Democratic bouts. The timing has fueled allegations from Hillary Clinton's rivals that party leaders are working behind the scenes to minimize her exposure. This Sunday's debate is in a particularly rough slot -- forcing NFL fans and period drama lovers to choose between politics...

Interview recorded this morning with Ludovic Lopez, a European political leader who is standing up to protect the interests of the west. Interview covers the Islamic invasion, rape crisis, and the corrupt EU politics. Interview begins about 25 into the program. Other topics discussed at the beginning of the show: - Iranian capture of U.S. sailors - SOTU - GOP debate The problems that Mr. Lopez discusses affecting Europe echo the problems the United States has. Much to think about. Did you learn anything? Comments are welcome and very much encouraged!

"A key barometer of world trade has crashed to a record low in a worrying sign the global economy is grinding to a halt. The so-called Baltic Dry Index, which measures the cost of shipping raw materials such as coal, iron ore and grain, has fallen nearly 70 per cent since August to its lowest level since its introduction in 1985. The slump – which analysts said showed 'global trade is really suffering' as the outlook worldwide darkens – fuelled fears that the economy is heading for the rocks. It came on another bruising day for investors as worries about...