Free Republic

DES MOINES, Iowa — Republican presidential candidates are frantically crisscrossing Iowa telling caucus-goers they are the only voters in the world that matter. But not front-runner Donald Trump. While Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are camped out here until the Feb. 1 caucuses, Trump is following a different playbook. He’s got a 757, and he’s flying it around the country in the final week regardless of what his rivals are doing. After barnstorming in Iowa over the weekend — he even overnighted in Sioux City — Trump has trips planned for New Hampshire on Monday and South Carolina on Wednesday,...

Celebrating an Apocalyptic Plague Pope Francis to Lead "Common worship service" to Commemorate 5th Centenary of Lutheran Revolt Note: It is now official what many of us expected. Pope Francis will participate in ceremony commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The January 25 Vatican Bollitano announces: "The Holy Father Francis in Lund, Sweden, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. His Holiness Francis intends to participate in a joint ceremony of the Catholic Church and the World Lutheran Federation to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, scheduled to take place in Lund, Sweden on Monday 31 October...

The first month of the year isn't even over yet and as people in the Northeast are digging their way out of one of the biggest snowstorms in recorded history, Time magazine has a message for you: "2016 Expected to Be the Warmest Year on Record." Yes, they couldn't even wait for the temperature readings to be evaluated in the months to come to make that prediction. Just as much of the mainstream media have already declared 2014 and 2015 based on highly questionable evidence, they are already declaring 2016 to be even hotter based on absolutely no evidence other...

In their latest unbiased, dispassionate look at the weighty issues of the day, the editorial board at the Washington Post has decided to tackle the illegal alien problem with a piece titled, Immigration in Reverse. This one was worth a peek, if only for the number of logical breakdowns which take place along the way, but also for the way they choose to once again label anyone who supports border control or has questions about Syrian “refugees” flooding the nation as “nativists.” THE ANTI-ILLEGAL immigrant rancor and outright nativism afoot in the Republican primary field give rise to the impression...

Cruz to tea party supporters: Don't get 'burned' by fake conservatives...

From The Week: There’s something faintly comical about everyone in the Republican party shouting, “I’m not the establishment. That guy is.” The conservative movement long ago defeated the East Coast establishment of the party. It was a total rout; the last semi-moderate New England Republicans were defeated a decade ago. And yet, conservatives still insist that they are fighting some powerful establishment within the Republican Party.

A highly contagious strain of canine influenza has sickened thousands of dogs across the United States and continues to spread, according to information recently released by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). ... The AVMA reports that fewer than 10 percent of dogs die from canine influenza, but it can lead to fatal cases of pneumonia. Most dogs recover in two to three weeks, but given that lengthy period of time, it is understandable how the illness can take its toll on elderly, young and other vulnerable dogs. H3N2 is one of two viruses that cause flu in dogs. Another...

I have never, ever had anyone tell me that he had too much ammunition. Not in a combat zone, not in a civil disaster, not even in peacetime. Never. Nor have I lived through a time where our governing class was so deeply corrupt, so utterly foolish, and so dangerously focused on the perpetuation of its own power that it risked bringing down everything we have built not merely in the United States but in the entire West. Right now, if you are watching the news, you have questions about the future. And the answer to all of them is...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Inmates who were sentenced to life imprisonment as juveniles should be able to file for a re-evaluation -- and possibly attain parole, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday. In a 6-to-3 ruling, the high court ruled a 2012 decision prohibiting minors from being sentenced to life in prison without parole should be retroactive to include all applicable cases. In delivering the opinion for the court, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the ruling doesn't automatically grant parole -- just the right to a review, which could lead to parole.

WAYNE — An exorcism and a slap-down were part of a "cult-like" hazing activity in which students took on "alter egos" at William Paterson University in 2013, according to a state appeals court decision. The court described those activities by what was apparently a small, unofficial group of students in its ruling Monday, denying an appeal filed by two students, Jedediah Rockwell and Krishani Nadarajah, who were found responsible for hazing, and in one case, assault, by a university hearing board. Their appeal sought to overturn the results of the hearing. Both students were disciplined and one was suspended following...

In 1994 a New Jersey state agency known as the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) tried to seize the home of an elderly widow named Vera Coking, who lived just off of Atlantic City's famous beachfront boardwalk. In place of Coking's modest residence, state officials envisioned a new limousine parking lot for the neighboring Trump Plaza, the high-rise hotel and casino owned and operated by real estate tycoon Donald Trump. Thankfully, this preposterous attempt to wield eminent domain on Trump's behalf was struck down in court. "What has occurred here is analogous to giving Trump a blank check with respect...

Before U.S. employers can hire a foreign worker using an H1-B visa, they are required by law to prove that there are no U.S. workers who are qualified to do the job. In this video, the speaker gives employers advice on how to place job ads in such a way so that no U.S. worker will get hired, so they can then hire foreign workers at lower wages. At 1:43, the speaker says “… our goal is clearly not to find a qualified and interested U.S. worker…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU

On January 24, 1986, NAS's Voyager 2 spacecraft reached Uranus. It was the first and only time we have ever visited the mysterious gas giant. 30 years ago, Voyager 2 closely studied the planet for 5.5 hours as it soared within 50,600 miles. "We knew Uranus would be different because it's tipped on its side, and we expected surprises," said Ed Stone, project scientist for the Voyager mission. Stone continues in his role as project scientist to this day. Much like how Pluto is surprising scientists today, Uranus stunned 30 years ago. The up-close study of the planet revealed it...

Lewandowski’s bluffing, just as Trump bluffed before the September debate in implying that he might not participate unless CNN devoted the proceeds to veterans groups. Stirring a little extra controversy is all part of Trump’s regular debate pre-game. And there’s not a ghost of a chance that Roger Ailes will meet his demand: Not only would he look weak in caving, he would humiliate the network’s new biggest star in doing so. If Fox wants to keep Kelly away from network news, agreeing with Trump that she’s tainted by bias and needs to be kicked off the panel would be...

As one of the 22 co-founders of the national tea party movement, I am concerned over the fact that our nation has moved away from the principles of liberty we were founded on. I have been an activist fighting for conservative principles since 1976, so I reject individuals and publications that try to tell me what conservatism is. I have watched over the years as we have allowed deep pocketed special interests to set the agenda in Washington D.C. instead of we the people. These special interests gain support for their agenda, by even principled conservatives, using their millions of...

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) caught nearly everybody off guard late Wednesday by quietly clearing the path for new legislation to declare war on the self-described Islamic State -- an issue he'd signaled for months he had no interest in touching. McConnell introduced a sweeping authorization for the use of military force, or AUMF, that would give the president new authority to take action against the militant group also known as ISIS or ISIL. It wouldn't put any limits on the duration, geography or use of U.S. ground combat troops in the war, or on the means by which...

Donald Trump has been one of my heroes for over seven years. I put this video together to show my support for what will be remembered as the most historic political campaign in American history. Please help support Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, so that together we can make America great again! https://www.donaldjtrump.com/ Follow me on Twitter: @niskeytv Follow Donald Trump on Twitter: @realDonaldTrump

Democrat front-runner Hillary Clinton had a coughing fit on Monday that will do little to quell rumors the former U.S. secretary of state is in poor Health. The 68-year-old Clinton had to stop a speech in West Des Moines, Iowa, to try and compose herself after a hacking attack. “.@HillaryClinton has coughing attack at West Des Moines event, may be unable to finish remarks,” Amy Chozick of the New York Times said on Twitter. Clinton’s health has been a question of speculation since her last coughing fit before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on October, 22, 2015. Media titan...

McDonald's sales were better than expected in the fourth quarter, helped by the launch of all-day breakfasts in the US. Global same-restaurant sales at the fast food giant grew 5%. McDonald's extended US breakfasts beyond 10:30am in October, saying it was customers' number one request. The company, working to turnaround its business under chief executive Steve Easterbrook, said the breakfast change helped US sales grow 5.7%. Fourth-quarter revenue fell 4% to $6.4bn (£4.5bn) due to the strong dollar, but profits rose 10% to $1.2bn, McDonald's said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is and has always been fond of communist "ideas", while also comparing the Soviet code of conduct to the Holy Bible, independent news agency Interfax reported. ... "I was not, as you know, a party member by necessity," he said. "I liked communist and socialist ideas very much and I like them still."