Free Republic

In the aftermath of the Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas mass shootings, a political firestorm is brewing and liberal politicians have law-abiding gun owners in their sights. In response to the shootings, President Donald Trump announced he now is looking for “very meaningful background checks” and repudiated “white supremacy.” He said he also believes lawmakers will support “red flag” laws that allow guns to be removed from those who may be a danger to themselves and others. But Democrats still blamed the president for the shootings. Joe Biden accused Trump of fanning the flames of white supremacy. “We have...

On November 7, 2016 — one day before the presidential election — mainstream polling suggested that Hillary Clinton’s chances of being elected were at or above 80 percent. Relying on data and surveys that systematically underestimated Donald Trump, the nation’s leading news publications ran headlines declaring, “Trump’s chances of winning approach zero.” The rest, as we all know too well, is history. Prior to 2016, polls provided useful and relatively accurate political forecasts. But today they can no longer be trusted—even when Trump isn’t on the ballot. While 2018 midterm polls predicted more accurate overall results than 2016, they still...

The family court systems in both the United States and Canada are supposed to adjudicate fairly when families face strife and dissolve. The courts are supposed to take the interests of both parents into account and they are supposed to look out for the interests of the children involved. In an ideal world, this is what would happen.But we do not live in an ideal world.Are family courts places where justice and fairness are meted out, or are they enablers of bias, abuse or even fraud?Everyone agrees, and statistics bear out, that children who have both parents involved in their...

So much injustice everywhere. Those deserving of severe punishment and/or execution don't receive it, and yet this man with all of his wealth and connections does die? Now, reports say his cell mate was transferred prior to his death. If all of those inmates who haven't been executed for crimes far worse than Jeffrey's haven't been executed, isn't it time for prison reform?

“A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him” (Proverbs 12:14).

Former Vice President Al Gore said his predictions from 2006 about climate change over the next ten years have come true and claimed part of the damage has been irreversible. "You said back in 2006 that the world would reach the point of no return if drastic measures weren't taken to reduce greenhouse gases by 2016. Is it already too late?" ABC News' Jonathan Karl asked during "This Week with George Stephanopolous" on Sunday. "Well, some changes, unfortunately, have already been locked in place," Gore replied. "Sea level increases are going to continue no matter what we do now. But,...

When we lift something relatively heavy, make fast movements (like hitting a tennis ball), or even stand up from sitting, we stiffen our torso. This stabilises our entire body. If we were too relaxed, we would be floppy, lose balance and risk falling over. So we fill the lungs by breathing in and tense up the muscles of the torso to stabilise the spine. We throw our arms forward to provide momentum and with this effort, we hold our breath to maintain that stability as we stand. We then release the breath slowly or quickly, depending on the nature of...

California– Denair Middle School administrators and families are dealing with a controversy surrounding a graphic called “The Unicorn Graphic.” “I’ve talked to a lot of parents and a lot of grandparents and I know a lot of them have called the school and complained about it,” grandmother Tammy Stout said. The graphic — which can be found on the website for Trans Student Educational Resources — is meant to educate people about gender identity.

It started as a joke. Early last year, President Trump riffed on an idea he called “Space Force” before a crowd of Marines in San Diego. It drew laughs, but the moment was a breakthrough for a plan that had languished for nearly 20 years. “I said maybe we need a new force, we’ll call it the Space Force,” Trump said at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in March 2018. “And I was not really serious. Then I said, ‘What a great idea, maybe we’ll have to do that.'” But now, under a new name and with Congress’ support, Space...

'Whether you're headed to Alaska, Africa or Australia, or planning a hunt for elk, moose or bear in the contiguous 48, you can't go wrong in choosing a Trophy Bonded Bear Claw,' says columnist. - Failure, it is often said, is the greatest teacher. In the hunting and shooting world, failures have inspired some innovative minds. John Nosler experienced bullet failure when hunting a huge Canadian bull moose and that incident led to the development of the Nosler Partition bullet. Jack Lott ended up further off the ground than he intended to be when he was tossed by a Mozambican...

American conservatives have - unfortunately - become used to having unsubstantiated accusations hurled at them by the Left. Almost by default, every conservative politician is labeled as a racist, with other mischaracterizations chosen from an expanding grab-bag of insults. Conservatives are frequently seen as ignorant, stupid, xenophobic, misogynistic, or intolerant. Conservatives will also know that, while the Left claim that Trump is the sole cause of our modern political division, this is not a recent phenomenon. Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan were both described as “fascists”, and George W. Bush was regularly referred to as a war-mongering imbecile. ven...

There are no sure solutions to mass attacks; one man with a weapon and motivated to kill is hard to stop. The rash of murders in El Paso, Dayton, Gilroy, and Chicago has delivered a wake-up call to a divided and angry America. There are no easy answers, but collectively searching for ways to make such attacks less likely is far more constructive than getting stuck in the current blame game! It’s easy for politicians to get coverage by blaming President Trump’s supposed “racism” while ignoring their own hateful rhetoric. The president is no more responsible for the El Paso...

Today’s Cryptogram DRAARV PNVPN TP QON GVKDG RX PNNTVE QOTVEP KP QONB KFN, KVH HRTVE QOTVEP KP QONB RIEOQ QR ZN HRVN. –PRIFDN RZPDIFN You can find this little fun word game, to combat early dementia and senility in us baby boomers, in several daily publications. The way it works is a letter stands for another letter. For example: AXYDLBAAXR is LONGFELLOW (does not apply to today's cryptogram). Beware, the game is very addictive. If this is your first time, don't be intimidated. PLEASE DO NOT post the answer in general comments, but DO post your time and any tips...

In an interview with MSNBC Sunday, Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas made the case for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, Mediaite reports. The Democrat began by arguing that it is not enough to want to defeat Trump at the polls, suggesting that the Democrats need to make an effort to impeach the president’s “philosophy.” “It is one thing to want to defeat the president at the polls. But it’s another thing to understand that we have to impeach the philosophy that he’s perpetrating upon society,” Green said. The Texas Democrat has long called for impeachment, but many of...

Today’s Campaign Update (Because The Campaign Never Ends) Wait. Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth were married? – Tongue-wagging pop star Miley Cyrus and movie heartthrob Liam Hemsworth announced they were splitting over the weekend and the big news in all of that for me was that they were actually married in the first place. But here’s the good news, folks – the couple both say they will still remain dedicated parents to their childr…er, pets: “Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time,” a rep for Cyrus told PEOPLE on Saturday. “Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they...

Just a few months since passage of the so-called First Step Act, we now know that the kinds of convicted criminals actually gaining early freedom are not the docile mice promised in the big sales pitches for this trumpeted bipartisan bill passed by the split Congress in December and signed by President Trump. The proposal was loudly billed to secure early releases of first-time, low-level, nonviolent drug offenders to home confinement on grounds that they’d gotten raw sentencing deals at a time when America was tamping down the crack cocaine-fueled national crime plagues of the early 1990s.But alas, it turns...

Full title: Will Robert Maxwell's daughter spill paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's secrets to FBI? Rumours swirl that Ghislaine Maxwell is ready to co-operate US authorities Ghislaine Maxwell was last night reported to be ready to co-operate with the American authorities in their ongoing investigation into Prince Andrew’s late friend Jeffrey Epstein. The socialite daughter of the disgraced late media tycoon Robert Maxwell has been accused of recruiting underage girls for the financier Epstein, her benefactor and sometime boyfriend. She has even been described as the ‘madam of the house’ by a former housekeeper at Epstein’s mansion in Palm Beach, Florida. Hitherto,...

Anti-sex trafficking leader praises ICE, Trump: 'No question' he's done more than previous presidents Director and activist Jaco Booyens touted President Trump's historic work in fighting sex trafficking and defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as "incredible people" who helped keep children safe. Fox News host Mark Levin asked Booyens whether Trump did more to address the issue than other presidents, including former President Barack Obama. "No question," Booyens responded on "Life, Liberty, and Levin," airing Sunday. Booyens said that despite all the criticism surrounding ICE, the agency has become a vital partner in combatting sex trafficking.

Its Swingin' Monday and here's Jimmy Bryant & Speedy West with their 1953 recording of This Ain't The Blues. The tune is on the Bear Family Records box set titled Flamin' Guitars. THE WESTERNER https://thewesterner.blogspot.com/

Not only is the U.S. Postal Service delivering less mail – it is now delivering fewer packages Opens a New Window. after it warned Congress Opens a New Window. it could run out of cash in the not so distant future. In the agency’s latest quarterly statement, it reported a net loss of nearly $2.3 billion as it delivered 3.2 percent fewer packages. Revenue from packages, however, increased due to higher prices. But the decline in package volume – the first decrease in nearly a decade – could spell even more trouble for the financially-stricken agency, as its courier competitors...