Free Republic

<p>Conservatives and patriots understandably have great affinity for the United States military. It has historically won great victories that have both advanced liberty abroad and protected it at home. For close to 80 years, it has been beyond question the most advanced and powerful fighting force on planet Earth. Relative to its potential adversaries, the American armed forces of the past few decades could arguably be the most powerful military that has ever existed in any country at any time in world history.</p>

Thursday’s long-awaited Old Masters sale at Sotheby’s New York had been billed as potentially being the biggest sale of its kind ever with a pre-sale estimate, not including buyers’ premium, of $121.9 million–$142.8 million. But after three lots were withdrawn, including a highly rated $20 million–$30 million Rembrandt from the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art trustee Mark Fisch, that estimate was reduced to $100 million–$110 million. Nonetheless, the sale continued Sotheby’s New York winter Old Master sales steady upward trajectory, arguably at the expense of the London equivalents. Since 2017, totals from these sales have risen from $35.8 million...

China ratcheted up its rhetoric towards Taiwan on Thursday, bluntly warning the island that “independence means war” after increased Chinese military activity was recorded near Taiwan over the weekend. “We warn Taiwan independence elements: those who play with fire will be burned. Taiwan independence means war,” warned Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian. China sent a total of 28 Chinese fighter jets and bombers into the Taiwan Strait and the island’s southwestern air defense identification zone over the weekend, just days after President Biden’s inauguration. The U.S. responded swiftly with a warning to China to back down from...

If you have any doubts at all that ‘President’ Joe Biden is suffering from serious and rapidly-progressing cognitive decline, let me reassure you that he absolutely is not only declining, he has descended into meaningless gibberish. Even for those of you used to trying decipher what comes out of his mouth, this will be something new indeed. He almost sounds like he’s having a mild stroke while he’s talking, and I don’t mean that meanly. The video is at the bottom, take a look for yourself and see. It’s stunning, actually. “For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners...

Once upon a time, I found myself in an abusive situation. It wasn't my choice. I was born to a man who indulged in extreme blackout rages. Ignorant of the Age of Emancipation, by the time I was of age to flee, I was too terrified to physically leave him. He held a godlike stature in my mind. My abuser derived his only power from the consent of the abused (me). Now where have I read that phrase before? Oh yes! The Declaration of Independence. "Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Abusers and traitors like Pedodent...

Several Florida teachers who received special permission to work from home due to coronavirus-related health concerns were found traveling and attending mass gatherings. At an arbitration hearing this weekend, Broward County Public Schools brought forward evidence—including pictures posted to public social media accounts—that teachers who were granted permission to work from home because of the coronavirus pandemic had attended parties and other crowded events last fall. One teacher flew to a wedding in Jamaica, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and another took a selfie at an October rally for then-candidate Joe Biden. The hearing resolved a Broward Teachers Union...

French Bishops Respond to Inquiry into the “Extraordinary Rite” The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith last March conducted a survey of bishops around the world on the application of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum in dioceses. The Conference of Bishops of France (Cef) provided a summary of the results.This manner of proceeding is characteristic of the modern collegial spirit. A bishop has authority in his diocese, and he may have his own judgments that will not necessarily be accurately reflected in a synthesis of the thinking of all the bishops in a country.The document reveals that 87...

Unsurprisingly, the package of 13 Chinese combat aircraft, (including eight H-6 bombers) entering Taiwan’s ADIZ last Saturday were carrying out a mock attack on USS Theodore Roosevelt.As already reported in detail, a total of 28 aircraft, including as many as eight PLAAF (People’s Liberation Army Air Force) H-6 bombers, “intruded” into Taiwan’s ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone) between Jan. 23 and 24, 2021.In particular, we noticed that the mission on Saturday Jan. 23, was conducted as the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), led by USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier entered the South China Sea (SCS) “to conduct routine operations”.At...

Ohio Republican state reps Jon Cross and Reggie Stoltzfus announced Friday that they are seeking co-sponsors for a bill that would recognize the date of June 14 as “President Donald J. Trump Day” in the interest of celebrating one of the greatest presidents in American history.” In a statement released Friday afternoon, Cross and Stoltzfus declare, “Former President Donald J. Trump was our 45th President of the United States and against great odds, accomplished many things that have led our nation to unparalleled prosperity.” June 14 is President Trump’s birthday, and also overlaps with Flag Day. “Let’s show the 3,154,834...

Cassocks, Tradition, and the Dying of the New Church of Vatican IIThe blog, Messa in Latino, quite recently published two pieces about Facebook postings by one of the clergy of the Bergamo diocese, Monsignor Alberto Cararra. They are both significant in offering hope that even in Italy the light of Tradition may be dawning.The first piece is about the ordination of three young men to the priesthood in the Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro Martyr this past August. The author points out that as late as the early ‘90s the diocese was ordaining over twenty priests a year. So that only three...

The Biden administration announced that American taxpayers will now fund the killing of unborn babies not just in Mexico – but around the world. “It will be our policy to support women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in the United States, as well as globally,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci during his remarks at the World Health Organization Executive Board Meeting last week. Pro-life advocacy groups were rightfully disgusted by the president's heinous actions. President Biden’s memo rescinding the so-called “Mexico City policy” on the eve of this year’s March for Life, “is a deeply disturbing move,...

Is the repatriation of crew members from Norwegian Cruise Line ships this week a sign of worse to come? It could very well be. The company’s decision to sign-on thousands of crew members only two months ago in Manila and Mumbai has now been turned back again as non-essential crew members are sailing home. The repatriation will not have been a decision made lightly by the company. However, it poses a whole new question, why was the decision to board crew members made in the first place, and why has that been overturned? The CDC is Quiet Multiple reports have...

Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to the chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission Friday, asking that the group explain to Congress and the public what they are doing to address the recent market activity surrounding GameStop and other companies.The Massachusetts senator wrote that the SEC, which oversees the stock market, has failed to control “years of distortion in securities markets,” exacerbating wealth inequalities. She is asking that the SEC respond to her questions by Feb. 5.“The Commission must review recent market activity affecting GameStop and other companies, and act to ensure that markets reflect real value, rather than...

According to reports, President Trump is working with top GOP officials to make a return to the political arena. In an interview Thursday, long-time Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski said the President is actively recruiting candidates for the 2022 elections with plans to hold Democrats and some Republicans accountable. Lewandowski went on to confirm President Trump has access to hundreds of millions of dollars raised during his campaign last year and he intends to use that money to pull control of government away from Democrats. Allies of Joe Biden are reportedly concerned considering a number of top Trump officials have held...

It’s happened. You’ve finally taken that dream trip to England. You have seen Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Hyde Park. You rode in a London cab and walked all over the Tower of London. Now you’ve decided to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and stretch your legs in the verdant countryside of these green and pleasant lands. You’ve seen all the shows. You know what to expect. You’ll drink a pint in the sunny courtyard of a local pub. You’ll wander down charming alleyways between stone cottages. Residents will tip their flat caps at you as they...

A section of Highway 1 in Big Sur has disappeared. One lane of the highway was struck by debris flow and washed away, Caltrans reported. The road continues to erode as debris and water continues to flow down off the Big Sur mountains. According to Big Sur Fire, the section of highway is located at Rat Creek, south of Esalen and north of Big Creek. Caltrans crews will be out at the damaged section of road Friday morning to fully assess the damage.

[Catholic Caucus] Pope to Roman Rota: protect the integral good of the familyPope Francis on Friday addressed the officials of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota on the occasion of the inauguration of their Judicial Year.In his message, the Pope held up the theme of Christian matrimony, recalling his message to the Tribunal officials last year. He also highlighted that the good of the family, especially that of children, should be considered even beyond the situations of matrimonial nullity.The Tribunal is the Church's highest court that handles appeals of marriage annulment cases. it also deals with other judicial and non-administrative...

A century ago today, 20-year-old Albert Walter strolled the 15 feet from the death cell to the Sing Sing electric chair, calling out “Good-bye boys” to his fellow-prisoners as he died for the murder of 15-year-old Ruth Wheeler in a possible white slavery crime two years earlier. Wolter left a note steadily — all the reports remark on the youth’s sangfroid; he took a nap while the jury went to deliberate with his life in its hands — avowing his innocence, and indulging the “hope there may come a time when the conscience of the perpetrator will overpower him, and...

Donald Trump may be out of office, but that does not mean that liberal singer Miley Cyrus is done attacking him.

Source: Official White House Photo by Shealah CraigheadCOVID-19 has upended our lives and highlighted government incompetence, but it is also necessary to showcase government’s successes during the pandemic. Perhaps the greatest example of government success concerning the pandemic is the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed.In short, due to the Trump administration’s no-nonsense approach regarding the development of the vaccine, in which the federal government partnered with several private companies and drastically reduced red tape and regulatory hurdles, the United States has three viable vaccines.Remarkably, Operation Warp Speed has resulted in multiple vaccines in less than a year. Before Operation Warp...