Free Republic

Fidel Castro is running scared. His rubber-stamp National Assembly has convened a special two-day session to rewrite the Cuban constitution to make Castro's brand of socialism "untouchable." The assembly was to perform this chore at a regular session July 25, but the assembly president reckoned the rewrite was so pressingly urgent that he asked Castro for permission to hold the special session. Castro graciously agreed, and, in a gesture that can't be good for the island's rickety economy, gave Cubans Monday and Tuesday off so they can follow the proceedings. Why anybody would want to watch is doubtful because the...

Pledge Declared Unconstitutional

Tatum O' Neal says her ex-husband John McEnroe took steriods while on the pro tennis tour, and used cocaine and marijuana-but only off the court.O'Neal spoke about McEnroe on ABC's '20/20,' which is scheduled to air Friday in response to his autobiography, 'You Cannot Be Serious.'McEnroe, now a TV commentator wrote in the book that they 'were high' the first time they had sex in 1984 but didn't reveal the drug.O'Neal in the interview said it was cocaine.

A Few of FR's Finest...........Every Day FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues;  salute and support our military and our leaders;  tell a few jokes;  learn a new word;  write poetry;  pray for those in need;  and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves. Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.  I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars...

Did reporter Ron Suskind make up the titillating quotes by Andy Card (in which he called Karl Rove "a beast" and said that with Karen Hughes gone "the balance of what has worked up to now for George Bush, is gone, simply gone") that attracted so much attention in the July issue of Esquire? The Bush administration sure wants you to think so. After the article came out, White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett said Suskind has a "hyperactive imagination" and that his story was "not an accurate representation of this White House." White House spokesman Ari Fleischer added, "We...

'God talk' blurs traditional separation of parties Texas Democrats strive to dispel notion that they're anti-religious 06/26/2002 By COLLEEN McCAIN NELSON / The Dallas Morning News One of the hottest bumper stickers at the Texas Republican convention advertised: "G.O.P: God's Official Party." Democrats say they want to change that. The party that in the past has criticized Republicans for mixing prayer with politics is trying to shake the rap of being anti-religious. Also Online What role should religion play in a political campaign? Comment | Results As Democrats try to square their image as both secular and welcoming to...

UNBELIEVABLE. BREAKING ON FOX: SF APPEALS COURT SAYS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ENDORSES RELIGION, AND IS THEREBY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Milosevic Knew About Secret Police Work in Kosovo June 26, 2002 08:12 AM ET By Julijana Mojsilovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic's secret police chief during the Kosovo conflict has said his boss was informed about work carried out by the secret service but denied the former Yugoslav strongman had direct control over it. In an interview from jail, Rade Markovic, who ran Serbia's powerful State Security (DB) agency in the final years of Milosevic's rule, acknowledged crimes were committed in Kosovo but said he did not know of paramilitary units operating there. For the Reuters interview, Markovic responded in...

A rare bright spot in the gloomy technology industry, video games are growing up IT IS an enthralling scenario, worthy of a summer science-fiction blockbuster: three vast empires mass-produce millions of electronic drones and send them into battle. The balance of power shifts repeatedly, as technological advances and cunning tactical footwork give first one empire, then another, the upper hand. But this is no movie. It is the video-games industry, the scene of a vicious three-way fight between Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. Nothing illustrates the battle's ferocity better than the eye-watering price cuts of the past few weeks. Sony, whose...

The family court system in California is "crippled, incompetent and corrupt" and enriches judges, attorneys and mental-health professionals at the expense of children, according to a new report to be released today by the California branch of the National Organization for Women. After a three-year inquiry, the report's authors concluded that the state's family law courts have developed into "full employment programs" for private court mediators, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, educators and attorneys. "What we are seeing is a lack of ethics and proper courtroom codes in the family law system," said Rachel Allen, public relations director for NOW. "As a...

Rate stays at 1.75%, staying w/neutral bias.

Ten Commandments Taken Down in Rutherford County Courthouse Email story to a friend The Ten Commandments have been taken down from the Rutherford County courthouse. Officials removed a display Monday in response to a temporary injunction issued Friday by a federal judge. State ACLU Director Hedy Weinberg called the court order "a victory for religious freedom." The Rutherford County executive had no comment. A federal judge in Nashville heard arguments in the case, but has not yet issued a ruling.

As is common with any controversial issue, there's a great deal of misinformation floating about, and misperceptions held by those affected by the issue. Nowhere is this truer than with 1994's infamous "Crime Bill," the second significant piece of federal firearms legislation passed that year. Aside from the "assault weapons" (whatever those are) provisions, a significant portion of that bill dealt with magazines (or "clips" by the unknowing, the lazy or the sloppy thinkers)... very simply, if one is a civilian (non-military, non-law enforcement), one may not legally possess any "high capacity ammunition feeding device" of more than ten rounds...

<p>June 25, 2002 -- GOODNIGHT, Maury and Matthew? When Connie Chung said those words at the conclusion of her first show on CNN last night, the sound of my groaning could be heard a block away.</p> <p>Rule No. 1: Anchorwomen should not use their national news programs to bid "night night" to their husbands and young children.</p>

U.S.-Saudi relations understandably have come under a great deal of scrutiny since Sept 11. It is natural for us to ask hard questions about why so many Saudis were among the hijackers and among those apprehended in Afghanistan. Our cultures couldn't be more different. There is much that separates us. If enhanced public scrutiny of our relationship leads to better understanding and a strengthened commitment to work together to confront challenges to global peace and security, we will be able to prevent future acts of terrorism. But if we strike out blindly against perceived enemies and undermine the ability of...

The search for a murder suspect ended on Independence Boulevard just before noon today when the suspect was struck by a tractor-trailer and killed.Witnesses told police the man ran in front of an 18-wheeler, turned his back to the truck, bent over and grabbed his knees about 11:45 a.m. The truck hit Delvecchio Durran Boyd, 23, killing him instantly, police said."There was nothing the truck driver could do to avoid hitting him," said Officer Lee Ratliff, a police spokesman.Witnesses told police that minutes before Boyd was killed, he walked in front of a car. It swerved and missed him, police...

The Advertiser June 26, 2002, Wednesday HEADLINE: Flood toll rises BEIJING: The official death toll in floods which have devastated large areas of China has risen to more than 750. More than 57 million people have been affected, with up to 800,000 homes destroyed. At least 543 die in China floods Beijing, June 26. (Reuters): Heavy flooding in China has killed at least 543 people this month and the toll is likely to jump when the summer flood season peaks in July and August, the China Daily reported today. Nearly 300 people were missing in just three of the hardest...

June 26 — After analyzing six decades of expert research on corporal punishment, a psychologist says parents who spank their children risk causing long-term harm that outweighs the short-term benefit of instant obedience. THE PSYCHOLOGIST, Elizabeth Gershoff, found links between spanking and 10 negative behaviors or experiences, including aggression, anti-social behavior and abuse of children and spouses in adulthood. The one positive result of spanking that she identified was quick compliance with parental demands. “Americans need to re-evaluate why we believe it is reasonable to hit young, vulnerable children, when it is against the law to hit other adults, prisoners,...

FORT WORTH, Texas, 12:41 p.m. CDT June 26, 2002 - A tanker truck reportedly carrying 9,000 gallons of gasoline exploded and burned just south of DFW Airport this morning right near a daycare.....

 New Katie Couric Dolls Set to Fly Off the Shelves      NEW YORK -- This fall, thousands of girls are stepping into the shoes of Today Show host Katie Couric, as she becomes the latest leftist-chick-with-a-television-show to also have a doll made in her image. Advo Katie™ is a nine-year-old girl growing up in New York City during America's Great Decline. She's a big time morning-show personality, a member of a rock band, and the voice of women everywhere. Pull her colonoscopy tube and hear her say:  "Good morning. The Gipper was an airhead."  OR"Republicans want to take food and...