Free Republic

Don Manoukian, the original Oakland Raider who turned to pro wrestling, died Tuesday in Reno, Nevada at age 80.

When Frank Tripucka first arrived in Denver in 1960 to work for the newly-formed Broncos of the newly-formed American Football League, he was only supposed to help assist head coach Frank Filchock in a coaching capacity. Funny thing about that. Tripucka was apparently the best option the team had at quarterback. Thus, though he hadn't played in the NFL since 1952, he took over the starting spot and proceeded to throw for a career- and league-high 3,038 yards that season. Tripucka -- who died Thursday morning at the age of 85 -- started for two more seasons (and led the...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. labor unions said on Thursday they were closer to resolving problems with wages for future unskilled immigrant workers like janitors and housekeepers - an issue that has stalled progress on a U.S. Senate proposal to overhaul the immigration system. "We have moved off poverty level wages and are moving forward and are working on a standard that will protect U.S. workers," said Andrea Zuniga DiBitetto, legislative representative for the biggest union the AFL-CIO. Late last week, disputes over a new visa program for foreign workers between the AFL-CIO, the labor federation, and the U.S. Chamber of...

Labor: Who says intransigence doesn't pay? After driving Hostess out of business by refusing to negotiate, union bakers have been rewarded by the White House with Trade Adjustment Assistance. It's all the foreigners' fault. Politics: Who says intransigence doesn't pay? After driving Hostess out of business by refusing to negotiate, the White House has decided to reward the union bakers with Trade Adjustment Assistence, blaming foreigners. What a sweet deal. ... the AFL-CIO-affiliated Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International (BCTGM). It refused to deal, taking the entire company, including fellow workers, down with it. Turns out the union...

This article analyzes the history of labor union violence, and how Rep. Capuano's comments are a perfect continuation of this historical truth. Labor Unions: A History of Murder and Sabotage The New American 28 February 2011 The raging union-led protests in Wisconsin have resulted in many Americans taking a closer, more critical look at labor unions and their political clout and influence in shaping policy. With the ubiquitous announcement from AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka that he is granted an audience at the White House “nearly every day,” the American people have become more skeptical of unions and the role...

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says that he should be paying more in taxes – but added that he’s “sure” he’s paying more than his fair share. CNSNews.com asked: “President Obama and the White House have defined the wealthy as those who make above $250,000 a year. You made, with benefits, according to UnionFacts.com, $283,340 in 2010 --” Trumka interrupted: “That includes expenses by the way. They distort those little things. But what’s your point?” CNSNews.com continued: “-- and therefore (are) part of the wealthy according to Obama. Should you as AFL-CIO president pay more in taxes?” “Yes,” Trumka said. When...

As President Obama's poll numbers continue to slide, congressional Democrats faced with increasingly tough re-election contests are turning to their best remaining friend, Big Labor, for help. Tuesday's enactment of a $26 billion "jobs bill" was carefully tailored to please public-sector unions, especially those representing teachers. The House majority hopes labor will reciprocate by delivering votes in the fall. The latest federal cash infusion will help states avoid making tough budgetary decisions that might endanger the obscene salary and pension plans offered to teachers and bureaucrats at the state and local level. Last year, for example, the California Department of...

Among the most important sub-texts in the year-long national debate over Obamacare has been the massive support for the proposal by organized labor and the opposition of most of the business community. Erick Erickson, the dough-faced, take-no-prisoners proprietor of the Redstate.com blog and CNN's newest political analyst, offers an interesting tidbit of information that helps illuminate the Labor vs Business factor in the Obamacare debate. Seems the chief organized labor non-profit is the AFL-CIO's American Center for International Labor Solidarity, aka the Solidarity Center.

Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described "bleeding-heart conservative," died Saturday. He was 73. Kemp died after a lengthy illness, according to spokeswoman Bona Park and Edwin J. Feulner, a longtime friend and former campaign adviser. Park said Kemp died at his home in Bethesda, Md., in the Washington suburbs.

After a lifetime of public service and a painful illness, Jack Kemp has died. Our prayers are with his family.

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described "bleeding-heart conservative" died Saturday. He was 73.

Advocates of legalization have crafted a plan that could alienate businesses and key Republicans, including Sen. John McCain. But it is designed to lure a powerful new ally -- organized labor. BY PETER WALLSTEN With their prospects in Congress sinking along with the economy, liberal advocates of giving undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship are launching a risky strategy to push lawmakers and the White House to take up their cause. They are devising a proposal in which millions of undocumented workers would be legalized now, while the number of foreign workers allowed to enter the country would be examined...

EIU chief Andrew Stern's backing of a divorce for UNITE HERE, and his offer to merge with that union, has provoked off-record grumbling on the HERE side of the divided union. Today, it brought an an on-record shot from a division of the AFL-CIO, which SEIU and UNITE HERE left to form Change to Win. "A guiding principle of American trade unionism is and always has been that one union or federation of unions must not interfere in the democratic processes of another union or federation," said Building and Construction Trades Department President Mark Ayers in his memo. "The fact...

Barack Hussein Obama will propose a massive business tax on greenhouse gases in his FY 2010 federal budget to be presented this week.The massive tax increase and power grab was buried at the end on article on Obama's forthcoming budget proposal in The New York Times:On energy policy, Mr. Obama’s budget will show new revenues by 2012 from his proposal to require companies to buy permits from the government for greenhouse gas emissions above a certain cap. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the permits would raise up to $300 billion a year by 2020. Since companies would pass their...

Once upon a time, Super Bowl commercials weren't exactly super. Of course, Super Bowl ads weren't quite as pristigious as they are today. Products like mint shaving cream, Bic ballpoint pens and Clamato flavored juice from Motts aren't exactly the type of products we have come to associate with Super Bowl advertising.Forty years ago, when the Colts and Jets met in Super Bowl III, the primary products advertised during the NBC broadcast were not cars and beer.It was cigarettes.Here is a sampling of some of the commercials that aired forty years ago during the broadcast of Super Bowl III. (There's...

Forty years ago, the pregame show for Super Bowl III did not begin five days before kickoff. There were not pregame concerts, channels dedicated to endless prognostication, nor were there in-depth profiles of everyone from the waterboy to the clubhouse toilet scrubbers accopanied by cutting edge computer animation.Not that any of that is bad.Rather, back in the olden days, the pregame show was 30 minutes long.Here is exactly how someone would have kicked off his Super Bowl III television festivities forty years ago.It begins with the famed NBC peacock and a slight sampling of the state-of-the-art technology.The clip is :59...

This is the second of four clips I am sharing of the original NBC broadcast of the Super Bowl game forty years ago between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Jets.This one showcases the state of the art graphics and the sponsorship billboard (yes, that means cigarette advertisers). It also features play-by-play man Curt Gowdy talking a bit about Joe Namth's famous guarantee of victory over the mighty Colts.We've come a long way in forty years.The clip is 2 minutes 45 seconds long.Fascinating to be sure.

The Arena Football League will suspend the 2009 season as it tries to improve its long-term economic model, the league's board of directors announced Monday. "Every owner in the AFL is strongly committed to the league, the game, and, most importantly, the fans," said acting commissioner Ed Policy. "Owners, however, recognize that, especially in light of the current unprecedented economic climate, the AFL, as a business enterprise, needs to be restructured if it is to continue to provide its unique brand of this affordable, fan-friendly sport." A source told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that the "deal-breaker was ESPN saying it...

Fairfax, VA – The National Rifle Association (NRA) today filed suit against the State of Washington charging it in violation of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution by preventing firearm ownership to non-United States citizens legally residing in the U.S. “The actions of Washington State are denying honest, hard-working men and women equal protection under the law, as held in the U.S. Constitution," said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “Under current law, these law-abiding residents are now subject to arrest, seizure of their firearms and possible deportation. NRA will always stand on the side of law-abiding individuals...

Travis Henry reportedly fathered nine children in four states Travis Henry just got tackled by a $3,000-a-month child support judgment. Sure, the Denver Broncos running back has a $25 million contract and a base monthly salary approaching $50,000, but that kind of bill can still crimp your style when you're accustomed to expensive cars and fancy jewelry — and lots of other child support payments. Henry, 28, has fathered nine children by nine women in at least four Southern states and has been ordered by various judges to provide child support for seven of them, according to court records involving...