Free Republic

Party raised more in final days but spent badly, observers say The Florida Democratic Party hauled in more than $15 million in the final weeks of the governor's race -- much of it from the national party -- to topple Gov. Jeb Bush, a Herald analysis has found. The staggering total, delivered days before Democrat Bill McBride's surprisingly dismal performance against the president's brother, adds to an already brewing debate about what went wrong nationally for Democrats in 2002. While the national party poured millions into a fruitless effort in Florida, other Democrats nationally could have used more last-minute money...

Portrait of an accused killer: raped as a childDocuments give glimpse into man charged with killing teen Sean Googin.May 19, 2002By Tom MurphyStaff writerAt age 3, Jeffrey Clark lived in filth and his hair started falling out. A year later, a man may have raped him. At age 6, family members teased Clark because he still wore diapers.His criminal history started in his teens. Drug abuse followed.Clark's problems clearly began years before scientists linked his DNA with evidence found at the scene of Sean Googin's death.Clark, now 35, faces up to life in prison. He is accused of raping...

<p>Critics have been quick to seize upon the ``Phoenix memo'' as evidence that the Bush administration may have had foreknowledge of the Sept. 11 attacks. The memo purportedly warned of ``Middle Eastern men'' taking flight training at American schools.</p> <p>Not so fast Woodward and Bernstein wannabees. In the first place, we cannot evaluate the administration's or FBI's handling of this memo until we know better how many similar reports and memos the government was receiving at the time. This memo stands out now because it turned out to be correct. But just as the government received many -- often conflicting -- signs of a possible Japanese attack before Pearl Harbor, picking out the accurate warning from amid the chatter is often possible only in retrospect.</p>

Like hotdogs and watered-down beer, they're together again. The Dems and the left-leaning press, that is. Folks are hardly surprised to see the disinformation duo seize an opportunity to line up against a Republican White House. But during wartime? For days the public has been forced to endure Watergate sloganeering that resembles bird droppings on a windshield. In synchronized fashion, scores of media outlets have belted out, "What did he know and when did he know it?" The implications created via tone and headline are that somehow President Bush knew in advance of a homicide hijack-bombing plot. And what did...

Relatives say long prison term for a sick woman isn't right Husband blames medical experts for failing to treat wife and protect family 03/16/2002 By ANNE MARIE KILDAY / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News HOUSTON - Andrea Yates' family sat on separate sides of the courtroom during her four-week trial Mrs. Yates' mother and sibblings behind the defense table, husband Russell and his mother across the room. They kept their distance after a jury recommended life in prison on Friday, but they agreed on one thing in separate statements to the public: Mrs. Yates also was a...