Free Republic

It would be helpful, I believe, if reflexive Bush bashers took a time out, caught their collective breath and considered the consequences of some of their actions and positions. Sure, I know that they are exercising their constitutional right as Americans to criticize their president and any other elected official with whom they disagree whether their criticism is based upon fact and logic, blind emotion or, as is commonly the case today, just visceral hatred of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and all who support them. It’s time for us as a nation to decide whether or not we are...

In one of the last strongholds of communism, George W. Bush worshiped in a wooden pew at a hybrid Catholic-evangelical service--"a moment," he later called it, "to converse with God in a church here in Hanoi." Earlier, his presidential motorcade had sped beneath a hammer and sickle formed from red and yellow lightbulbs, a reminder that the world does not change as fast as he would like. The reluctant traveler dropped into the capital of his least favorite analogy as part of a sweep through Southeast Asia that allowed him to look commanding, even regal, at a time when postelection...

Previous high 11,722.98 in January 2000 At 9:39AM ET: 11,724.46 35.22 (0.30%)

For more than 30 years, Ralph Kirshbaum bought two airline tickets for his trips. The world-renowned American musician, who lives in England, bought one seat for himself, and the other for his strong, silent companion - a priceless 250-year-old Montagnana cello. But British authorities say Mr. Kirshbaum must now sit alone. Since police broke up an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic flights last month, restrictions have been placed on travelers: Nothing larger than a laptop bag can be carried into airplane cabins. But cellists, violinists, and French horn players are loath to consign their instruments, often antiquities worth millions...

Bin Laden's only way to reduce American influence in the Middle East is to make the cost of dominating the region outweigh the benefit. The biggest Al Qaeda asset in any U.S. invasion, however, will be Donald Rumsfeld. Rumsy's lean and mean military philosophy will make sure U.S. forces are tired, stretched thin, over worked, constantly under pressure, doing jobs they are not trained to do and exposed to violence - terror - hello - on a daily basis. Its as if Bush, like the Manchurian Candidate, is a Chinese puppet put in place to insure Chinese ascendancy.

We can all agree that Mel Gibson diplayed extreme stupidity, in making anti-semitic comments infront of a stranger. But the intense campaign in the mass media and on this forum to denounce Gibson, is, frankly, ridiculous. Even many on this forum who defended Trent Lott, have been hysterical in their denunciation of Gibson. Thinking or saying racist or anti-semitic things is a sin. So is engaging in, or thinking about, extra-marital sex. But given man's fallen nature, such things are common. People normally express their prejudices to close friends or to family members, not to total strangers. Remember Rev. Billy...

BALAD, Iraq — The U.S. military has begun sending thousands of battered Humvees and other war-torn equipment home as more Iraqi units join the fight against insurgents and American units scheduled for Iraq duty have their orders canceled. In the last four months, the Army has tagged 7,000 Humvees and 17,000 other pieces of equipment to be shipped to the United States to be rebuilt. They then will be distributed among active and reserve units at home, or possibly returned to equip Iraqi security forces. The military said the shipments will result in a reduction in the amount of U.S....

(AP) MILWAUKEE -- Skyrocketing asphalt prices this spring are causing governments around Wisconsin to scramble to cover the cost of planned road building by using a lower grade of material, recycling some of it or considering a work cutback. Homeowners and businesses are also debating whether to go ahead with plans for new driveways or parking lots at a higher price or risk it spiraling even further upward. John Poblocki, owner of Poblocki Paving Corp. in West Allis, has been in the business for 38 years and says he's never seen anything like the recent increase in the price of...

All my life, I believed in Republican values -- individual responsibility and limited government. Then it happened; I found myself with a small child, unemployed and disabled. I turned to my church, and after years of regular tithes, suddenly I just wasn't their problem. My Republican friends? I was now a pariah to them. My only relief was to turn to government assistance for housing, food, and other needs and I was able to survive with dignity. So chalk me up as one who no longer drinks the GOP koolaid.

We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail! Happy Weekend at ATRW. As the Chair & his lovely bride wind down their second(or third or fourth?) honeymoon at the beach, those of us that remain at our humble homes will chat & share our news & our thoughts on love & life. Movies enjoyed the past couple weeks & recommend to you if the spirit moves: The Sentinel, Inside Man; Thank You For Smoking; Take the Lead; Friends With Money. In the news: TomKat (Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes) had their love child, a daughter, this...

The University of Oregon graduate student accused of disrupting a flight between Eugene and Denver this week was worried about finding a university teaching job, and fearful that she might be deported to her native Bulgaria... ``There were a lot of signs of stress that started to appear,''... Georgieva, 35, faces a federal charge of interfering with the crew of a flight that left Eugene on Wednesday. Her final destination that day was a mathematics conference in San Antonio, where she hoped to meet potential employers. She is accused of threatening passengers and insinuating that there was a bomb on...

AP) The White House on Wednesday promised a full investigation of the West Virginia coal mine disaster that killed 12 people. Congressional Democrats called for hearings to look into both the safety record of the mining company and the Bush administration's policies on mine safety. "We send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the loved ones whose hearts are broken," President Bush said. "We ask that the good Lord comfort them in their time of need." He praised West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin "for showing such compassion" during the crisis and thanked rescuers "who risked their lives to save those...

After attending the “You Don’t Speak For Me, Cindy” rally at the State Capitol on Wednesday, I KNEW I had to do whatever it took to be there for the “Peace and Justice” rally on Saturday. In between taxiing kids to various activities and attending a funeral for a friend, I managed to spend a few hours with some of the most angry, hateful people I have EVER been around in my entire life! It is an experience I will NEVER forget and I am so glad that I was able to go. I was very nervous about going alone,...

Looter are armed gang situation worsening.

The following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian professor Abd Al-Sabour Shahin, which aired on Saudi Channel 1 on August 8, 2005. Shahin: Our enemies weave many lies about us, which we are not necessarily aware of. For example: One day, we awoke to the crime of 9/11, which hit the tallest buildings in New York, the Empire State Building (sic). There is no doubt that not a single Arab or Muslim had anything to do with these events. The incident was fabricated as a pretext to attack Islam and Muslims. The plan was to take over the world's...

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran accused the U.S. and Israel on Sunday of a smear campaign against its president-elect and warned Europe, which is in tricky nuclear negotiations with Tehran, not to join in the mudslinging. The ultraconservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who won a landslide presidential election victory, has been accused of taking American hostages in 1979 when radical students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Iranian exiles and an Austrian politician are alleging he was involved in the 1989 slaying of a Kurdish leader and two associates in Vienna. “Europeans should show their political maturity and not intertwine their interests with...

Head of Islamic Center in Manhattan: Many Americans Believe 9/11 was Fabricated to Enable the Forging of a "New World Order" Dr. Ahmad Dewidar, imam of the Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan and a lecturer on Islamic studies at Manhattanville College, has recently been referred to as "the face of the next generation of Muslims in America" [1] and is considered a prominent Muslim leader in New York having met with President George W. Bush, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, New York State Governor George Pataki [2] and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. [3] Recently, Dr. Dewidar, who is...