Free Republic

Oertwig quits school board amid porn claims He denies viewing child porn video at Metro State library St. Paul's longest-serving school board member said he will resign effective this morning rather than fight suggestions he viewed child pornography on a library computer. Security officers at Metropolitan State University caught a man watching child pornography on a library computer last month and concluded he logged on as school board member Al Oertwig, according to a police report. "The allegation of child pornography is absolutely, totally false," Oertwig said Wednesday night. But he said he is stepping down from the board after...

Where have all the conservatives gone? COLEEN ROWLEY In George Orwell's 1984, the Party had three slogans: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery" and "Ignorance is strength." In 2005 we could easily add another one: "Radical is conservative." For in almost every sense — but certainly in the principle areas of fiscal responsibility, applied federalism, adherence to the rule of law, conservation of natural resources and national security — extremist elements have seized control of the so-called "conservative" (Republican) party and turned it 180 degrees, leaving most true conservatives behind and more than a bit confused. Clarity can be regained,...

Equal Earthquakes with Unequal Results December 29, 2003 By Rabbi Daniel Lapin President, Toward Tradition Our television screens fail to convey the full horror of the recent earthquake in Iran that inflicted terrible deaths on over twenty thousand souls. America has once again led the international relief effort. It might seem callous to analyze thisdisaster even before all the victims have been buried, were it not for one timely parallel. Only a few days earlier, a small town on the California coast also endured an earthquake. Even taking the logarithmic nature of the Richter scale into account, from an objective...