Free Republic

I'm a mainstream conservative, plain and simple. And we represent the majority of those who self-identify as "conservatives". Unfortunately, other ideological factions often distort the nature and beliefs of mainstream conservatism. True, I'm throwing a few Molotov cocktails, but it's really the best way to clarify matters. In the Ether Zone forum, a fellow writer referred to me as a "self-proclaimed Neoconservative". Well hold your horses, bucko, I've come to reject that ridiculous label being used by both the Hard Left and the Hard Right to stereotype and assail mainstream conservatives, outrageously casting us as "warmongers". Yes, the term Neoconservative...

Canada has been taking it on the chin lately, not only by various pundits and journalists, but by US government officials, as well. The 10/11/02 edition of the Washington Times notes that the US ambassador to Canada "urged its government to spend more on defense, since the United States cannot defeat terrorism on its own". Ambassador Paul Cellucci frankly advised the Canadian government that, "It's a dangerous world out there. We need your help. We cannot defend North America alone. We cannot win this campaign against terrorism alone". Reportedly, Canada spends 1.1 percent of its gross domestic product on the...

Now that the DC "snipers" suspects John Muhammad and John Lee Malvo have been captured, one thing should be manifest to even the casual observer. The media has failed once again to provide responsible, unbiased news coverage. And make no mistake; "political correctness" is behind much of the media's shortsightedness. Yes, the Left-leaning media keeps reminding us that John Muhammad is a Gulf War veteran, having served in the Army for ten years, as if that somehow unhinged him. But what about Muhammad's pro-terrorist assertions, anti-American sentiments, and connection with hatemonger Louis Farrakhan and his militant Islam, cult-like organization? Witnesses...

I'm reminded of the whimsical line, "Serpentine, Shelly, Serpentine", espoused by actor Peter Falk who plays a nutty CIA agent in the very funny movie, "The In-Laws" (1979). In this particular scene, Falk is yelling at co-star Alan Arkin (Shelly, the dentist), already under significant gunfire, and attempting to avoid being shot by running in a zig-zag fashion. Similarly, our government officials are currently advocating that the citizenry walk briskly in a "zig-zag" pattern, in order to elude the bullets of a sniper. Gee, what terrific advice! Excuse me for mocking, but this admonition is just as absurd now, as...

Given the severity and scope of national problems that have emerged over the past year, it's become increasingly evident that Bill Clinton's presidency was largely "smoke and mirrors", an unmitigated disaster by any reasonable standard. Clinton's eight years of leadership, or lack thereof, left behind a legacy of rot and ruin for the American people that most notably reflected his: a) failure to properly address insidious rogue regimes, such as the Taliban in Afghanistan, which were radical Islamists in league with Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization that ultimately perpetrated the 9/11 atrocities; b) abysmal and inadequate efforts to rein in...