Free Republic

Governor James McGreevey was elected on his campaign theme “Straight Talk.” The problem with McGreevey’s “Straight Talk” is that “straight” is a cover-up of what he really is. There is really nothing “straight” about Jim McGreevey. His voting record in the State Legislature and as Mayor of Woodbridge is one of tax-and-spend liberalism. Now, he’s done an about-face and is preaching like a conservative Republican about cutting Big Government. If you believe that then you might want to buy some wetlands in Florida for development. Those who know McGreevey intimately know he is not “straight.” It’s just a word he...

CHICAGO - Seeking support from minority voters, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) pledged Tuesday to expand educational opportunity and see that 1 million more students graduate college during his first five years in office. Kerry's education plan has a particular emphasis on supporting minority enrollment in college through scholarships, mentoring and tutoring programs and other incentives. He told the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition that although college graduates will earn $900,000 more over their careers, less than a third of all Americans and less than a fifth of black Americans have a four-year degree. "My friends, we can't rest...

The Spanish stock market doesn't like the socialists. The broad index is down 27.4 to 814.97, a drop of 3.25%. Only two of the 105 companies in the index are up today. All the other indices in Europe are down 1.25% or less, except Norway's, which is down 2% (and Norway's market is essentially oil and shipping).

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers warned on Sunday of the possibility of more violence in Haiti until peacekeepers are in place, with some charging the Bush administration effectively helped topple former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. On ABC television's "This Week" program, Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat, said a White House statement on Saturday questioning Aristide's fitness to govern effectively sealed his fate. The Haitian leader, under pressure from rebels at home and the United States, left his country on Sunday. "So I don't know who we deal with now, but one thing is clear: if you're elected as president of...

Think you've seen it all with reality shows? Wait until Fox's "The Littlest Groom." It's a reality show that's more than just a little, well, strange. The wacky short-run series will have 12 female little people contestants competing for the affections of a 4-foot-5 bachelor. But in the second episode, things take an "Average Joe"-like turn when women of normal stature show up to compete with the vertically challenged contestants. In short, this show gives new meaning to the term "miniseries." "The Littlest Groom," which airs Feb. 16 and 23 at 8 p.m., is another sign of how reality has...

CNBC is reporting a large blackout in the UK, all of SE UK affected, including the financial district in London.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Gov. Mike Huckabee said Wednesday he would not challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln next year, leaving Arkansas' Republicans without a high-profile Senate candidate for 2004. Huckabee, in the first year of his second full four-year term, said he needed to concentrate on state issues, including a heated fight over efforts to improve Arkansas' public school system. "I need to be focused on what's best for the children of Arkansas," Huckabee said in a news conference called on short notice. Huckabee, 48, had been leaning against a run against Lincoln, D-Ark., but until Wednesday had not firmly ruled...

STAMFORD -- Despite last week's rhetorical barrage from New York officials who want permanent access to the cross-Sound cable, Connecticut officials continue to say the line is flawed. Under a federal Department of Energy order, the 330-megawatt cross-Sound cable was turned on during the blackout and supplied power to Long Island, N.Y. It took an emergency order because an ongoing regulatory and legal battle in Connecticut had shut down the cable. Gov. George Pataki and other New York officials are calling for Connecticut, specifically Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, to turn the cable on for good. Pataki said Long Island and...

Maria Bartiromo just announced that Utah Gov Leavitt has been selected to be EPA head.

Connecticut car rental agencies may be held liable for injuries and damage caused by drivers they lease to, even if a driver misrepresents on the contract that he or she has a valid driver's license, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday. The court acknowledged the burden its ruling would place on car rental agencies to verify the status of drivers, but said that was insufficient reason to nullify the intent of lawmakers in passing a law that holds agencies liable for driver misconduct. Officials with the state Department of Motor Vehicles said there is no way rental car agencies can...

When Yuriko Takeyama had her first serious car accident, she spent about two weeks in a Connecticut hospital. She later returned to her native Japan -- and was involved in another serious car accident that kept her in a Tokyo hospital for 45 days. The former Stamford resident and past president of the Japan Society of Fairfield County recently wrote a book based on her experiences, in which she compares American and Japanese health systems. She discussed the book, written in Japanese, during a luncheon yesterday sponsored by the Japan Society. The event, at a local member's house, drew more...

NEW YORK (AFP) - The US state of West Virginia has dropped its appeal against an antitrust settlement between the US government and software giant Microsoft, the company said in a statement. The decision leaves only the state of Massachusetts pursuing a case against the computer software giant. "We are pleased to resolve our legal differences with the State of West Virginia," Microsoft said. "Today's announcement represents another step in Microsoft's efforts to resolve the legal issues facing us so that we can focus on innovation and customer needs." In November, a federal judge approved a settlement between Microsoft and...

SAO PAULO, Brazil - JetBlue Airways placed a $3 billion order with Brazil's Embraer for 100 regional jets as the low-cost carrier embarks on a growth strategy that involves challenging the country's largest carriers in mid-sized markets. The strategy represents an evolution for JetBlue on two fronts. First, it means the New York-based carrier is abandoning its reliance on a single aircraft, the Airbus A320. It also means JetBlue is ready to compete with major airlines on short-haul trips. David Neeleman, JetBlue's chief executive, said Tuesday's announcement makes the carrier "well-positioned to offer a better product to markets of all...

By DANIEL WOOLLS, Associated Press Writer MADRID, Spain - Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's party held its ground Sunday in city and regional elections, the first test of national sentiment since he angered Spaniards by backing the U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites). AP Photo   The opposition socialists — looking ahead to national elections next year — had hoped to tarnish Aznar and his government not only for supporting the U.S.-led attack, but also for his handling of an oil tanker spill last November, Spain's worst environmental disaster. But Interior Ministry results showed the opposition Socialists only...

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean has raised $1 million without serving hors d'oeuvres, hitting the phones or mailing thousands of appeals. The money has come through the Internet, a possible sign of fund-raising trends to come. The former Vermont governor and self-described underdog has used the Internet to complement traditional fund-raising techniques, collecting contributions through his Web site and e-mail at little cost to his campaign. Dean hit the $1 million mark in Internet fund raising last week, becoming the first 2004 presidential hopeful to announce he has done so. Dean supporters also are using the Internet to...

A thousand Muslims held prayers in a public square in Copenhagen in protest at the war in Iraq (news - web sites), despite an attempt to sabotage the event by unidentified individuals dumping manure in the square. "Democracy and the United Nations (news - web sites) have failed. So this is a prayer for peace," Tanwir Ahmed, organizer of the prayer at the town hall square in the Danish capital, told Reuters. Manure was poured on the central Raadhuspladsen ahead of the event Friday, but municipal staff cleaned it up to let the Muslims lay out their prayer mats. Police...

CNBC Talking head just announced Saddam will address Iraqi people at 12:00 noon EST today.

More than 200 residents rallied yesterday on Greenwich Avenue, waving flags, signs and banners to show support for American troops on the battlefield in Iraq. Most demonstrators said they are not pro-war. Instead, they simply wanted to rebut the numerous anti-war rallies that have been staged around the country in recent weeks, they said. "We're not here to support war," said Gary Belmonte, 57, a Greenwich resident and Vietnam veteran. "We're here to support the troops." Several demonstrators, including Belmonte, said they feared the anti-war protests would send a message to troops that Americans do not support them.

"Another nutty day at the office," muttered one senior UN official involved with Iraq issues as he arrived for work yesterday morning. He then took a lift to the upper floors of the UN's towering headquarters. Downstairs, diplomats, UN staff and journalists swarmed over each other in a desperate hunt for titbits of intelligence. Their motto was the one-liner uttered by a senior diplomat earlier this week: "If anyone tells you that they understand what is going on inside the Security Council, they're wrong." In the febrile atmosphere sweeping the building the whisper that Guinea would vote against the US...

HARTFORD -- A Connecticut state lawmaker has a new plan to raise money for the state. He wants to install toll booths at the state's casinos. Livvy Floren, a Democrat from Greenwich, believes the plan would raise $200 million for the state. Customers leaving Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino would be charged $10. Many people in the area say the plan asks for too much. Cliff Goyette\Ledyard: "The tribe already gives them more money than anyone does. So why give them any more?" Greg Moran\Preston: "It's definitely an extreme. I definitely think the tolls should come back. But $10, that's...