Free Republic

To pray -- or not to pray -- in Jesus' name is the question plaguing an increasing number of U.S. military chaplains, one of whom began a multiday hunger strike outside the White House yesterday. "I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus' name," said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park. The hunger strike is intended to persuade President Bush to issue an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. The American Center for Law and Justice has gathered 173,000...

Has anyone noticed how Fox News Channel has oscillated wildly out of control this summer with their Fox News Alerts? It seems that the alerts are being used for everything from legitimate breaking news events (shuttle landing safely) to events that no one in their right mind would classify as breaking news (President Bush signs the Energy Bill--what a shocker that is!). Not only that, but they are now being used over and over again during a two-hour period to announce the same news event and it seems like every prime time show is started with a Fox News Alert...

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the President's appearance at Health & Human Services today to kick off the education campaign for the Medicare prescription drug program. I made it quickly through security and got a front row position in front of the podium. After the speech, President Bush greeted those in the front row and I was able to shake his hand and tell him not to be deterred by those who seek to harm him for political gain. He looked me straight in the eye, smiled and said "I'm not going to be deterred." It was...

It's Thursday and that means another episode of Survivor: Palau is set to air tonight. I watched the first two Survivors but tired of the show and stopped watching until picking it up again this season. I must say that I have really enjoyed the show this season. So, any guess who will be voted off the island tonight? Also, one castaway supposedly will be exiled tonight. Who will that be?

There is something so viscerally disturbing about the State of Florida allowing Terri Schiavo to starve to death that I have generally been unable, up until now, to bring myself to read the many threads about the situation here on FR or even to watch/listen to news coverage of it in the media--I turn off the TV or radio whenever I am able to do so. I have given money to Terri's foundation to help with the effort to save her, and although I am not one usually given to pray, I pray for Terri every day. Yet, I don't...

Now that we all know that the New England Patriots will be meeting the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX next month in Jacksonville, it's time to start building the hype, so let the games begin!

STATESBORO, Ga. — Movin’ to Montana. The University of New Hampshire football team ruled the road once more last night. And while they were at it, the Wildcats ruled six-time national champion Georgia Southern in a 27-23 win at Allen H. Paulson Stadium. “Who’s House? Our House” chanted Georgia Southern fans in the closing minutes with the Eagles threatening to drive the field for the win. Not last night. UNH quarterback Ricky Santos, left, scrambles away from Georgia Southern's Rico Zackery (9) in the Division I-AA first-round playoff game Saturday night in Statesboro, Ga. Wildcats' running back John McCoy is...

I have been listening to The Tony Snow radio show over the internet this morning. Tony is interviewing Trent Lott, who, it seems to me, is doing some tough talking about the need to implement the so-called "nuclear" option to stop the Dems' judicial nominee filibustering, and also to step up efforts to implement a more conservative agenda generally. These statements struck me as an indication that maybe just maybe the Republicans are starting to break free of the shackles of 40+ years as the minority party. I can only hope that, like W, he means what he says and...

I was involved in a spirited discussion with my boss this morning about the true number of uninsureds. I told her that when you factor in how someone is considered uninsured if they're between jobs for even one day, and that many so-called uninsureds are choosing not to carry insurance either because they are young and don't feel they need it or wealthy and don't want to be bothered with it, the number of uninsureds is actually very small. The problem is, I want to send her back up for my assertions and I haven't had a whole lot of...

Tony Snow will be interviewing Chuck Bartles in the 11:00 a.m. hour of his show today. Chuck Bartles is a U.S. serviceman who lost an arm in Iraq and, after being fitted with a prosthetic arm, wants to return to active duty. The military has denied his petition. This man engenders what it means to be a Patriot. Tune in if you can. The show is streamed live on WGBH in North Carolina at http://www.warpradio.com/player/stream.asp?id=7189

If the election were held today, John Kerry would lose by between 88 and 120 electoral votes. The reason is simple: The central vulnerability of this president -- the central issue of this campaign -- is the Iraq war. And Kerry has nothing left to say.

About a month ago, I began mailing around what I called a "personal psychographic" question to various friends and Internet acquaintances. The question aimed to tap a person's inner knowledge in order to effect a prediction about the election. Rules were simple: You assigned a percentage to each of four categories. All four categories had to add up to 100%. The four categories were: Kerry landslide Kerry close win Bush landslide Bush close win Play around with these categories a while, and you'll discover what's so revealing about them. Even a Kerry partisan would -- I'd guess -- assign no...

I am fairly new to the site. I think I understand what Pinging is all about but have yet to figure out what a Bump is. Can someone explain? Any other site customs I should know about?