Free Republic

Gov. Charlie Crist lamented Washington's hyper-partisan shift Friday, singling out his one-time top adviser and campaign "maestro," George LeMieux, the man whom Crist appointed to the U.S. Senate just a year ago. Speaking to members of the St. Petersburg Times editorial board, the independent Crist said he was disappointed by how he thought LeMieux has put the Republican Party in front of the people of Florida. "What do I attribute it to?" Crist asked reflexively. "The next primary. I don't know what else could account for it otherwise." The blunt yet cautious criticism is part of the new platform in...

I'm trying to develop a list of contrasts between liberals and conservatives. The first part of each comparison is something that we conservatives know is good or admirable, and then I follow up with a contrasting item that liberals adore. Here's what I've started with: Corporations are evil but unions are virtuous.Christians are intolerant, but Muslims are peaceful.Boy Scouts are bad, but homosexuals are good.Tax cuts are wasteful, but government giveaways are stimulative.

Here's Apple's response to the now officially-acknowledged iPhone 4 antenna reception problems.They told Engadget, and our own reader Jason: Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases. In essence, don't hold...

Mr. Moderate's Facebook Status: ok seriously.... GLOBAL WARMING does not mean we will see only a WARMING trend. Global warming means colder winters and hotter summers. I can't say I personally know enough about it to have an opinion and whether its happening, but saying its impossible cuz its cold outside and not "warming",shows lil knowledge. Me: Dude, it's a hoax. Me: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/dec/06/quotclimategatequot-exposes-global-warming-hoax/ Just one of many many many articles... Friend 1: From what I understand....they have recently changed the definition of Global Warming, Could it be so that they don't look like idiots? Friend 2: Um, no, sorry. "Global...

I thought that Freepers should do our part to help the President sell the newly-renamed KennedyCare bill to the American public. To that end, please post your ideas here for slogans that can be used to get the message across about the impact that this bill will have on the American people. I'll start us out with a few I picked up on various threads and some I came up with on my own.

Businesses with 25 employees or more would be required to offer health insurance or pay $750 a year per full-time worker to the federal government, under health care reform legislation being considered in the Senate. A "play or pay" employer mandate has been looming for months, but Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee finally defined how small a business would need to be in order to be exempted from the requirement. Most business groups oppose requiring employers to provide health care or pay a fee to the government, even if there is an exemption for small...

Dear friends... Yes, our wounded and disabled veterans need help, our help. In fact, families of veterans who have been killed in action need help as well, as do families of veterans still serving. But what most people don't realize is the growing needs of our returning veterans. The unemployment rate for our returning veterans is at 25%, the highest rate of any group in America and that's a travesty of monumental proportion. Many people are aware of this and are willing to help but don't know where to start and this is the reason for this letter. Two companies...

Several years ago, on a vacation trip to my brother's house in North Carolina, my dad and I made a really nice combustion potato gun out of PVC pipe. We were launching potatoes using AquaNet hairspray at least 300 yards from our position. It was great fun. We brought the spud gun home with us and it's been sitting in my garage ever since, unused. The trigger mechanism is broken, so this week I was considering buying a new trigger so that I could get it working again. I thought I'd check with law enforcement to find out what the...

Someone on Fox News (Jim Engle, I think) was just on saying that they are seeing a large amount of "WPE" (Within Precinct Error) in the exit polling, meaning that the actual results reported by the precincts are much lower for Obama than the results that the exit pollsters gathered. In Pennsylvania, I think he said that this number was 10.4%, meaning that Obama was exit polling 10.4% better than the actual results being reported. In Florida, they reported that it was a difference of 3.4 or 3.9%. Also significant in NC, VA, and other places.

One thing the organizers did right - they brought in TWO cranes to fly the flag high: It was so hot and the sun was just killing us. My son took to laying on the ground so he could get some shade from me: For some reason, they like to pile oranges up wherever Sarah goes in Florida: Various crowd shots: The West Port High School color guard presented the colors: This third grade class sang a tribute to the armed forces: Congressman Rick Keller: Congressman Cliff Stearns: The truth of this sign is undeniable: Sarah and Todd enter the...

I am just showing some love to a fellow former Seminole, Peter Boulware, who had a stellar career as a Baltimore Raven after his All-America days at FSU. Peter has returned to Tallahassee with his family, where he is part owner and vice-president of a small business (Legacy Toyota), and he is running as a Republican for a state house seat that hasn't gone Republican in generations. From a quick reading through his website, it's apparent that he hasn't taken public positions on many policy issues. Hopefully seeing support from conservative voters will help to shape some of his positions....

I just want to share my memories of the Sarah Palin rally today in Kissimmee, Florida. My mom and dad and I left Daytona Beach today around 9AM and made our way to the event, where we were joined by my friend Olga. The weather was beautiful outside while we waited to get int, and we could not have enjoyed ourselves more. It was the most worthwhile experience possible. Here are my pictures: The Ticket: The Venue - the Silver Spurs Rodeo Arena in Kissimmee, FL: Always good to see the old girl flying high: And also good to see...

I have a couple of questions that I need help with before I take off for Kissimmee, Florida, tomorrow morning to see Sarah Palin, the next Vice President of the United States. 1. I have a very nice Canon digital SLR camera I'd like to take so that I can get some really good pictures. Will I be allowed to take this in to the rally site? 2. The email I received from the McCain campaign says "For security reasons, bags and signs are not allowed inside the venue". However, on TV at all the rallies, there are many people...

Why Joe the Plumber Matters (despite his personal problems) Joe Wurzelbach (the Plumber) has suddenly become nationally known, a true overnight sensation, because of his confrontation with Senator Barack Obama over taxes and the subsequent discussions that ensued during Wednesday's third presidential debate about Senator Obama's response to Joe's question. Senator McCain pointed out that Senator Obama told Joe that he is going to "spread the wealth around". It was a slip-up of monumental proportion that I believe will cost Obama the presidency. Obama and his supporters know this as well, which is why they have set out to DESTROY...

Just wondering what your opinion is about people who post vanities when their opinions could be posted to existing threads.

I need some help, Freepers. I have been selling quite a bit of Sarah Palin-inspired merchandise through Cafepress since she was announced as John McCain's running mate. I am fully aware that there are people who do not feel the same way that we do about Sarah Palin, and I have no issue with anti-Palin merchandise being sold through Cafepress. That's a free exchange of ideas and opinions. However, today, I was looking through the Cafepress marketplace, and I started to notice some of the vicious anti-Palin stuff that's out there. I will not print the whole quote, but there...

Like most of you, I am appalled at the sheer size and scope of this bailout plan, and even moreso with the additions that the Senate has placed in it now. It goes against my very core to think of the federal government getting this involved in the economny and placing this many tax dollars at risk. I want to be upset with those who voted for the bailout and vow that none of them will ever get my vote again. However, the rational side of me also thinks that I need to examine this situation free of emotion and...

Watching tonight's Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC (opposition research), I noticed an interesting exchange between the host and Andrea Mitchell. Of course we all know that both of these gals are in the tank for Obama, and they were having a typical lib discussion of the "Palin Press Dodge", as the headline called it, at the United Nations today. Of particular interest to me was Andrea Mitchell's response to this question (exchange begins at around the 2:24 mark of the video - this transcript picks up at the 2:40 mark): Maddow: ...Is today's burst of attention sort of a culmination...

I was watching MSNBC just now since they actually play what's happening in the convention hall. Right after the Sarah Palin introductory video that was supposed to play last night, Keith Olberman proved what an idiot he really is. Here's what he said: "Offered without comment, uh, the first, uh, two words of that, uh, that video that was intended as the introduction for Sarah Palin last night squeezed out by time considerations last night - the first two words were "mother" and "moose hunter".